A simultaneous topology and shape optimization scheme

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop a simultaneous topology and shape optimization method based on the artificial bee colony algorithm (ABCA). During the optimization process, holes in structure are naturally created from topology optimization based on the ABCA, one of stochastic methods and the refined shape is obtained from shape optimization based on the ABCA using boundary parameterization. Finally, this method can provide an optimized shape considering the effects of shape and topology optimization simultaneously. To examine performance of the proposed scheme, the optimized shapes of examples are compared with those of the level set method (LSM). From the results, it can be concluded that the proposed scheme is a competitive algorithm with the LSM