Solving topology optimization problems by the Guide-Weight method

• Published in: Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 136 - 150
• Main Authors: LIU, Xinjun, LI, Zhidong, WANG, Liping, WANG, Jinsong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Higher Education Press 01.03.2011; SP Higher Education Press
• Subjects: Engineering; Guide-Weight method; Mechanical Engineering; Research Article; SIMP method; topology optimization; Guide-Weight method; topology optimization; SIMP method
• ISSN: 2095-0233; 2095-0241; 1673-3592
• DOI: 10.1007/s11465-010-0126-6

Finding a good solution method for topology optimization problems is always paid attention to by the research field because they are subject to the large number of the design variables and to the complexity that occurs because the objective and constraint functions are usually implicit with respect to design variables. Guide-Weight method, proposed first by Chen in 1980s, was effectively and successfully used in antenna structures' optimization. This paper makes some improvement to it so that it possesses the characteristics of both the optimality criteria methods and the mathematical programming methods. When the Guide-Weight method is applied into topology optimization, it works very well with unified and simple form, wide availability and fast convergence. The algorithm of the Guide-Weight method and the improvement on it are described; two formulations of topology optimization solved by the Guide-Weight method combining with SIMP method are presented; subsequently, three numerical examples are provided, and comparison of the Guide-Weight method with other methods is made.