Revisiting topology optimization with buckling constraints
For researchers in structural topology optimization, this paper offers practical recommendations but is largely a review of known issues.
This paper reviews topology optimization with buckling constraints, studying how the lower bound on the critical load factor affects optimized designs, the trade-off between stiffness and stability, and the activation of multiple buckling modes. It provides recommendations on using non-conforming finite elements, inconsistent sensitivities, and aggregated eigenvalue constraints.
We review some features of topology optimization with a lower bound on the critical load factor, as computed by linearized buckling analysis. The change of the optimized design, the competition between stiffness and stability requirements and the activation of several buckling modes, depending on the value of such lower bound, are studied. We also discuss some specific issues which are of particular interest for this problem, as the use of non-conforming finite elements for the analysis, the use of inconsistent sensitivities in the optimization and the replacement of the single eigenvalue constraints with an aggregated measure. We discuss the influence of these practices on the optimization result, giving some recommendations.