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Topology Optimization with a Manufacturability Objective

Robbins, Joshua R.

Part distortion and residual stress are critical factors for metal additive manufacturing (AM) because they can lead to high failure rates during both manufacturing and service. We present a topology optimization approach that incorporates a fast AM process simulation at each design iteration to provide predictions of manufacturing outcomes (i.e., residual stress, distortion, residual elastic energy) that can be optimized or constrained. The details of the approach and implementation are discussed, and an example design is presented that illustrates the efficacy of the method.

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Exploring wave propagation in heterogeneous metastructures using the relaxed micromorphic model

Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids

Alberdi, Ryan A.; Robbins, Joshua R.; Walsh, Timothy W.; Dingreville, Remi P.

Metamaterials are artificial structures that can manipulate and control sound waves in ways not possible with conventional materials. While much effort has been undertaken to widen the bandgaps produced by these materials through design of heterogeneities within unit cells, comparatively little work has considered the effect of engineering heterogeneities at the structural scale by combining different types of unit cells. In this paper, we use the relaxed micromorphic model to study wave propagation in heterogeneous metastructures composed of different unit cells. We first establish the efficacy of the relaxed micromorphic model for capturing the salient characteristics of dispersive wave propagation through comparisons with direct numerical simulations for two classes of metamaterial unit cells: namely phononic crystals and locally resonant metamaterials. We then use this model to demonstrate how spatially arranging multiple unit cells into metastructures can lead to tailored and unique properties such as spatially-dependent broadband wave attenuation, rainbow trapping, and pulse shaping. In the case of the broadband wave attenuation application, we show that by building layered metastructures from different metamaterial unit cells, we can slow down or stop wave packets in an enlarged frequency range, while letting other frequencies through. In the case of the rainbow-trapping application, we show that spatial arrangements of different unit cells can be designed to progressively slow down and eventually stop waves with different frequencies at different spatial locations. Finally, in the case of the pulse-shaping application, our results show that heterogeneous metastructures can be designed to tailor the spatial profile of a propagating wave packet. Collectively, these results show the versatility of the relaxed micromorphic model for effectively and accurately simulating wave propagation in heterogeneous metastructures, and how this model can be used to design heterogeneous metastructures with tailored wave propagation functionalities.

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Multimode Metastructures: Novel Hybrid 3D Lattice Topologies

Boyce, Brad B.; Garland, Anthony G.; White, Benjamin C.; Jared, Bradley H.; Conway, Kaitlynn C.; Adstedt, Katerina A.; Dingreville, Remi P.; Robbins, Joshua R.; Walsh, Timothy W.; Alvis, Timothy A.; Branch, Brittany A.; Kaehr, Bryan J.; Kunka, Cody; Leathe, Nicholas L.

With the rapid proliferation of additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies, architected cellular solids including truss-like 3D lattice topologies offer the opportunity to program the effective material response through topological design at the mesoscale. The present report summarizes several of the key findings from a 3-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program. The program set out to explore novel lattice topologies that can be designed to control, redirect, or dissipate energy from one or multiple insult environments relevant to Sandia missions, including crush, shock/impact, vibration, thermal, etc. In the first 4 sections, we document four novel lattice topologies stemming from this study: coulombic lattices, multi-morphology lattices, interpenetrating lattices, and pore-modified gyroid cellular solids, each with unique properties that had not been achieved by existing cellular/lattice metamaterials. The fifth section explores how unintentional lattice imperfections stemming from the manufacturing process, primarily sur face roughness in the case of laser powder bed fusion, serve to cause stochastic response but that in some cases such as elastic response the stochastic behavior is homogenized through the adoption of lattices. In the sixth section we explore a novel neural network screening process that allows such stocastic variability to be predicted. In the last three sections, we explore considerations of computational design of lattices. Specifically, in section 7 using a novel generative optimization scheme to design novel pareto-optimal lattices for multi-objective environments. In section 8, we use computational design to optimize a metallic lattice structure to absorb impact energy for a 1000 ft/s impact. And in section 9, we develop a modified micromorphic continuum model to solve wave propagation problems in lattices efficiently.

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Concurrent Shape and Topology Optimization

Robbins, Joshua R.; Alberdi, Ryan A.; Clark, Brett W.

