Design of compliant mechanisms using topology optimization method.

Author(s)

Cicero Ribeiro de Lima

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Politécnica (EP/BC)
• Defense date: 2002-04-16

Examining board members

Emilio Carlos Nelli Silva; Julio Cezar Adamowski; Miguel Luiz Bucalem

• Advisor: Emilio Carlos Nelli Silva

Abstract

Compliant Mechanisms consist of mechanisms where the movement is giving by the structural flexibility rather than the presence of joints and pins. They are applied to precision mechanic devices, biomedical field, and more recently to the design of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Many techniques has been applied to design compliant mechanisms. Among them, topology optimization method is a generic and systematic method. Topology optimization combines optimization algorithms with finite element method and allows an engineer or a scientist to design a compliant mechanism for its application without having to acquire specific knowledge about structures or compliant mechanisms. Therefore, the objective of this work is to apply topology optimization to design compliant mechanisms. The topology optimization method implemented is based on the SIMP material model. The design is defined as the optimization problem of a flexible structure, subject to an amount of material constraint, where the objective function is to maximize the output displacement in a certain region of the structure domain due to an applied load to other region. To illustrate the implementation of the method, two-dimensional topologies of compliant mechanisms are presented as a result. (AU)