Crash Model Order Reduction for Efficient Topology Optimization Using the ESLs Method

Abstract

This paper presents an efficient structural topology optimization strategy for crashworthiness. The proposed method combines the equivalent static loads (ESLs) method with the crash model order reduction method. The ESLs method transforms crashworthiness topology optimization problems into a series of linear static topology problems. The crash model order reduction scheme is applicable to speed up the crash simulation. Therefore, the crashworthiness topology optimization is performed in a reduction manner and the efficiency is improved. The topology optimization results are filtered into a black-white design for the crash simulation to avoid the element distortion problem. The process is repeated until the convergence criteria is satisfied. The effectiveness of proposed method is demonstrated by investing a numerical example. The results show that, the proposed method can efficiently solve structural topology optimization problems for crashworthiness.