Session: MR-07-04

Paper Number: 143299

143299 - Geometry-Driven Design of Morphable Surface Structures Using Topology Optimization and Circle Packing 

This paper presents a new computational framework for the co-optimization and co-control of morphable surface structures using topology optimization and circle-packing algorithms. The proposed approach integrates the design of optimized compliant components and the system-level control of the overall surface morphology. By representing the surface shape using circle packing and leveraging conformal mapping, the framework enables smooth deformation between 2D and 3D shapes while maintaining local geometry and global morphology. The morphing surface design problem is recast as designing circular compliant actuators using level-set topology optimization with displacements and stiffness objectives. The optimized component designs are then mapped back onto the circle packing representation for coordinated control of the surface morphology. This integrated approach ensures compatibility between local and global geometries and enables efficient actuation of the morphable surface. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is demonstrated through numerical examples and physical prototypes, showcasing its ability to design and control complex morphable surfaces with applications in various fields. The co-optimization and co-control capabilities of the framework are verified, highlighting its potential for realizing advanced morphable structures with optimized geometries and coordinated actuation. This integrated approach goes beyond conventional methods by considering both local component geometry and global system morphology and enabling coordinated control of the morphable surface. The general nature of our approach makes it applicable to a wide range of problems involving the design and control of morphable structures with complex, adaptive geometries.

Presenting Author: Lingfeng Gao State University of New York at Stony Brook

Presenting Author Biography: Lingfeng Gao is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His research interests are topology optimization of morphable surface structures.

Authors:

Lingfeng Gao State University of New York at Stony Brook
Xiaoping Zhu State University of New York at Stony Brook
Masato Tanaka Toyota Research Institute of North America
Yuyang Song Toyota Research Institute of North America
Yuqing Zhou Toyota Research Institute of North America
Xianfeng David Gu State University of New York at Stony Brook
Shikui Chen State University of New York at Stony Brook