Topology optimization of flexure hinges with a prescribed compliance matrix based on the adaptive spring model and stress constraint

This paper focuses on the configuration design of flexure hinges with a prescribed compliance matrix and preset rotational center position. A new method for the topology optimization of flexure hinges is proposed based on the adaptive spring model and stress constraint. The hinge optimization model is formulated by maximizing the bending displacement with a spring while optimizing the compliance matrix to a prescribed value. To avoid numerical instability, an artificial spring is used as an auxiliary calculation, and a new strategy is developed for adaptively adjusting the spring stiffness according to the prescribed compliance matrix. The maximum stress of flexure hinge is limited by using a normalized P-norm of the effective von Mises stress, and a position constraint of rotational center is proposed to predetermine the position of the rotational center. In addition, to reduce the error of the stress measurement, a simple but effective filtering method is presented to obtain a complete black-and-white design. Numerical examples are used to verify the proposed method. Topology results show that the obtained flexure hinges have the prescribed compliance matrix and preset rotational center position while also meeting the stress requirements.     

Reconfigurable topology synthesis for application-specific NoC on partially dynamically reconfigurable systems

In this paper, a four-stage method for synthesizing reconfigurable ASNoC topology is proposed for partially dynamically reconfigurable systems, where the topology is reconfigured dynamically at run-time along with the application's execution. Firstly, a simulated annealing based topology-aware integrated optimization framework is proposed to generate the proper schedule and floorplan of task modules. Secondly, based on the schedule and floorplan of task modules, an Integer Linear Programming (ILP)-based method and a heuristic method, are proposed to partition the communication requirements of the application into $T$ time intervals. Thirdly, we explore the proper positions of switches in the floorplan for global communications. Finally, considering the reconfiguration costs between adjacent time intervals, the routing path allocation problem is solved for time intervals in an iterative procedure to generate fine-grained dynamically reconfigurable ASNoC topologies. Experimental results show that, compared to the random partition of communication requirements, the proposed heuristic method and ILP-based method can achieve 5.4% and 10.0% power consumption improvement, respectively. And, the reconfigurable ASNoC can achieve 31.6% power consumption improvement when compared with static ASNoC.     

Topology optimization for crashworthiness of thin-walled structures under axial crash considering nonlinear plastic buckling and locations of plastic hinges

Although topology optimization is established for linear static problems, more effort is required for solving nonlinear plastic problems. A new topology optimization approach with equivalent static loads (ESLs) is suggested to find the optimum topologies and locations of plastic hinges of thin-walled crash boxes by considering crash-induced deformation, the main crash energy-absorbing mechanism. Together with finite element method crashworthiness analyses, considering all nonlinearities with rate-dependent plasticity, the method was developed using an appropriate time-incremental scheme of ESLs without removing any high values of loads. Analyses show that the crash boxes with optimum topologies have energy-absorbing capabilities equivalent to the original structure. The proposed method is evaluated for two crashes: a crash box at low speed and a double cell subjected to high-speed collision. The results indicate that this method captures nonlinear crushing behaviours and accurate locations of plastic hinges where, if proper reinforcements are made, energy absorption can be enhanced.     

POD-assisted strategies for structural topology optimization

We propose a new numerical tool for structural optimization design. To cut down the computational burden typical of the Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP) method, we apply Proper Orthogonal Decomposition on SIMP snapshots computed on a fixed grid to construct a rough structure (predictor) which becomes the input of a SIMP procedure performed on an anisotropic adapted mesh (corrector). The benefit of the proposed design tool is to deliver smooth and sharp layouts which require a contained computational effort before moving to the 3D printing production phase.     

Optimal PMU placement considering topology constraints

A new optimization algorithm for optimal PMU configuration based on combination of graph theory and genetic algorithm is proposed. According to four topology reconstruction rules and three PMU configuration rules based on the graphic relationships between PMUs, constraints of PMU placement are put forward through topology constraint analysis, which dramatically limits the feasible solution space, thereby enhancing the algorithm speed. Meanwhile, an improved genetic algorithm based on serial number coding is presented to avoid infeasible solutions and improve the overall optimization performance. New corresponding crossover and mutation operator is also created. Examples show that the proposed algorithm performs very well and is highly valuable to large-scale networks.     

Three-phased clustered topology formation for Aeronautical Ad-Hoc Networks

In-Flight Internet Connectivity (IFC) has become one of the crucial needs of passengers with technological improvements. The Aeronautical Ad-hoc Networks (AANETs) have been proposed by establishing air-to-air (A2A) links between aircraft to satisfy this need. However, the unstructured aircraft topology caused by their ultra-dynamic characteristics reduces the longevity of A2A links in AANET. This shorter longevity decreases the stability of AANET by accelerating the connection establishment/termination procedures between aircraft. Additionally, the shorter link longevity affects the packet transfer delay and the delivery ratio of AANET. To the best of our knowledge, these three challenges are not investigated simultaneously under one topology management model. This paper proposes a three-phased topology formation model for AANETs to increase the stability and packet delivery ratio in AANET with a shorter packet transfer delay. The first phase corresponds to the aircraft clustering formation, and here, we aim to increase the AANET stability by creating spatially correlated clusters. The second phase consists of the A2A link determination for reducing the packet transfer delay. Finally, the cluster head selection increases the packet delivery ratio in AANET. According to our simulations, we see that the stability and packet delivery ratio of AANET topology are roughly improved 35% and 31% with a 28% delay reduction compared to the methods in the literature.     

Domain coarsening in viscous sintering as a result of topological pore evolution

The microstructure evolution in 3D was studied by X-ray microtomography to reveal the relation between topology of pore networks and characteristic length in viscous sintering. The mean intercept length was defined from solid/pore interface for characterizing the length of solid phase and pore phase. The increase of the characteristic length with densification was termed as domain coarsening. The topological pore evolution was analyzed by using genus. The characteristic length increased with decreasing genus in the intermediate stage. The domain coarsening takes place as a natural consequence of pore evolution in viscous sintering, i.e., the decrease of total surface area concurrent with the topological transformations.     

新乡土建筑的一次诠释--关于天台博物馆的对谈

本文记录了支文军与王路关于天台博物馆的对话,讨论了相关的传统与创新、本土性与国际性、地域与环境、空间与形态、材料与形式等问题,以及对当代新乡土建筑的一些思考。     

沙滩清洁车举升机构性能研究

目前国内外的沙滩清洁车垃圾举升机构多采用自卸式,并使用连杆机构便可以实现举升作业,连杆机构具有多种运动形式,它可以实现往复摆动、连续转动与往复移动之间的相互转换。为了实现举升机构轻量化,对通过模态分析的沙滩清洁车举升臂进行结构优化设计。首先,利用CREO实现了沙滩清洁车的举升机构三维实体建模;然后将其导入到Workbench建立有限元模型进行模态分析;最后运用Optistruct对举升臂进行静力学结构分析。基于以上模态和静力学的分析结果对举升臂做进一步的拓扑优化。优化结果表明改进后的举升臂在保证刚强度的前提下质量由17kg减为13.77kg,减轻了19%,达到轻量化目标。