Compliant Suspension Topology Optimization (CSTO) Project. Collaboration between students in the Compliant Systems Design Laboratory (CSDL) and the Optimal Design Laboratory (ODE) at the University of Michigan.
This project involves 2D beam element topology optimization using a genetic algorithm and finite element analysis. Custom FEA code was written to reduce analysis time. Design evaluation time was reduced from 120 seconds + (using ANSYS) to between 0.2 and 0.5 seconds.
The case study was a compliant rear mountain bike suspension. For background, please visit my Collection of Technical Cycling Articles.
Preliminary results:
Matlab Code (136 Kb)
Presentation to IOE 511/ Math 562 (Continuous Optimization):
PDF of presentation. Some animations and figures are not clear due to the conversion to PDF.
download PDF (1.1 MB)
.zip file containing full presentation and animations.
download presentation (3.3 MB)
Class project for ME 558 (Discrete Design Optimization)
Final Project Report, Fall 2003.
download report (1.74 MB)
More details (such as animations) will be coming soon. If you have any further questions, please contact me.