Design Variables: design variables are associated with each of the design cells and t heir value varies between 0, (being an empty cell) and 1, (being a solid cell).
Refining the mesh in topology optimization without regularization results in a new design rather than improving the design obtained with the coarse mesh. In the ideal case, mesh refinement improves the finite element meth modeling of the same optimal design, and would produce a better description of the boundaries between empty and filled cells.
- Techniques (Preventing smeared design and imposing minimum scale in the design):
a. mesh independent sensitivity filtering
b. perimeter control
c. density gradient control
d. mesh indepdnent density filtering techniques.
e. projection schemes on density filtering
f. wavelet parameterization
References:
[1] Lazarov, B.S. and Sigmund, O. Int. J. Numer. Meth. Engng., 2011; 86: 765–781. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.3072