Topology optimization of geometrically nonlinear structures and compliant mechanisms

Topology optimization of structures has become an area of rapidly increasing interest to researchers during the past decade. Most structural topology optimization problems assume a linear elastic response. This assumption is not valid for systems undergoing large deformation. The structural analysis here accommodates geometric and material nonlinearities, and its impact on the topology optimization is investigated. A well-posed regularized topology optimization problem is developed by introducing a Gaussian-weighted density measure. Topology results based on the linear and nonlinear elastic formulations are compared. The formulation of the structural design problem is then extended to design compliant mechanisms undergoing large displacements.