Optimal design of piezocomposite materials using topology optimization techniques and homogenization theory

Author

Silva, E. C N ; Fonseca, J.S.O. ; de Espinosa, F.R.M. ; Crumm, A. ; Brady, G.A. ; Halloran, J.W. ; Kikuchi, Naoya

Author_Institution

Dept. of Mech. Eng. & Appl. Mech., Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Volume

2

fYear

1997

fDate

5-8 Oct 1997

Firstpage

883

Abstract

Piezocomposite materials require an improvement in their performance characteristics for hydrophone and ultrasonic transducer applications. We have proposed in this work a method that combines topology optimization techniques and homogenization theory for designing new topologies of piezocomposite unit cells with better performance. It consists of finding the distribution of material and void (or gas) phases in a periodic unit cell that optimizes piezocomposite electromechanical-efficiency. In order to calculate the effective properties of a unit cell with complex topology, a general homogenization method applied to piezoelectricity was implemented using the finite element method. The microstructures obtained show a large performance improvement compared to usual designs of piezocomposite unit cells

Keywords

composite materials; optimisation; piezoceramics; topology; complex topology; effective properties; finite element method; general homogenization method; homogenization theory; hydrophone applications; microstructures; optimal design; performance characteristics; periodic unit cell; piezocomposite electromechanical-efficiency; piezocomposite materials; piezocomposite unit cells; topology optimization techniques; ultrasonic transducer applications; void; Design optimization; Electric potential; Finite element methods; Microstructure; Piezoelectric materials; Piezoelectricity; Polymers; Shape; Sonar equipment; Topology;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Ultrasonics Symposium, 1997. Proceedings., 1997 IEEE

Conference_Location

Toronto, Ont.

ISSN

1051-0117

Print_ISBN

0-7803-4153-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ULTSYM.1997.661722

Filename

661722