Topology optimization of lightweight periodic lattices under simultaneous compressive and shear stiffness constraints

This paper investigates the optimal architecture of planar micro lattice materials for minimum weight under simultaneous axial and shear stiffness constraints. A well-established structural topology optimization approach is used, where the unit cell is composed of a network of beam elements (Timoshenko beams are used instead of truss elements to allow modeling of bending-dominated architectures); starting from a dense unit cell initial mesh, the...