Allying topology and shape optimization through machine learning algorithms

Structural optimization is part of the mechanical engineering field and, in most cases, tries to minimize the overall weight of a given design domain, subjected to functionality constraints given in terms of stresses of displacements. The most relevant techniques are topology and shape optimization. Topology optimization provides the optimal material distribution layout into a given, static, design domain. On the other hand, shape optimization provides the optimal combination of the parameters that define the required parametrization of the domain's boundary. Both techniques have strengths and weaknesses, thus a hybrid optimization approach that combines the former techniques will define a more general structural optimization framework that will take advantage of their synergistic combination. The difficulty arises when communicating both techniques for which, in this paper, we propose a machine learning-based methodology