Simultaneous optimization of stiffener layout of 3D box structure together with attached tuned mass dampers under harmonic excitations

• Published in: Structural and multidisciplinary optimization 2021-08, Vol.64 (2), p.721-737
• Main Authors: Shen, Lei, Ding, Xiaohong, Hu, Tiannan, Zhang, Heng, Xu, Shipeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computational Mathematics and Numerical Analysis; Dynamic response; Engineering; Engineering Design; Excitation; Layouts; Optimization; Parameters; Research Paper; Stiffeners; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Vibration isolators
• ISSN: 1615-147X; 1615-1488
• DOI: 10.1007/s00158-021-02880-9

This paper presents a novel and effective design method to improve the structural dynamic performance of 3D box structures subjected to harmonic excitations by combining the stiffener layout optimization with the optimal tuning of attached tuned mass dampers (TMDs). First, the adaptive growth method which is based on the growth mechanism of natural branch systems is adopted to optimize the stiffener layout. To break through the obstacle of the adaptive growth method for dynamic response problems, the stiffeners’ material attribute penalty is introduced. Next, an integrated optimization approach is proposed to optimize the box structure and TMDs simultaneously, where the locations and dynamic parameters of TMDs are optimized in every step of stiffener layout optimization. Thus, the interaction between the box structure and TMDs is fully considered to improve the dynamic performance. Numerical examples of typical box structures are presented to validate the proposed method. The optimized stiffener layout is clear and reasonable with explicit geometric parameters, and the panel thickness has a great influence on the stiffener layout. When the stiffener layout and TMDs are optimized simultaneously, the modal strain energy of the box structure is more concentrated compared with that obtained from the non-simultaneous optimization cases. Therefore, the dynamic compliance of the target mode is significantly reduced.