Topology optimized infill compliant mechanisms for improved output displacements (Q6547733)

In this article a new method for increasing the output displacement of a compliant mechanism is demonstrated, hence improving its efficiency. Despite being counterintuitive, this increase is achieved by adding a constraint on the local volume fraction \(f_{\mathrm{LV}}\) to the established constraint on the global volume fraction \(f_{\mathrm{GV}}\):\N\begin{align*}\N\min_{\rho_e}: \qquad -u_{\textrm{out}} &= -(I^\top U_{\mathrm{out}}), \\\N\mathrm{s.\,t.} \qquad K U_{\mathrm{out}} &= F_{\mathrm{out}}, \\\N\Bigg( \frac1n \sum_{e=1}^n \hat \rho_e^p \, \Bigg)^{\tfrac1p} &\leq f_{\mathrm{LV}}, \\\N\frac1n \sum_{e=1}^n \hat \rho_e &\leq f_{\mathrm{GV}}, \\\N0 &\leq \rho_e \leq 1.\N\end{align*}\NThe negative output displacement \(u_{\mathrm{out}}\) is minimized by adjusting the local density design variable \(\hat\rho_e\) around each point \(e\) in the discretized domain (under a \(p\)-norm). Four different local area types are tested. Although all their structural restrictions on the layout increase the strain energy in the infill complaint mechanism and hence raise the displacement compared to the solid topology, an elliptical area type shows the most potential among them. The numerical effect on the output displacement is investigated using three different examples. The authors compare the influence of a reduced size of local volume fractions on the displacement to the influence of other parameters as the local area size or shape.