Toward the integration of lattice structure-based topology optimization and additive manufacturing for the design of turbomachinery components

摘要

Used in several industrial fields to create innovative designs, topology optimization is a method to design a structurecharacterized by maximum stiffness properties and reduced weights. By integrating topology optimization with additivelayer manufacturing and, at the same time, by using innovative materials such as lattice structures, it is possible to realizecomplex three-dimensional geometries unthinkable using traditional subtractive techniques. Surprisingly, the extraordinary potential of topology optimization method (especially when coupled with additive manufacturing and lattice structures) has not yet been extensively developed to study rotating machines. Based on the above considerations, theapplicability of topology optimization, additive manufacturing, and lattice structures to the fields of turbomachinery androtordynamics is here explored. Such techniques are applied to a turbine disk to optimize its performance in terms ofresonance and mass reduction. The obtained results are quite encouraging since this approach allows improving existingturbomachinery components’ performance when compared with traditional one.