Optimizing the design of physical structures/objects

A computer-assisted method for the optimization of the topology of a physical object resulting in an optimized distribution of material with respect to at least one of an aerodynamic, thermodynamic, crashworthiness, and mechanical compliance quality function and constraints relating to the physical properties of the physical object, wherein the physical object is at least one of a land vehicle, an air vehicle, a sea vehicle, a robot, or at least one of a part or design thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining design parameters of the physical object or a design of the physical object;
• representing the design parameters in a design space;
• performing a topology optimization of the design parameters until a stop criterion is met,
• wherein the topology optimization comprises an iterative local redistribution of material of the physical object,
• wherein the iterative local redistribution of material is performed using update strategies for the local redistribution of the local material based on local information at a location of the redistribution of a structure of the physical object,
• wherein the update strategies define a functional mapping from the local information to an update signal, and the local information refers to properties of finite elements within a predetermined distance of the location in the design space depending on the design variable, and
• wherein in response to the structure of the physical object at a time when the stop criterion is met not meeting a convergence criterion, updating the update strategies at the location of the local redistribution based on the local information including at least one of thermodynamic properties, energy absorption and position in an overall physical structure as an input for each finite element of the topology optimization separately, wherein the updating is performed without using gradient based sensitivity information, and repeating the performing of the topology optimization of the design parameters on the basis of the updated update strategies of another location of the local redistribution location;
• and
• outputting a signal representing the optimized design parameters to a processor when the convergence criterion is met, wherein the processor is used to manufacture the physical object including the optimized distribution of materials based on the optimized design parameters.