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Innovative Joint for Cable Dome Structure Based on Topology Optimization and Additive Manufacturing
Wenfeng Du1, Hui Wang1, Liming Zhu1
1Institute of Steel and Spatial Structures, College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 28, 2021
Summary
Topology optimization and additive manufacturing enhance cable dome support joints. This approach improves material use and stress distribution, enabling complex, precise component fabrication.
Area of Science:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Structural Engineering
Background:
- Cast-steel support joints in cable dome structures suffer from low material utilization and uneven stress distribution.
- Traditional manufacturing methods limit the geometric complexity and performance of these critical components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To optimize the design and manufacturing of support joints for cable dome structures.
- To investigate the effectiveness of topology optimization and additive manufacturing for improving joint performance.
Main Methods:
- Topology optimization using ANSYS Workbench and Altair OptiStruct.
- Surface smoothing with Discovery Live.
- Additive manufacturing via fused deposition modeling (FDM) and laser-based powder bed fusion (LBPBF).
- Static behavior analysis of optimized and conventional joints.
Main Results:
- Topology-optimized joints exhibit novel shapes, higher material utilization rates, and more uniform stress distribution compared to conventional designs.
- Additive manufacturing technologies (FDM, LBPBF) successfully produced complex joint geometries with high precision and speed.
- The integrated approach demonstrated significant improvements in structural performance and manufacturing efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Combining topology optimization with additive manufacturing offers an effective strategy for advanced design and integrated manufacturing of cable dome support joints.
- This methodology addresses limitations of traditional methods, leading to superior component performance and material efficiency.
Keywords:
additive manufacturingcable dome structuresmooth treatmentsupport jointtopology optimizationMore Related Videos
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