An alternative interpolation scheme for minimum compliance topology optimization

We consider the discretized zero-one continuum topology optimization problem of finding the optimal distribution of two linearly elastic materials such that compliance is minimized. The geometric complexity of the design is limited using a constraint on the perimeter of the design. A common approach to solve these problems is to relax the zero-one constraints and model the material properties by a power law which gives noninteger solutions very little stiffness in comparison to the amount of material used. We propose a material interpolation model based on a certain rational function, parameterized by a positive scalar q such that the compliance is a convex function when q is zero and a concave function for a finite and a priori known value on q. This increases the probability to obtain a zero-one solution of the relaxed problem.