The structure optimization design under thermo-mechanical coupling is a difficult problem in the topology optimization field. An adaptive growth algorithm has become a more effective approach for structural topology optimization. This paper proposed a topology optimization method by an adaptive growth algorithm for the stiffener layout design of box type load-bearing components under thermo-mechanical coupling. Based on the stiffness diffusion theory, both the load stiffness matrix and the heat

more »

... conduction stiffness matrix of the stiffener are spread at the same time to make sure the stiffener grows freely and obtain an optimal stiffener layout design. Meanwhile, the objectives of optimization are the minimization of strain energy and thermal compliance of the whole structure, and thermo-mechanical coupling is considered. Numerical studies for square shells clearly show the effectiveness of the proposed method for stiffener layout optimization under thermo-mechanical coupling. Finally, the method is applied to optimize the stiffener layout of box type load-bearing component of the machining center. The optimization results show that both the structural deformation and temperature of the load-bearing component with the growth stiffener layout, which are optimized by the adaptive growth algorithm, are less than the stiffener layout of shape '#' stiffener layout. It provides a new solution approach for stiffener layout optimization design of box type load-bearing components under thermo-mechanical coupling.