Additive manufacturing (AM) processes have proven to be a perfect match for topology optimization (TO), as they are able to realize sophisticated geometries in a unique layer-by-layer manner. From a manufacturing viewpoint, however, there is a significant likelihood of process-related defects within complex geometrical features designed by TO. This is because TO seldomly accounts for process constraints and conditions and is typically perceived as a purely geometrical design tool. On the other hand, advanced AM process simulations have shown their potential as reliable tools capable of predicting various process-related conditions and defects. Thus far, geometry design by topology optimization and multiphysics manufacturing simulations have been viewed as two mostly separate paradigms, whereas one should really conceive them as one holistic computational design tool. More specifically, AM process models provide input to physics-based TO, where consequently, not only the designed component will function optimally, but also will have near-to-minimum manufacturing defects. In this regard, we aim at giving a thorough overview of holistic computational design tool concepts applied within AM. First, literature on TO for performance optimization is reviewed and then the most recent developments within physics-based TO techniques related to AM are covered. Process simulations play a pivotal role in the latter type of TO and serve as additional constraints on top of the primary end-user optimization objectives. As a natural consequence of this, a comprehensive and detailed review of non-metallic and metallic additive manufacturing simulations is performed, where the latter is divided into micro-scale and deposition-scale simulations. Material multi-scaling techniques, which are central to the process-structure-property relationships, are reviewed next, followed by a subsection on process multi-scaling techniques, which are reduced-order versions of advanced process models and are incorporable into physics-based TO due to their lower computational requirements. Finally the paper is concluded and suggestions for further research paths discussed.

Multi-scale structures, as found in nature (e.g., bone and bamboo), hold the promise of achieving superior performance while being intrinsically lightweight, robust, and multi-functional. Recent years have seen a rapid development in topology optimization approaches for designing multi-scale structures, but the field actually dates back to the seminal paper by Bendsøe and Kikuchi from 1988 (Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 71(2): pp. 197–224). In this review, we intend to categorize existing approaches, explain the principles of each category, analyze their strengths and applicabilities, and discuss open research questions. The review and associated analyses will hopefully form a basis for future research and development in this exciting field.

Variable thickness sheet and homogenization-based topology optimization often result in spread-out, non-well-defined solutions that are difficult to interpret or de-homogenize to sensible final designs. By extensive numerical investigations, we demonstrate that such solutions are due to non-uniqueness of solutions or at least very flat minima. Much clearer and better-defined solutions may be obtained by adding a measure of non-void space to the objective function with little if any increase in structural compliance. We discuss various alternatives for cleaning up solutions and propose two efficient approaches which both introduce an auxiliary field to control non-void space: one approach based on a cut element based auxiliary field (hybrid approach) and another approach based on an auxiliary element based field (density approach). At the end, we demonstrate significant qualitative and quantitative improvements in variable thickness sheet and de-homogenization designs resulting from the proposed cleaning schemes.

This paper concerns compliance minimization and projection of coated structures with orthotropic infill material in 2D. The purpose of the work is two-fold. First, we introduce an efficient homogenization-based approach to perform topology optimization of coated structures with orthotropic infill material. The design space is relaxed to allow for a composite material description, which means that designs with complex microstructures can be obtained on relatively coarse meshes. Second, a method is presented to project the homogenization-based designs on a fine but realizable scale. A novel method to adaptively refine the lattice structure is presented to allow for a regular spacing of the infill. Numerical experiments show excellent behavior of the projected designs, with structural performance almost identical to the homogenization-based designs. Furthermore, a reduction in computational cost of at least an order of magnitude is achieved, compared to a related approach in which the infill is optimized using a density-based approach.

Additively manufactured parts are often composed of two sub-structures, a solid shell forming their exterior and a porous infill occupying the interior. To account for this feature this paper presents a novel method for generating simultaneously optimized shell and infill in the context of minimum compliance topology optimization. Our method builds upon two recently developed approaches that extend density-based topology optimization: A coating approach to obtain an optimized shell that is filled uniformly with a prescribed porous base material, and an infill approach which generates optimized, non-uniform infill within a prescribed shell. To evolve the shell and infill concurrently, our formulation assigns two sets of design variables: One set defines the base and the coating, while the other set defines the infill structures. The resulting intermediate density distributions are unified by a material interpolation model into a physical density field, upon which the compliance is minimized. Enhanced by an adapted robust formulation for controlling the minimum length scale of the base, our method generates optimized shell–infill composites suitable for additive manufacturing. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method on numerical examples, and analyse the influence of different design specifications.