Topology Optimization of B-pillar with Respect to Mesh Type and Size

Abstract

Abstract This paper deals with the influence of different mesh types and element sizes in topology optimization. Meshes from brick elements, tetrahedral elements and combination of both of them were compared in sizes 20, 10 and 7mm. B-Pillar, structural car component, is used here in order to verify the sensitivity of topology optimization due to these changes. Loading case is considering side force 140 kN. Moreover, different solvers implemented in Siemens NX 12 (RAMP, LINEAR, LATTICE and SIMP) were used to analyse how they influence this particular optimization process. It is obvious that highest number of FEM elements is rapidly improving convergence and optimization results but computational time is increasing.