The typical topology optimization workflow uses a design domain that does not change during the optimization process. Consequently, features of the design domain, such as the location of loads and constraints, must be determined in advance and are not optimizable. A method is proposed herein that allows the design domain to be optimized along with the topology. This approach uses topology and shape derivatives to guide nested optimizers to the optimal topology and design domain. The details of the method are discussed, and examples are provided that demonstrate the utility of this approach.

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LDRD Final Report: Topology Optimization for Nonlinear Transient Applications Using a Minimally Invasive Approach

Robbins, Joshua R.

The purpose of this project was to devise, implement, and demonstrate a method that can use Sandias existing analysis codes (e.g., Sierra, Alegra, the CTH hydro code) with minimal modification to generate objective function gradients for optimization-based design in tran- sient, non-linear, coupled-physics applications. The approach uses a Moving Least Squares representation of the geometry to substantially reduce the number of geometric degrees of freedom. A Multiple-Program Multiple-Data computing model is then used to compute ob- jective gradients via finite differencing. Details of the formulation and implementation are provided, and example applications are presented that show effectiveness and scalability of the approach.

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Additive manufacturing: Toward holistic design

Scripta Materialia

Jared, Bradley H.; Aguilo, Miguel A.; Beghini, Lauren L.; Boyce, Brad B.; Clark, Brett W.; Cook, Adam W.; Kaehr, Bryan J.; Robbins, Joshua R.

Additive manufacturing offers unprecedented opportunities to design complex structures optimized for performance envelopes inaccessible under conventional manufacturing constraints. Additive processes also promote realization of engineered materials with microstructures and properties that are impossible via traditional synthesis techniques. Enthused by these capabilities, optimization design tools have experienced a recent revival. The current capabilities of additive processes and optimization tools are summarized briefly, while an emerging opportunity is discussed to achieve a holistic design paradigm whereby computational tools are integrated with stochastic process and material awareness to enable the concurrent optimization of design topologies, material constructs and fabrication processes.

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Topology Optimization of Cellular Structure

Robbins, Joshua R.; Owen, Steven J.; Clark, Brett W.; Voth, Thomas E.

This paper presents an end-to-end design process for compliance minimization based topological optimization of cellular structures through to the realization of a final printed product. Homogenization is used to derive properties representative of these structures through direct numerical simulation of unit cell models of the underlying periodic structure. The resulting homogenized properties are then used assuming uniform distribution of the cellular structure to compute the final macro-scale structure. A new method is then presented for generating an STL representation of the final optimized part that is suitable for printing on typical industrial machines. Quite fine cellular structures are shown to be possible using this method as compared to other approaches that use nurb based CAD representations of the geometry. Finally, results are presented that illustrate the fine-scale stresses developed in the final macro-scale optimized part and suggestions are made as to incorporate these features into the overall optimization process.

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Wave propagation and dispersion in elasto-plastic microstructured materials

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Dingreville, Rémi; Robbins, Joshua R.; Voth, Thomas E.

A Mindlin continuum model that incorporates both a dependence upon the microstructure and inelastic (nonlinear) behavior is used to study dispersive effects in elasto-plastic microstructured materials. A one-dimensional equation of motion of such material systems is derived based on a combination of the Mindlin microcontinuum model and a hardening model both at the macroscopic and microscopic level. The dispersion relation of propagating waves is established and compared to the classical linear elastic and gradient-dependent solutions. It is shown that the observed wave dispersion is the result of introducing microstructural effects and material inelasticity. The introduction of an internal characteristic length scale regularizes the ill-posedness of the set of partial differential equations governing the wave propagation. The phase speed does not necessarily become imaginary at the onset of plastic softening, as it is the case in classical continuum models and the dispersive character of such models constrains strain softening regions to localize. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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LDRD final report : mesoscale modeling of dynamic loading of heterogeneous materials

Robbins, Joshua R.; Dingreville, Remi P.; Voth, Thomas E.; Furnish, Michael D.

Material response to dynamic loading is often dominated by microstructure (grain structure, porosity, inclusions, defects). An example critically important to Sandia's mission is dynamic strength of polycrystalline metals where heterogeneities lead to localization of deformation and loss of shear strength. Microstructural effects are of broad importance to the scientific community and several institutions within DoD and DOE; however, current models rely on inaccurate assumptions about mechanisms at the sub-continuum or mesoscale. Consequently, there is a critical need for accurate and robust methods for modeling heterogeneous material response at this lower length scale. This report summarizes work performed as part of an LDRD effort (FY11 to FY13; project number 151364) to meet these needs.

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Results 1–50 of 69
Results 1–50 of 69