OS-E: 0880 Volume and Thermal Compliance Responses

Topology optimization of an aluminum heat sink with fins is be performed. The design space is modeled using first order Tetra elements.

Figure 1. FE Model with Loadcases and Loadstep


Model Files

Before you begin, copy the file(s) used in this example to your working directory.

Model Description

An aluminum heat sink with fins, which is modeled using solid elements and has a convective heat source at one end and the ambient temperature is maintained zero. Total volume responses and a thermal compliance responses were created. The objective is to reduce the thermal compliance by changing the density of the elements. A design constrain is defined for volume response with an upper bound value of 93000.
Objective
Minimize the thermal compliance
Constrains
Upper bound on total volume response
Design Variables
Density of each element in the design space

Results

Figure 2. Average Element Densities