Shape optimization of two‐phase inelastic material with microstructure

Abstract

Purpose-Proposes a methodology for dealing with the problem of designing a material microstructure the best suitable for a given goal. Design/methodology/approach-The chosen model problem for the design is a two-phase material, with one phase related to plasticity and another to damage. The design problem is set in terms of shape optimization of the interface between two phases. The solution procedure proposed herein is compatible with the multi-scale interpretation of the inelastic mechanisms characterizing the chosen two-phase material and it is thus capable of providing the optimal form of the material microstructure. The original approach based upon a simultaneous/sequential solution procedure for the coupled mechanics-optimization problem is proposed. Findings-Several numerical examples show a very satisfying performance of the proposed methodology. The latter can easily be adapted to other choices of design variables. Originality/value-Confirms that one can thus achieve the optimal design of the nonlinear behavior of a given two-phase material with respect to the goal specified by a cost function, by computing the optimal form of the shape interface between the phases.

Nonlinear fluid–structure interaction problem. Part II: space discretization, implementation aspects, nested parallelization and application examples

“…Therefore, the current trends in engineering developments geared towards multi-physics problems (e.g. fluid-structure interaction, thermomechanical coupling [54], mechanics and optimization [45], mechanics and control [46]) are rather difficult to deal with, not only in terms of theoretical formulations but also in terms of development of corresponding software tools. One way to avoid this difficulty, as proposed and discussed in this work, is by coupling of different software products, each produced by experts for a particular sub-problem.…”

Maximizing the effective Young’s modulus of a composite material by exploiting the Poisson effect

“…A systematic review on microstructural design including nonlinearities through topology optimization was given in the literature [37][38]. The application of topology optimization and shape optimization in the design of structural materials is still an ongoing hotspot for research [39], especially with the emergence and dramatic development of 3D printing technology. Materials with complicated structures after topology optimization can be easily fabricated by using the new technology and their mechanical properties can be experimentally validated against the numerical predictions [40][41].…”

Embedded discontinuity finite element method for modeling of localized failure in heterogeneous materials with structured mesh: an alternative to extended finite element method

“…Another case where X-FEM can be of direct interest concerns providing the global field representation in shape optimization problems, simplifying the choice of global design variables for interface representation in a multi-phase material (e.g. see [10]). …”