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1 – 10 of over 5000Shutian Liu, Haipeng Jia and Delun Wang
Usually, an optimal topology is obtained by optimizing the material distribution within a prescribed domain; for example, a rectangular domain with a specified length and width…
Abstract
Usually, an optimal topology is obtained by optimizing the material distribution within a prescribed domain; for example, a rectangular domain with a specified length and width for a plane problem. However, the dimensions (i.e. aspect ratio) of a rectangular design domain have significant influence on the resultant optimal topology. In this paper, a minimum Averaged Compliance Density (ACD) based method for topology optimization of structures is proposed. Unlike the conventional topology optimization method, the ACD is taken as the objective function, and the topology and domain dimensions of the structure are optimized simultaneously. As an example, the topology of a cantilever beam with large aspect ratio will be optimized, which is often difficult for traditional topology optimization algorithms. Through optimizing the topology and the dimensions of the design domain, a base structure is obtained, which is repeated to yield the whole, assembled beam. The influence of the relative values of shear force and moment is analyzed numerically. Results show that as the value of the bending moment increases relative to the shear force, the optimal topology changes from a truss‐like structure to a vertically stiffened box‐like structure.
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Eufrosina Otlacan and Romulus‐Petru Otlacan
To explain the objectivity of the globalisation process by using the mathematical theory of topological structures.
Abstract
Purpose
To explain the objectivity of the globalisation process by using the mathematical theory of topological structures.
Design/methodology/approach
After a brief presentation of the history and features of the globalisation phenomena, there are presented the basic notions of the mathematical concept of topology. Besides geometrical distance and geometrical topology, the authors define informational distance and informational topology. An informational neighbourhood of a person P is the informational medium that he/she masters, a set of persons with whom P communicates in a well‐determined interval of time. There is presented a hierarchy of informational topologies which structured human life on Earth. Nowadays, the world benefits from the finest topology, the topology of communication by the internet (TCI).
Findings
The possibility to conceive the globalisation process as a multidimensional vector function defined on the set of the world population. The projections of this vector function on the subsystems of human life refer to the political, economic, military, cultural or religious life. The continuity of this function in the TCI sense expresses the possibility for the globalisation phenomenon to be controlled.
Practical implications
The very understanding of the objectivity of the globalisation process and an important conclusion: the control of the situation only on a compact geographic area cannot ensure the stability of this area; it must have control over a neighbourhood of the informational topology. This means possessing informational instruments so as to be able to manage the economic, political and social activity and to avoid catastrophe.
Originality/value
Concept of mathematical topological structure applied to a complex social phenomenon.
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Mihnea C Moldoveanu, Joel A.C Baum and Tim J Rowley
We introduce a multi-level model of the dependence of interfirm network topologies on the distribution and commonality of information in a network and the information strategies…
Abstract
We introduce a multi-level model of the dependence of interfirm network topologies on the distribution and commonality of information in a network and the information strategies pursued by its member firms. Network topology, information properties of the network, and firm-level action within the network form dynamic, recursive, cross-level relationships – information properties in the network determine firm-level action, which in turn impacts the network topology and information properties. We derive predictions about the kinds of information strategies that firms are likely to adopt and succeed with in different information regimes, and about the kinds and short- and long-run dynamics of network topologies expected under different information regimes. Our model sheds new light on network topologies as a dependent variable that can be explained by network-level information regimes and firm-level information strategies.
Kang Liu, Yingchun Bai, Shouwen Yao and Shenggang Luan
The purpose of this paper is to develop a topology optimization algorithm considering natural frequencies.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a topology optimization algorithm considering natural frequencies.
Design/methodology/approach
To incorporate natural frequency as design criteria of shell-infill structures, two types of design models are formulated: (1) type I model: frequency objective with mass constraint; (2) type II model: mass objective with frequency constraint. The interpolation functions are constructed by the two-step density filtering approach to describe the fundamental topology of shell-infill structure. Sensitivities of natural frequencies and mass with respect to the original element densities are derived, which will be used for both type I model and type II model. The method of moving asymptotes is used to solve both models in combination with derived sensitivities.
