Session: DAC-10-4: Design of Engineering Materials and Structures

Paper Number: 148499

148499 - Topology Optimization of Sandwich Cores for Improve Energy Absorption 

Sandwich panels with truss cores (SPTCs) are widely used in vehicle design for their superior mechanical properties relative to their weight, in particular, for their energy absorption capacity. Despite many efforts have been made to study and advance core structural innovations, much of the related research relies heavily on subjective knowledge and designer experience. Existing design techniques for truss cores in sandwich panels are limited to size and shape optimization, or they consider topology optimization but only for linear elastic behavior. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to advance SPTC design using the geometry projection (GP) method for the topology optimization of truss cores. The objective of the optimization problem is to maximize energy absorption subject to a volume fraction constraints under quasi-static loading. We formulate a topology optimization technique based on the geometry projection (GP) method, utilizing a small number of design variables. This approach facilitates the estimation of gradients for objective and constraint functions through finite difference (FD) methods, enabling the use of black-box software solvers for Finite Element (FE) simulations. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through 3D numerical examples. The optimized design achieved a 131% improvement in energy absorption compared to the initial design.

Presenting Author: Tuan Nguyen University of Connecticut

Presenting Author Biography: I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut (USA) under the guidance of Professor Julian Norato. I earned my B.S. in Aerospace from Ho Chi Minh University of Technology (Vietnam) in 2015, followed by an M.S. from National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan) in 2017. My research revolves around computational mechanics, with a particular emphasis on topology optimization, dynamic simulation, and numerical methods.

Authors:

Tuan Nguyen University of Connecticut
Matthew P. Castanier US Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center
Julian Norato University of Connecticut