Category Archives: Applications

Composite Rudder Quadrant

Engineering company High Modulus and composite rudder specialist Isotop, developed a CFRP rudder quadrant for a 100-ft/31m boat to reduce its weight (link). Topology optimization was utilized to design the part. The original structure had a core with sheet CFRP … Continue reading

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Heller machining centres

Heller (link) uses topology optimization to improve their machine components. They optimized their topologies with respect to both static and eigenvalue responses. All the targeted eigenfrequencies were increased significantly.

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Luxon Engineering Suspension Uprights

Luxon Engineering designed and produced Suspension Uprights for race cars (link). They optimized the structure for 16 load-cases. The results are great, as 40% weight savings with 225% increase in stiffness. The parts were manufactured by CNC machining.

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Malaguti rear arm

Malaguti (link) uses topology optimization for their motorcycle’s rear arm. Instead of giving all the load cases to the optimization software, they optimized the part for different load cases, and combined the results themselves, which seems like a reluctant to … Continue reading

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Lanxess Clutch pedal

Lanxess used topology optimization to develop a steel-Durethan hybrid (link) . Durethan is the trade name for Lanxess range of engineering thermoplastics based on polyamide 6 and polyamide 66. Glass fiber reinforced Durethan was used to form ribs inside the … Continue reading

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ZF Ship Gearbox Housing

ZF uses topology optimization to develop a Ship Gearbox Housing (link). The design combines thrust bearing into the gearbox. Thrust bearing deals with the loads that arise from the propeller (or jet). So loads are huge. The special criteria that … Continue reading

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Formula SAE car bell crank

As a master thesis study (link) a Formula SAE cars bell crank was topology optimized. The bell crank is highly stressed, the largest load acting on it being 3500 N. The cranks weight was reduced to 140 grams which is … Continue reading

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Ricardo

Ricardo, worlds leading engine and transmission developer, uses topology optimization to develop its products (link1, link2). The sample from the first article seems to be a production component and it is reported that the optimization decreases design iterations and increases … Continue reading

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Audi

A presentation by Audi (link) shows how extensively topology optimization is used by them, and shares some of the knowhow with us. It is a very useful resource.

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Mahindra Engine FEAD Brackets and Covers

The components shown above were optimized (link) by Mahindra. Rather than weight gains or performance improvements, the decrease in design cycle is highlighted in the conclusions. 50% less time is required to design the components.

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