Developing a topology optimization module for additive manufacturing applications using ANSYS platform

附加制造(AM)消除了工程设计领域中的一些巨大的传统约束，并可能导致机械产品和部件开发方法的革命性变化。这些变化之一预计是拓扑设计类别从使用原始几何元素(如平面、立方体、圆锥体和圆柱体)的组合转移到具有显著几何复杂性的更复杂的形状。几个世纪以来，这一直是设计师的梦想，但由于制造限制，这一梦想很难实现。然而，尽管AM潜在地消除了许多制造限制，但它在设计中引入的其他限制很少，包括切片的影响、构建方向、几何和尺寸精度以及表面质量要求，以及对支撑结构的需求。本研究项目致力于为AM产品开发新一代拓扑优化设计方法带来的新机遇和新约束。我们开发AM设计方法的方法是利用基于有限元分析(FEA)的拓扑优化解决方案，并对基于AM的约束进行公式化。Ansys是由SimuTech Group Inc.提供和支持的强大而可靠的有限元分析引擎，并被加拿大许多领先的工业部门使用。它的目的是

Additive Manufacturing (AM) removes some of the massive traditional constrains in the engineering design domain and potentially result in revolutionary changes of methodologies in developing mechanical products and components. One of these changes is predicted to be a transfer of topological design categories from using combinations of primitive geometric elements such as planes, cubes, cones, and cylinders to more sophisticated shapes with significant geometric complexities. This has been a dream for designers over centuries which was difficult to achieve due to manufacturing limitations. However, although AM potentially eliminates many of manufacturing limitations, it introduces few other constrains to design, including the effect of slicing, built orientation, geometric and dimensional accuracy and surface quality requirement, and the need for supports structures. This research project focuses on the new opportunities and constrains to develop new generation of design methodologies in topology optimization for AM products. Our approach in developing AM design methodology is to utilize Finite Element Analysis (FEA) - based topology optimization solutions imposed to formulated AM-based constrains. ANSYS is known as a strong and reliable FEA engine presented and supported by SimuTech Group Inc. and utilized by many leading industrial sectors in Canada. It is aimed to