Motion error based robust topology optimization for compliant mechanisms under material dispersion and uncertain forces

Due to the inevitable phenomena that multi-source uncertainty factors in compliant mechanisms, which generally originate from material dispersion and uncertain external forces, severely affect the output motion accuracy, the robustness assessment and optimization with high confidence and efficiency is of great significance for scientists and engineers. In view of this, this study develops a novel approach of robust topology synthesis for compliant mechanisms with desired motion output by minimizing the expectation of Taguchi quantity loss function. The sensitivities of the robustness index with respect to design variables are calculated by the method of adjoint vector. Furthermore, the solution procedures of motion error based robust topology synthesis for geometrically linear and non-linear compliant mechanisms are elaborated. Two engineering examples are eventually presented to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the developed methodology.