Application of Genetic Algorithms in the Design of Multi-Material Structures Manufactured in Rapid Prototyping

Recent developments in the Rapid Prototyping technology establish it as a new manufacturing technique, enabling localized material addition to build a part. Thus, heterogeneous structures, consisting of more than one material can be produced. The aim of this paper is to present an optimization tool to find the best material distribution in a multi-material structure due to given objectives and constraints. The tool is based on genetic algorithms using a discrete material model and FE"'analysis to evaluate the objective functions. It can optimize the distribution materials in 2D-structures with up to 1500 DOF's at reasonable computational costs. Its performance is shown on a bi-objective optimization of a turbine blade.