Topology optimization of a fixed boom system with finite element analysis

The main goal in the manufacturing processes of different industrial areas is to produce the best product in the shortest time and with the minimum cost. The priority issue in the design process is that the best design should be able to fulfill the task expected from it in the best way. The reliability of a designed system is directly proportional to how much it meets the expected requests. Although there are too many solutions that will satisfy these conditions, the most important thing is to have the most convenient solution among them. The purpose of the optimization process performed in any machine element, structure or system is to obtain the best in the most appropriate way. While the time parameter stands out as the design variable in an optimization problem, cost or lightness may gain importance in another problem. Structural optimization or numerical optimization techniques are of great importance in engineering fields. Structural optimization has the potential to reduce not only the manufacturing cost but also the manufacturing time. Topology optimization (TO) is a mathematical method that optimizes a specific design area for a given set of load, boundary conditions, and constraints in order to maximize the system performance. Topology optimization is a very useful engineering technique especially during the design process. This method can perform reliable and satisfactory results with the validated structural model. In this study, topology optimization of a fixed boom system will be carried out using a certain finite element method.