Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Topology Optimization is an optimization technique used to synthesize models without any preconceived shape. These structures are synthesized keeping in mind the minimum compliance problems. With the rapid improvement in advanced manufacturing technology and increased need for lightweight high strength designs topology optimization is being used more than ever. There exist a number of commercially available software's that can be used for optimizing a product. These software have a robust Finite Element Solver and can produce good results. However, these software offers little to no choice to the user when it comes to selecting the type of optimization method used. It is possible to use a programming language like MATLAB to develop algorithms that use a specific type of optimization method but the user himself will be responsible for writing the FEA algorithms too. This leads to a situation where the flexibility over the optimization method is achieved but the robust FEA of the commercial FEA tool is lost. There have been works done in the past that links ABAQUS with MATLAB but they are primarily used as a tool for finite element post-processing. Through this thesis, the aim is to develop an interface that can be used for solving optimization problems using different methods like hard-kill as well as the material penalization (SIMP) method. By doing so it's possible to harness the potential of a commercial FEA software and gives the user the requires flexibility to write or modify the codes to have an optimization method of his or her choice. Also, by implementing this interface, it can also be potentially used to unlock the capabilities of other Dassault Systèmes software's as the firm is implementing a tighter integration between all its products using the 3DExperience platform. This thesis as described uses this interface to implement BESO and HCA based topology optimization. Since hybrid cellular atomata is the only other method other than equivalent static load method that can be used for crashworthiness optimization this work suits well for the role when extended into a non-linear region.

<div>Topology Optimization is an optimization technique used to synthesize models without any preconceived shape. These structures are synthesized keeping in mind the minimum compliance problems. With the rapid improvement in advanced manufacturing technology and increased need for lightweight high strength designs topology optimization is being used more than ever.</div><div>There exist a number of commercially available software's that can be used for optimizing a product. These software have a robust Finite Element Solver and can produce good results. However, these software offers little to no choice to the user when it comes to selecting the type of optimization method used.</div><div>It is possible to use a programming language like MATLAB to develop algorithms that use a specific type of optimization method but the user himself will be responsible for writing the FEA algorithms too. This leads to a situation where the flexibility over the optimization method is achieved but the robust FEA of the commercial FEA tool is lost.</div><div>There have been works done in the past that links ABAQUS with MATLAB but they are primarily used as a tool for finite element post-processing. Through this thesis, the aim is to develop an interface that can be used for solving optimization problems using different methods like hard-kill as well as the material penalization (SIMP) method. By doing so it's possible to harness the potential of a commercial FEA software and gives the user the requires flexibility to write or modify the codes to have an optimization method of his or her choice. Also, by implementing this interface, it can also be potentially used to unlock the capabilities of other Dassault Systèmes software's as the firm is implementing a tighter integration between all its products using the 3DExperience platform.</div><div>This thesis as described uses this interface to implement BESO and HCA based topology optimization. Since hybrid cellular atomata is the only other method other than equivalent static load method that can be used for crashworthiness optimization this work suits well for the role when extended into a non-linear region.</div>

Civil engineering projects involve great investments and great impacts. For that reason,engineers have a commitment with an efficient and optimal use of resources. Researchers inuniversities claim that a lot could be achieved by applying structural optimization into realprojects, even though this approach has not gained the same popularity in the industry over thelast decades.The purpose of the present thesis is to explore the possibilities offered by structural optimizationand to verify its applicability in realistic and complex structural engineering problems. Amongthe questions regarding design optimization, it was emphasized feasibility, efficiency and userfriendliness. The chosen structural system was a bridge cantilever deck. The analysis was limitedto the transversal design of the structure and the goal of the optimization was to reduce investmentcosts. In order to guarantee efficiency of the simulations, a "longitudinal length convergence"analysis was performed. It consisted of determining the minimum required longitudinal length(perpendicular to the cantilever length) that ensured reasonable accuracy. The purpose of thisanalysis was to reduce the computational time during the optimization process. In order toautomate the analysis, MATLAB was used in connection to Abaqus (to perform the FE Analysis).There were three different sets of results presented: the length convergence, application toreal projects and parametric study. In the first application, it was shown that the requiredlongitudinal length (lx) proportionally decreased as the cantilever length (lc) increased. It wasalso observed the presence of the edge beam implied in consistently larger longitudinal lengthsfor the same accuracy tolerance. With respect to the second application, two projects wereconsidered and the structural optimization presented alternatives with significant investment costreduction in a reasonable time. Furthermore, it was observed that a design solution without theedge beam reduced the costs even more. Finally, the parametric study confirmed that the costreduction obtained by eliminating the edge beam was not restricted to only certain cantileverlengths. Furthermore, it was possible to obtain the pattern of thickness variation as function ofthe cantilever length.The results of this research suggest that structural optimization could be an alternative totraditional design methods used today in consulting offices and its possibilities transcend puredesign achievements.