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Particle swarm optimization for curved beams in multistable structures

Sheng Sang, Ziping Wang and Jiadi Fan

Vol. 17 (2022), No. 5, 441–453
Abstract

Bistable curved beam structures have been widely used in energy harvesting devices, switches and metamaterials. Traditional bistable curved beams possess constant thickness along their longitudinal directions. To achieve better performance, the optimization of beams with varying thickness is highly demanded. However, due to the complexity of the problem, less attention has been paid to this topic. In this paper, particle swarm optimization algorithm has been used to optimize the curve beams under fixed-fixed and pinned-pinned boundary conditions. The beam is optimized to improve the structure behavior such as maximum stiffness, maximum forward snapping force, maximum backward snapping force. This has been done using a combination of finite element simulation and particle swarm algorithm. Finally, 3D printed optimized beams based on results of optimization are tested and validated by an experimental study. The experimental data is in good agreement with numerical simulation and optimization results. The proposed approach has advantages in low computer energy consuming, high prediction accuracy, high robustness, and is easy to be modified in different scenarios. This method can be used in future design and optimization of multistable structure with multiple objectives, and thus meets the needs of rapidly changing engineering community.

Keywords
bistable beam, particle swarm optimization, geometrical nonlinearity deformation, compression test
Milestones
Received: 15 February 2022
Revised: 23 May 2022
Accepted: 16 June 2022
Published: 22 February 2023
Authors
Sheng Sang
Department of Engineering
Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, MN
United States
Ziping Wang
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics
Jiangsu University
Zhenjiang, Jiangsu
China
Jiadi Fan
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
United States