Design of a weight optimized casted ADI component using topology and shape optimization

Abstract: Structural Optimization techniques are widely used in product development process in ‘modern industry’ to generate optimal designs with only sufficient material to serve the purpose of the component. In conventional design problems, the design process usually generates overdesigned components with excess material and weight. This will in turn increase the life time cost of machines, both in terms material wastage and expense of usage. The thesis “Design of a weight optimized casted ADI component using topology and shape optimization” deals with redesigning a component from a welded steel plate structure into a castable design for reduced manufacturing cost and weight reduction. The component “Drill Steel Support” mounted in front of the drilling boom of a Face Drilling Machine is redesigned during this work. The main objective of the thesis is to provide an alternative design with lower weight that can be mounted on the existing machine layout without any changes in the mounting interfaces. This thesis report covers in detail procedure followed for attaining the weight reduction of the “Drill Steel Support” and presents the results and methodology which is based on both topology and shape optimization.