Robust Topology Optimization of Vehicle Suspension Control Arm

A robust topology optimization design framework is developed to solve lightweight structural design problems under uncertain conditions. To enhance the calculation accuracy and flexibility of the statistical moments of robust analysis, number theory integral method is applied to sample point selection and weight assignment. Both the structure topology optimization and number theory integral methods are combined to form a new robust topology optimization method. A suspension control arm problem is provided as a demonstration of robust topology optimization methods under loading uncertainties. Based on the results of deterministic and robust topology optimization, it is demonstrated that the proposed robust topology optimization method can produce a more robust design than that obtained by deterministic topology optimization. It is also found that this new approach is easy to apply in the existing commercial topology optimization software and thus feasible in practical engineering problems.