The SiMPL Method for Multi-Material Topology Optimization

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Gangl, Peter, Keith, Brendan, Kim, Dohyun, Lazarov, Boyan S., Surowiec, Thomas M.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Gangl, Peter
Keith, Brendan
Kim, Dohyun
Lazarov, Boyan S.
Surowiec, Thomas M.
author_facet Gangl, Peter
Keith, Brendan
Kim, Dohyun
Lazarov, Boyan S.
Surowiec, Thomas M.
contents We introduce an efficient and scalable method for density-based multi-material topology optimization, integrating classical mirror descent techniques with point-wise polytopal design constraints. Such constraints arise naturally in this class of problems, wherein the vertices of convex polytopes correspond to distinct design states, only one of which should be occupied at each point in space. The framework generates a descending sequence of iterates by penalizing the design space around the previous iterate with a generalized distance function tailored to the convex geometry of the $n$-dimensional polytope. This distance function, called a Bregman divergence, smooths the optimization landscape, ensuring that each iterate strictly satisfies the point-wise constraints. Subsequently, global constraints (e.g., bounds on the structural mass) can be enforced easily by solving a small, finite-dimensional dual problem. The resulting method is simple to implement and demonstrates robustness and efficiency when combined with an Armijo-type line search algorithm. We validate the method in structural design problems involving the optimal arrangement of both isotropic and anisotropic materials, as well as magnetic flux optimization in electric motors.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_11994
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The SiMPL Method for Multi-Material Topology Optimization
Gangl, Peter
Keith, Brendan
Kim, Dohyun
Lazarov, Boyan S.
Surowiec, Thomas M.
Numerical Analysis
We introduce an efficient and scalable method for density-based multi-material topology optimization, integrating classical mirror descent techniques with point-wise polytopal design constraints. Such constraints arise naturally in this class of problems, wherein the vertices of convex polytopes correspond to distinct design states, only one of which should be occupied at each point in space. The framework generates a descending sequence of iterates by penalizing the design space around the previous iterate with a generalized distance function tailored to the convex geometry of the $n$-dimensional polytope. This distance function, called a Bregman divergence, smooths the optimization landscape, ensuring that each iterate strictly satisfies the point-wise constraints. Subsequently, global constraints (e.g., bounds on the structural mass) can be enforced easily by solving a small, finite-dimensional dual problem. The resulting method is simple to implement and demonstrates robustness and efficiency when combined with an Armijo-type line search algorithm. We validate the method in structural design problems involving the optimal arrangement of both isotropic and anisotropic materials, as well as magnetic flux optimization in electric motors.
title The SiMPL Method for Multi-Material Topology Optimization
topic Numerical Analysis
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.11994