Reliability-Based Topology Optimization Using the Virtual Element Method: An Integrated Framework

This paper introduces a topology optimization approach based on the virtual element method (VEM), incorporating uncertainties. The objective of this optimization process is to design an optimal material layout for problems governed by linear elasticity equations to minimize the volume while satisfying probabilistic compliance constraints. The VEM is used to solve the boundary value problem in reliability-based topology optimization (RBTO). In the comparison between the VEM and the standard finite element method (FEM), a key difference emerges in the absence of explicitly defined shape functions tied to discrete degrees of freedom in VEM. Unlike FEM, VEM directly constructs the discrete bilinear form and load linear form without the need for computing shape function derivatives within the elements. This flexibility accommodates meshes with intricate geometries and arbitrarily shaped elements. The paper discusses the computational efficiency of VEM RBTO and explores the geometric impact of tessellations on converged topologies, demonstrating reduced susceptibility to checkerboard patterns compared to conventional quadrilateral elements. Additionally, the single-loop approach is examined, showcasing comparable accuracy to the first-order/second-order reliability methods (FORM/SORM) of RBTO using VEM. Numerical results for several problems that demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method are presented.