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Invited Lecture
Topology-optimized foamed structures
Thursday (08.10.2020) 13:30 - 14:00 Part of:We made use of topological optimization software combined with the multi-graded foaming process to achieve optimized foamed objects in terms of specific structural and functional performances. In a typical design process, the object is first drawn and bulk material properties, loads and constraints are applied in a Computer-Aided Design (e.g.: Finite Element Methods - FEM) software. Then, the topological optimization tool (within the FEM software - now common, built for the additive manufacturing industry) locally, space-wise reduces the density of the material, iteratively until an optimum, for example minimizing the object mass, is obtained in silico. Finally, we adopted our recently-introduced process to produce the desired space-wise, density-optimized structure. In particular, to achieve multi-graded foams we made use of time-varying boundary conditions of the blowing agent sorption stage and of preforms with suitable thickness profiles. We tested this designing process to produce a 1:10 scale stool made out of polystyrene, foamed with N2 and CO2.
