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Continuum topology optimization for monolithic compliant mechanisms of micro-actuators

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Abstract

A multi-objective scheme for structural topology optimization of distributed compliant mechanisms of micro-actuators in MEMS condition is presented in this work, in which mechanical flexibility and structural stiffness are both considered as objective functions. The compliant micro-mechanism developed in this way can not only provide sufficient output work but also have sufficient rigidity to resist reaction forces and maintain its shape when holding the work-piece. A density filtering approach is also proposed to eliminate numerical instabilities such as checkerboards, mesh-dependency and one-node connected hinges occurring in resulting mechanisms. SIMP is used as the interpolation scheme to indicate the dependence of material modulus on element-regularized densities. The sequential convex programming method, such as the method of moving asymptotes (MMA), is used to solve the optimization problem. The validation of the presented methodologies is demonstrated by a typical numerical example.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Science & Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Zhen Luo, Yixian Du & Liping Chen

  2. Center for Computer-Aided Design, Mechanical Engineering Research Facility, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA

    Jingzhou Yang & Karim Abdel-Malek

Authors
  1. Zhen Luo
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  2. Yixian Du
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  3. Liping Chen
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  4. Jingzhou Yang
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  5. Karim Abdel-Malek
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Correspondence to Zhen Luo.

Additional information

Project supported by the National ‘973’ Key Fundamental Research Project of China (No. 2003CB716207) and the National ‘863’ High-Tech Development Project of China (No.2003AA001031).

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Luo, Z., Du, Y., Chen, L. et al. Continuum topology optimization for monolithic compliant mechanisms of micro-actuators. Acta Mech. Solida Sin. 19, 58–68 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10338-006-0607-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10338-006-0607-7

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