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A surface reconstruction algorithm for topology optimization

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Abstract

For mechanical structural design, topology optimization is often utilized. During this process, a topologically optimized model must be converted into a parametric CAD solid model. The key point of conversion is that a discretized shape of a topologically optimized model must be smoothed, but features such as creases and corners must be retained. Thus, a surface reconstruction algorithm to produce the parametric CAD solid model from a topologically optimized model is proposed in this paper. Our presented algorithm consists of three parts: (1) an enclosed isosurface geometry from which the topologically optimized model is generated, (2) features detected and (3) the parametric CAD solid model reconstructed as biquartic surface splines. In order to generate an enclosed isosurface model effectively, we propose an algorithm based upon the marching cubes method to detect elements intersected by an isosurface. After generating an enclosed isosurface model, we produce biquartic surface splines. By applying our algorithm to an enclosed isosurface model, it is possible to produce smoothed biquartic surface splines with features retained. Some examples are shown and the effectiveness of our algorithm is discussed in this paper.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support from Quint Corporation in Japan for this research is highly appreciated. Authors thank Dr. Keizo Ishii who is the president of Quint Corporation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CD-adapco JAPAN Co., Ltd, Yokohama Landmark Tower 37F, 2-2-1-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-8137, Japan

    Atsushi Koguchi

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2250 G. G. Brown building, 2350 Hayward, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2125, USA

    Noboru Kikuchi

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  1. Atsushi Koguchi
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  2. Noboru Kikuchi
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Correspondence to Atsushi Koguchi.

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Koguchi, A., Kikuchi, N. A surface reconstruction algorithm for topology optimization. Engineering with Computers 22, 1–10 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00366-006-0023-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00366-006-0023-0

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