Topology Optimization of Shape Memory Alloy Actuators using Element Connectivity Parametriztion

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Abstract

This paper presents the first application of topology optimization to the design of shape memory alloy actuators. Shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit strongly nonlinear, temperature-dependent material behavior. The complexity in the constitutive behavior makes the topology design of SMA structures intractable by the conventional element density-based topology optimization. Therefore, in the present study, the recently developed element connectivity parameterization (ECP) formulation is applied, which offers important advantages for complex nonlinear topology optimization problems. A history-independent constitutive model of SMAs is employed which allows efficient adjoint sensitivity analysis. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is illustrated by several numerical examples.