Integrated layout and topology optimization design ofmulti-component systems with assembly units

The purpose of this paper is to introduce assembly units into the existing integrated layout and topology optimization design of multi-component systems. Considering a complex system in which several components and assembly units are placed in a specified design domain, the aim of the design is to find the optimal position and orientation of each component and those of the assembly units, as well as the configuration of the structure that supports and interconnects the components and assembly units, which significantly extends the integrated layout and topology optimization design facing complicated aircraft and aerospace structure systems. The multi-point constraints (MPC) is used to simulate the rivets or bolts connections among the components, assembly units and the supporting structures. The finite-circle method (FCM) is applied to avoiding the overlaps among the components and those between components and boundaries of the design domain. The positions and orientations of the components and the assembly units are optimized together with the configuration of the supporting structures simultaneously through the proposed method. The optimized designs have shown the ability of integrated layout and topology optimization method in designing complicated aircraft and aerospace structure systems.