Topology optimization of cylindrical shells for various support conditions

Topology optimization has been receiving unprecedented attention, due to the potential to automatically generate not only good, but also optimal designs. Since the introduction of topology optimization to the design of continuum structures, it has been successfully applied to many different types of structural design problems. Most FEM codes have implemented certain capabilities of topology optimization. In this paper topology optimization is studied for maximizing the static and dynamic stiffness of the shell structure. In static topology optimization, minimum compliance is considered as objective function to maximize the static stiffness with a constraint on volume and in dynamic topology optimization. Maximizing the Eigenfrequencies is considered to increase the dynamic stiffness of the structure. Numerical examples of shell structure with various boundary conditions are investigated and the results are presented.