Topology optimisation of lattice structures to increase damping

Abstract

Lattice structures are lattice‐like assemblies that are inspired by organic systems. The structure inside is made up of cells whose edges form rod‐shaped elements. The size of the cells and the dimensions of the rods can influence the mechanical properties of the entire structure. For the use of lattice structures within engineering applications, stiffness and damping are important parameters. In monolithic designs, the outer contour or the material itself must be modified to change the stiffness and damping. In the case of a lattice structure, moreover, the structure of the inner cells can be adapted, resulting in greater flexibility [1]. Numerical simulations of the structural dynamic behavior will be used to optimize the damping, while heuristic methods are applied to account for the large parameter space. To adjust the simulation model, the damping is measured frequency‐dependent on a real structure which is subsequently used for model adjustment.