Concurrent Topology Optimization of Curved-Plate Structures with Double-Sided Stiffeners

Abstract

Due to their high specific stiffness, particularly in bending, along with their strong design capabilities, stiffened plates have become a prevalent structural solution in aerospace and various other fields. In pursuit of optimizing such structures, a topology optimization method named Heaviside-function-based directional growth topology parameterization (H-DGTP) was proposed in our previous work. However, this approach is limited to designing planar, single-sided stiffened structures. Thus, this paper extends the scope of this method to encompass double-sided, curved, stiffened panels, presenting a topology optimization technique tailored for such configurations. Specifically, considering the position, shape of the curved panels, and the arrangement and height of the stiffeners as design variables, while prioritizing structural stiffness as the objective, a topology optimization model for double-sided curved stiffened plate structures is established, and the corresponding sensitivities of the objective with respect to the design variables are analytically derived. Numerical examples illustrate that simultaneously optimizing the position and shape of the plate, as well as the layout and height of the stiffeners on both sides of the curved plate, results in greater stiffness compared to optimizing only part of these variables, validating the necessity and effectiveness of the proposed method.