Coupled finite-element/topology optimization of continua using the Newton-Raphson method (Q2224663)

The paper deals with the topology optimisation of the compliance functional subject to a linear elasticity problem in dimension two and three. The volume of the design material is prescribed and thus constrained as well. In order to resolve the void and material, the authors use a convex combination of quantities defined in the void and material, respectively. Therefore the approach is a density-based approach, however, an advantage over existing approaches seems that filters can be bypassed. Further, the screened Poisson equation is used to ensure smooth cutting of the mesh. The methodology uses a finite element approximation and nodal variables. The arising optimisation problem is then solved using the Newton method applied to the KKT system of the problem. In the final part of the paper numerical experiments in dimension two and three, the optimisation of a cantilever, are presented. Several values for the volume constraint are tested. The results also show that no filtering is necessary for the studied examples.