Lattice topology homogenization and crack propagation through finite element analyses

Abstract

Lattice topology optimization can stimulate the design of new materials with spatially dependent properties for 3D printed components. The present work considers a mounting bracket for an industrial robotic arm as a case study, having as main objective the increase of the fundamental frequency and its mass reduction. A homogenized model based on the lattice optimization was considered by using the ANSYS software: initially the orthotropic lattice material was optimized by using a variable cubic cell lattice density distribution in the geometric model; in the second stage a homogenization procedure considered different volume fractions and variable density for four different types of cells. Starting from a fundamental frequency of 839 Hz for the unoptimized bracket, it increased to 1227 Hz obtained with lattice optimization, and to 1366 Hz after homogenization. The mass was reduced to more than half. A complementary study presents the possibilities available in ANSYS to use the SMART (Separating Morphing and Adaptive Remeshing Technology) procedure for crack-growth simulations.