Global length and overhang control for level set and density approaches via perimeter minimization (Q7020265)

The paper deals with global length and overhang control in topology optimization. The basic idea consists in penalizing the design perimeter, leading to a simple and efficient approach that can be used in both level-set and density-based methods. In particular, isotropic and anisotropic perimeter penalizations are used to control the length scale and overhang angles, respectively. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated through benchmark examples in the context of structural compliance minimization, design of compliant mechanisms and synthesis of elastic microstructures. In addition, the paper provides a comprehensive overview of additive manufacturing constraint methods. In this vein, it is recognized that length-scale and overhang-angle penalization do not necessarily enforce local constraints in all cases, which may result in designs that do not reach the current state of the art. Nevertheless, these ideas have the potential to be extended to enforce local constraints in the near future.