DQN-Based Pre-Optimization for Dual-Scale Collaborative Topology Optimization of Anisotropic Materials

Traditional topology optimization methods often face challenges such as slow convergence, high sensitivity to initial structures, and limited exploration of the design space when dealing with multi-physics coupling problems. To address these challenges, this study proposes an efficient design framework integrating reinforcement learning and topology optimization. The framework first employs a Deep Q-Network (DQN) agent to dynamically adjust penalty factors, accelerating the convergence process, and uses its pre-optimization results as the initial conditions for the Bidirectional Evolutionary Structural Optimization (BESO) method, thereby enhancing optimization efficiency and structural performance. By introducing an anisotropic material model, the design space is expanded, further unlocking the potential for structural lightweighting. On this basis, a dual-objective optimization strategy for mechanical compliance and thermal compliance is adopted, enabling the final structure to adapt to various physical working conditions. Finally, the optimal design is extended from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, facilitating subsequent manufacturing and verification. Numerical examples demonstrate that compared with traditional methods, the proposed pre-optimization method achieves a 22.463% reduction in structural compliance and improves thermal management performance. The framework demonstrates robust convergence across different boundary conditions (MBB and cantilever beams) and expands the design space through anisotropic microstructures, offering a practical solution for multi-physics lightweight design.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Applied Sciences
Published
2026-04-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/app16094080
Primary Topic
Topology Optimization in Engineering
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

DQN-Based Pre-Optimization for Dual-Scale Collaborative Topology Optimization of Anisotropic Materials

Qidong Han, Jinchen Cao, Li K, Shuo Feng et al.
Applied Sciences
Topology Optimization in Engineering
article

DQN-Based Pre-Optimization for Dual-Scale Collaborative Topology Optimization of Anisotropic Materials

Qidong Han, Jinchen Cao, Li K, Shuo Feng, Yuhao Yang, Junyi Du
article en

Abstract

Traditional topology optimization methods often face challenges such as slow convergence, high sensitivity to initial structures, and limited exploration of the design space when dealing with multi-physics coupling problems. To address these challenges, this study proposes an efficient design framework integrating reinforcement learning and topology optimization. The framework first employs a Deep Q-Network (DQN) agent to dynamically adjust penalty factors, accelerating the convergence process, and uses its pre-optimization results as the initial conditions for the Bidirectional Evolutionary Structural Optimization (BESO) method, thereby enhancing optimization efficiency and structural performance. By introducing an anisotropic material model, the design space is expanded, further unlocking the potential for structural lightweighting. On this basis, a dual-objective optimization strategy for mechanical compliance and thermal compliance is adopted, enabling the final structure to adapt to various physical working conditions. Finally, the optimal design is extended from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, facilitating subsequent manufacturing and verification. Numerical examples demonstrate that compared with traditional methods, the proposed pre-optimization method achieves a 22.463% reduction in structural compliance and improves thermal management performance. The framework demonstrates robust convergence across different boundary conditions (MBB and cantilever beams) and expands the design space through anisotropic microstructures, offering a practical solution for multi-physics lightweight design.

Applied SciencesVol. 16(9)
Chang'an University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Topology Optimization in Engineering
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

DQN-Based Pre-Optimization for Dual-Scale Collaborative Topology Optimization of Anisotropic Materials — Qidong Han, Jinchen Cao, et al. · Applied Sciences (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS