Multi-physics optimization of three-dimensional microvascular polymeric components

  • Authors:

  • Alejandro M. AragóN;Rajat Saksena;Brian D. Kozola;Philippe H. Geubelle;Kenneth T. Christensen;Scott R. White

  • Affiliations:

  • Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Illinois, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA;Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, 1206 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801, USA;Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Illinois, 104 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA;Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Illinois, 104 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA;Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Illinois, 104 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA and Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, 1206 W. Green ...;Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Illinois, 104 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA

  • Venue:
  • Journal of Computational Physics
  • Year:
  • 2013

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Abstract

This work discusses the computational design of microvascular polymeric materials, which aim at mimicking the behavior found in some living organisms that contain a vascular system. The optimization of the topology of the embedded three-dimensional microvascular network is carried out by coupling a multi-objective constrained genetic algorithm with a finite-element based physics solver, the latter validated through experiments. The optimization is carried out on multiple conflicting objective functions, namely the void volume fraction left by the network, the energy required to drive the fluid through the network and the maximum temperature when the material is subjected to thermal loads. The methodology presented in this work results in a viable alternative for the multi-physics optimization of these materials for active-cooling applications.