TY - JOUR

T1 - Topology optimization of nonlinear flexoelectric structures

AU - Zhuang, Xiaoying

AU - Thai, Tran Quoc

AU - Rabczuk, Timon

N1 - Funding Information: T. Tran and X. Zhuang would like to thank the financial support of ERC Starting Grant ( 802205 ) within Horizon 2020 and DFG ( ZH 459/5-1 ). T. Tran and T. Rabczuk owe gratitude to RISE-BESTOFRAC (734370) within Horizon 2020.

PY - 2023/2

Y1 - 2023/2

N2 - Recent advances in nanotechnology have allowed for the manufacturing of nanostructures and nanodevices with optimized topologies that outperforms their traditional counterparts based on simple geometry in terms of efficiency and function. In this work, a novel nonlinear topology optimization procedure is developed to design optimal layouts of flexoelectric structures undergoing large displacement. The optimal material distribution is determined by optimizing the energy conversion efficiency. Two material properties such as the elasticity coefficient and the permittivity coefficient are interpolated through the solid isotropic material with a penalization approach via an energy interpolation scheme to overcome the numerical instability. Obtained results have revealed that accounting for the geometric nonlinearity leads to a different final optimal topology with a better energy converting efficiency as compared to the linear model. We also found the significant influences of size effects on the optimized structure emphasizing the importance of nonlocal elastic behavior in characterizing and designing micro-structures and flexoelectricity.

AB - Recent advances in nanotechnology have allowed for the manufacturing of nanostructures and nanodevices with optimized topologies that outperforms their traditional counterparts based on simple geometry in terms of efficiency and function. In this work, a novel nonlinear topology optimization procedure is developed to design optimal layouts of flexoelectric structures undergoing large displacement. The optimal material distribution is determined by optimizing the energy conversion efficiency. Two material properties such as the elasticity coefficient and the permittivity coefficient are interpolated through the solid isotropic material with a penalization approach via an energy interpolation scheme to overcome the numerical instability. Obtained results have revealed that accounting for the geometric nonlinearity leads to a different final optimal topology with a better energy converting efficiency as compared to the linear model. We also found the significant influences of size effects on the optimized structure emphasizing the importance of nonlocal elastic behavior in characterizing and designing micro-structures and flexoelectricity.

KW - Flexoelectric couple stress elasticity

KW - Flexoelectric material

KW - Nonlinear geometry

KW - Optimize energy conversion factor

KW - SIMP

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85142128991&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jmps.2022.105117

DO - 10.1016/j.jmps.2022.105117

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85142128991

VL - 171

JO - Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids

JF - Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids

SN - 0022-5096

M1 - 105117

ER -