Qi Chen

Bio: Qi Chen is an academic researcher from South China University of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Topology optimization & Compliant mechanism. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 12 publications receiving 169 citations.

A 213-line topology optimization code for geometrically nonlinear structures

Abstract: This paper presents a 213-line MATLAB code for topology optimization of geometrically nonlinear structures. It is developed based on the density method. The code adopts the ANSYS parametric design language (APDL) that provides convenient access to advanced finite element analysis (FEA). An additive hyperelasticity technique is employed to circumvent numerical difficulties in solving the material density-based topology optimization of elastic structures undergoing large displacements. The sensitivity information is obtained by extracting the increment of the element strain energy. The validity of the code is demonstrated by the minimum compliance problem and the compliant inverter problem.

Design of buckling-induced mechanical metamaterials for energy absorption using topology optimization

Abstract: A novel design concept for buckling-induced mechanical metamaterials for energy absorption is presented. The force-displacement curves of the mechanical metamaterials are analyzed according to the curves of their unit cells, and the energy-absorbing characteristics of mechanical metamaterials are evaluated. Two topology optimization models are proposed. One maximizes the buckling-induced dissipated energy to facilitate the design of metamaterials with high energy absorption and low elastic strain energy. The other maximizes the dissipated energy with a constraint that the mechanical metamaterials should be self-recoverable. An energy interpolation scheme is employed to avoid numerical instabilities in the geometric nonlinear finite element analysis. A two-phase algorithm is proposed to find the optimized result from a uniform initial guess, and sensitivity analysis is performed. The optimized design has a larger amount of buckling-induced dissipated energy than the previously proposed structural prototypes. Moreover, the self-recoverable mechanical metamaterial is successfully designed by topology optimization.

Structural Topology Optimization Using a Moving Morphable Component-Based Method Considering Geometrical Nonlinearity

Abstract: The moving morphable component (MMC)-based method is a newly developed approach for topology optimization. In the MMC-based method, the design problem is formulated using a set of morphable components, and the optimized structural topologies are obtained by optimizing shapes, sizes, and locations of these components. However, the optimization process often tends to break the connection between the load area and the supported boundary. This disconnection has a strong influence on the convergence, especially when the large deformation effects are considered. In this paper, a method is developed for topology optimization of geometrically nonlinear structures by using the MMC-based method. A scheme is developed to address the disconnection issue in the optimization process. Several numerical examples are used to demonstrate the validity of the proposed method.