# 31: Topology Optimization & Scaling for 3D Printed Models
Project ID:
31
Team Members:
Steve Berdote, Bijan Niakan
Faculty Advisor(s):
Robert Taylor
Department:
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Project Type:
REU
Title:
Topology Optimization & Scaling for 3D Printed Models
Abstract:
3D printing technologies provide enhanced design freedom to scale stiffness through material and geometric configuration. Such design freedom offers enhanced efficiency and effectiveness for applications such as aeroelastic wind tunnel models where scaled structural response is critical and conventional methods are costly. This work aims to enable rapid, low cost scale model design for flight vehicles using optimization methods to leverage design freedom enabled by 3D printing technology to establish similarity between models of different scales. The approach for optimizing the wing will be to reduce the number of members within the wing using topology optimization. Then follow it up with optimization approach developed in previous work to design a high aspect ratio wing model for structural similarity with a large scale model. The goal of this approach is to create improved CAD models that can be adjusted more rapidly and simplify assembly to minimize defects in the final product. A scale model wing will be optimized, implemented in a CAD model, 3D printed, and tested statically for similarity with the large scale structural response. The work will be executed in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Research Lab Aerospace Systems Directorate.