Mechanical and Civil Engineering Seminar

Topology optimization has long been touted as a powerful design tool capable of discovering innovative structural solutions. It has been used to design structures defined at a range of length scales, from tens of microns to decameters, for performance properties governed by a range of mechanics, most notably solid and fluid mechanics. While its potential power is evident, it is well-known that topology optimized solutions may be suboptimal when considering real-world manufacturing and operating conditions. This talk will briefly review topology optimization methodologies and discuss recent advancements in design for manufacturability, robustness, and multiple performance properties. These advancements will be presented in the context of design problems ranging from multifunctional material architectures to lateral bracing concepts in buildings.