Findings
Mode switching is one of the challenges faced in eigenfrequency optimization problems, which can be overcome by the modal-assurance-criterion-based mode-tracking strategy. Furthermore, a shifting-frequency-constraint strategy is recommended for type II model to deal with the unsatisfactory topology obtained under direct frequency constraint. Numerical examples are systematically investigated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Originality/value
In this paper, a topology optimization method considering natural frequencies is proposed by the author, which is useful for the design of shell-infill structures to avoid the occurrence of resonance in dynamic conditions.
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Danilo Ferreira de Carvalho and Carmelo José Albanez Bastos‐Filho
Particle swarm optimization (PSO) has been used to solve many different types of optimization problems. In spite of this, the original version of PSO is not capable to find…
Abstract
Purpose
Particle swarm optimization (PSO) has been used to solve many different types of optimization problems. In spite of this, the original version of PSO is not capable to find reasonable solutions for some types of problems. Therefore, novel approaches to deal with more sophisticated problems are required. Many variations of the basic PSO form have been explored, targeting the velocity update equation. Other approaches attempt to change the communication topology inside the swarm. The purpose of this paper is to propose a topology based on the concept of clans.
Design/methodology/approach
First of all, this paper presents a detailed description of its proposal. After that, it shows a graphical convergence analysis for the Rosenbrock benchmark function. In the sequence, a convergence analysis for clan PSO with different parameters is performed. A comparison with star, ring, focal, von Neumann and four clusters topologies is also performed.
Findings
The paper's simulation results have shown that the proposal obtained better results than the other topologies for the benchmark functions selected for this paper.
Originality/value
The proposed topology for PSO based on clans provides a novel form for information distribution inside the swarm. In this approach, the topology is determined dynamically during the search process, according to the success rate inside each clan.
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Sumathy P., Navamani Divya, Jagabar Sathik, Lavanya A., Vijayakumar K. and Dhafer Almakhles
This paper aims to review comprehensively the different voltage-boosting techniques and classifies according to their voltage gain, stress on the semiconductor devices, count of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review comprehensively the different voltage-boosting techniques and classifies according to their voltage gain, stress on the semiconductor devices, count of the total components and their prominent features. Hence, the focus is on non-isolated step-up converters. The converters categorized are analyzed according to their category with graphical representation.
Design/methodology/approach
Many converters have been reported in recent years in the literature to meet our power requirements from mill watts to megawatts. Fast growth in the generation of renewable energy in the past few years has promoted the selection of suitable converters that directly impact the behaviour of renewable energy systems. Step-up converters are a fast-emerging switching power converter in various power supply units. Researchers are more attracted to the derivation of novel topology with a high voltage gain, low voltage and current stress, high efficiency, low cost, etc.
Findings
A comparative study is done on critical metrics such as voltage gain, switch voltage stress and component count. Besides, the converters are also summarized based on their advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, the areas that need to be explored in this field are identified and presented.
Originality/value
Types of analysis usually performed in dc converter and their needs with the areas need to be focused are not yet completely reviewed in most of the articles. This paper gives an eyesight on these topics. This paper will guide the researchers to derive and suggest a suitable topology for the chosen application. Moreover, it can be used as a handbook for studying the various topologies with their shortfalls, which will provide a way for researchers to focus.
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Jayarama Pradeep, Krishnakumar Vengadakrishnan, Anbarasan Palani and Thamizharasan Sandirasegarane
Multilevel inverters become very popular in medium voltage applications owing to their inherent capability of reconciling stepped voltage waveform with reduced harmonic distortion…
Abstract
Purpose
Multilevel inverters become very popular in medium voltage applications owing to their inherent capability of reconciling stepped voltage waveform with reduced harmonic distortion and electromagnetic interference. They have several disadvantages like more number of switching devices required and devices with high voltage blocking and need additional dc sources count to engender particular voltage. So this paper aims to propose a novel tri-source symmetric cascaded multilevel inverter topology with reduced number of switching components and dc sources.
Design/methodology/approach
A novel multilevel inverter has been suggested in this study, offering minimal switch count in the conduction channel for the desired voltage level under symmetric and asymmetric configurations. This novel topology is optimized to prompt enormous output voltage levels by employing constant power switches count and/or dc sources of voltage. The topology claims its advantages in generating higher voltage levels with lesser number of voltage sources, gate drivers and dc voltage sources.
Findings
The consummation of the proposed arrangement is verified in Matlab/Simulink R2015b, and an experimental prototype for 7-level, 13-level, 21-level, 29-level, 25-level and 49-level operation modes is constructed to validate the simulation results.
