Isogeometric analysis (IGA), which employs Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) basis functions to represent geometric shapes and solve field variables, has demonstrated significant potential in the application of thermo-mechanical and other multiphysics problems.
This paper introduces an isogeometric thermo-mechanical topology optimization method to extend the applicability of IGA. A mathematical model for topology optimization under thermo-mechanical loads is formulated, along with a density-based material interpolation scheme. The proposed method leverages IGA to map, integrate, assemble, and solve the temperature and displacement equations within the design domain. The sensitivity analysis of the objective function is performed directly, and a distance-based element density filtering technique is applied. Several two-dimensional numerical examples explore the influence of external force position, number and location of heat sources on the optimization results, and compare scenarios that consider only thermal or mechanical conditions with those involving combining.
The results indicate that the distribution of heat sources significantly influences the final optimized structure, confirming the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method and highlighting its potential for advancing thermo-mechanical topology optimization.
This study introduces a novel isogeometric thermo-mechanical topology optimization method that effectively addresses coupled thermo-mechanical effects. By capturing the significant influence of heat source distribution and external forces on optimization outcomes, the method demonstrates robust and efficient performance, advancing IGA-based topology optimization for thermo-mechanical multiphysics coupling.
