A topology synthesis approach to design 2D Contact-aided Compliant Mechanisms (CCMs) to trace output paths with three or more kinks is presented. Synthesis process uses three different types of external, rigid contact surfaces: circular, elliptical and rectangular: which in combination, offer intricate local curvatures that CCMs can benefit from, to deliver desired, complex output characteristics. A network of line elements is employed to generate topologies. A set of circular subregions is laid over this network, and external contact surfaces are generated within each subregion. Both, discrete and continuous design variables are employed: the former set controls the CCM topology, appearance and type of external contact surfaces, whereas the latter set governs shapes and sizes of the CCM constituents, and sizes of contact surfaces. All contact types are permitted with contact modeling made significantly easier through identification of outer and inner loops. Line topologies are fleshed out via a user-defined number of quadrilateral elements along lateral and longitudinal directions. Candidate CCM designs are carefully preprocessed before analysis via a commercial software and evolution using a stochastic search. The process is exemplified via a contact-aided, 3-kink mechanical switch which is thoroughly analysed in presence of friction and wear.

中文翻译：

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3 扭结接触辅助顺从开关的拓扑综合

提出了一种拓扑综合方法，用于设计 2D 接触辅助兼容机制 (CCM)，以跟踪具有三个或更多扭结的输出路径。合成过程使用三种不同类型的外部刚性接触面：圆形、椭圆形和矩形：它们组合在一起，提供复杂的局部曲率，CCM 可以从中受益，以提供所需的复杂输出特性。使用线元素网络来生成拓扑。一组圆形的子区域覆盖在这个网络上，并且在每个子区域内生成外部接触面。离散和连续设计变量都被采用：前一组控制 CCM 拓扑、外观和外部接触表面的类型，而后一组控制 CCM 成分的形状和大小以及接触表面的大小。通过识别外环和内环，接触建模大大简化了所有接触类型。线拓扑通过用户定义数量的沿横向和纵向的四边形元素来充实。候选 CCM 设计在通过商业软件进行分析之前经过仔细预处理，并使用随机搜索进行演变。该过程通过一个接触辅助的 3 扭结机械开关来举例说明，该开关在存在摩擦和磨损的情况下进行了彻底的分析。候选 CCM 设计在通过商业软件进行分析之前经过仔细预处理，并使用随机搜索进行演变。该过程通过一个接触辅助的 3 扭结机械开关来举例说明，该开关在存在摩擦和磨损的情况下进行了彻底的分析。候选 CCM 设计在通过商业软件进行分析之前经过仔细预处理，并使用随机搜索进行演变。该过程通过一个接触辅助的 3 扭结机械开关来举例说明，该开关在存在摩擦和磨损的情况下进行了彻底的分析。