Originality/value
The proposed topology operated with six new algorithms for asymmetrical configuration to propel increased number of voltage levels with reduced power components.
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Yiru Ren, Jinwu Xiang and Zheqi Lin
– The purpose of this paper is to get the topology shape and material distribution of composite rotor beam under the requirement of cross-sectional characteristics.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to get the topology shape and material distribution of composite rotor beam under the requirement of cross-sectional characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
A new multi-material topology optimization method is given. Designated shear center (SC) position and stiffness terms are combined as the objective function. Multi-material model including isotropic and anisotropic materials are employed. Sensitivity analysis is given based on gradient-based algorithm, and density filtering scheme is adopted to avoid checkerboard problem.
Findings
The topology design method of composite rotor beam provides innovative cross-sectional shape and material distribution method. The final topology shape like “ > ” is given for different material types and cross-sectional shape under SC position requirement. The coefficient of stiffness components has great influence on the cross-sectional final topology shape.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed method is just to give cross-sectional topology shape. To obtain final actual composite rotor beam structure, shape and size optimization should be conducted if the topology shape is given.
Practical implications
This method is suitable for the preliminary design of helicopter rotor beam to get designated SC position and stiffness terms.
Originality/value
The proposed method provides a new gradient-based algorithm for multi-material topology optimization design of composite rotor beam.
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R. Balamurugan, C.V. Ramakrishnan and N. Swaminathan
The structural design problem can be viewed as an iterative design loop with each iteration involving two stages for topology and shape designs with genetic algorithm (GA) as the…
Abstract
Purpose
The structural design problem can be viewed as an iterative design loop with each iteration involving two stages for topology and shape designs with genetic algorithm (GA) as the optimization tool for both.
Design/methodology/approach
The topology optimization problem, which is ill posed, is regularized using a constraint on perimeter and solved using GA. The problem is formulated as one of compliance minimization subject to volume constraint for the single loading case. A dual formulation of this has been used for the multiple loading cases resulting in as many behavioral constraints as there are loading cases. The tentative topology given by the topology optimization module is taken and the domain boundary is approximated using straight lines, B‐splines and cubic spline curves and design variables are selected among the boundary defining points. Optimum boundary shape of the problem has been obtained using GA in two different ways: without stress constraints; and with stress constraints.
Findings
The proposed two stage strategy has been tested on benchmark structural optimization problems and its performance is found to be extremely good.
Practical implications
The strategy appears to be eminently suitable for implementation in a general purpose FE software as an add‐on module for structural design optimization.
Originality/value
It has been observed that the integrated topology and shape design method is robust and easy to implement in comparison with other techniques. The computing time requirements for the GA does not appear daunting in the present scenario of high performance parallel computing and improved GA techniques.
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Marnix Kaart, Jos Vrancken and Wim Vree
The purpose of this paper is to argue that insight into internet topology at various levels of aggregation is necessary for identifying and understanding policy issues in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to argue that insight into internet topology at various levels of aggregation is necessary for identifying and understanding policy issues in the areas of fair competition, reliability and performance in the internet.
Design/methodology/approach
Using three areas of social concern in relation to the global information infrastructure as a context, the paper provides some theoretical examples, supported by case examples, which show the importance of gaining insight into internet topology.
Findings
The paper finds that proper detectors for internet policy are lacking and insight into the topology of the internet is needed. The only feasible way of obtaining this insight is by topology measurements, but still some fundamental pathologies in the available measurement tools and techniques need to be overcome. All internet topologies published to date suffer from these limitations and their use for identifying internet policy is limited.
Research limitations/implications
The paper provides a general overview of importance and limitations. Future research should be focused on increasing the usability of internet topology by solving fundamental issues in the area of internet topology measurement.
Practical implications
The availability of high‐quality internet topology maps at various levels of aggregation would dramatically improve one's ability to identify and understand certain policy issues in the internet.
Originality/value
In policy analysis it is often ignored that certain policy issues have their base in the internet infrastructure and knowledge of this infrastructure is limited. In internet topology research, focus is mainly on technical and operational issues and limited attention is given to the usability of inferred topology for identifying policy issues. Until now, an approach that addresses both fundamental topology research and internet policy issues in concordance has been lacking.
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