Design of single-axis flexure hinges using continuum topology optimization method

The design of compliant hinges has been extensively studied in the size and shape level in the literature. This paper presents a method for designing the single-axis flexure hinges in the topology level. Two kinds of hinges, that is, the translational hinge and the revolute hinge, are studied. The basic optimization models are developed for topology optimization of the translational hinge and the revolute hinge, respectively. The objective for topology optimization of flexure hinges is to maximize the compliance in the desired direction meanwhile minimizing the compliances in the other directions. The constraints for accomplishing the translational and revolute requirements are developed. The popular Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization method is used to find the optimal flexure hinge topology within a given design domain. Numerical results are performed to illustrate the validity of the proposed method.