Printed examplesThe multiscale approach adopted in the three dimensional analysis has also been applied to the optimisation of shell like structures with a structure which can be graded both through the shell thickness and spatially. Here the large scale is assumed to be a shell model, where both membrane, bending and shear are accounted for, and large deformations can be considered.

An example geometry considered which evolves from an auxetic geometry to a simple square type of geometry with a single design variable for each surface, allowing grading from the top to bottom surface to be achieved.

 

Example of an optimised shell structure with in-plane deformation leading to out of plane actuation.

 

 

By optimising the geometry variation non-linear behaviour can be optimised for, such as that of an increasing deformation with in-plane loading as shown below which show that the level of deformation increased with in-plane loading, before membrane stresses flatten out the deformations.