Mixed variational formulations for structural topology optimization based on the phase-field approach

We propose a variational principle combining a phase-field functional for structural topology optimization with a mixed (three-field) Hu–Washizu functional, then including directly in the formulation equilibrium, constitutive, and compatibility equations. The resulting mixed variational functional is then specialized to derive a classical topology optimization formulation (where the amount of material to be distributed is an a priori assigned...