Topology optimization of orthotropic heat transfer structures using the IGA-EFG coupling approach

A topological optimization model of orthotropic heat transfer structure is established based on the novel isogeometric analysis and element-free Galerkin (IGA-EFG) coupling method. According to the regeneration condition, the equivalence between moving least squares (MLS) shape function and isogeometric basis function is realized by the model, and then the adaptive refinement based on temperature gradient is realized. The impacts of mesh refinement numbers, off-angles θ and thermal conductivity factors Ht on the topological structure and heat dissipation capacity are investigated using the finned radiators example. The results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves consistency between the geometric and discrete models along with adaptive local mesh refinement. The IGA-EFG coupling approach exhibits higher accuracy at the first-level refinement, and the IGA-EFG optimal topological structures demonstrate superior heat dissipation performance when θ and Ht are in the ranges of 0.1–1 and 60°–90°, respectively.