Detection of Planar Regions in Volume Data for Topology Optimization

In this great work by Ulrich Bauer and Konrad Polthier (link) from Freie Universität Berlin, a method for determining planar regions in topology optimization results is developed. The results look very promising. Such a tool is very important for the sake of topology optimization usage, as topology optimization software are very good at what they do, but user interpretation of the results forms a weak point in the process. This misinterpretation can be caused by the user not trusting the software enough, being unable to comprehend the 3D structure, being unable to find a manufacturing method etc.

Such  a tool would reveal an almost readily producible structure to the user, for sheet metal structures at least, which is a very big segment of mechanical structures. It can also speed the design cycle, which is already improved by topology optimization, even more.