An Integrated Matlab-Abaqus Approach for Topology Optimization of Complex Structures

There are many topology optimization open-source codes on MATLAB platform, most of which have weak finite element analysis functions, leading to limitations in creating and modifying models. Commercial finite element software not only has advanced finite element calculation capability, but also has a very user-friendly interface and high expandability. In this paper, a modified 99-line MATLAB code and an 88-line Python code are given for the integrated approach development and validation study, combined the MATLAB open-source code with the commercial FEA software. Based on the SIMP method, the integrated method is developed to access advanced finite element analysis by calling the ABAQUS scripting interface to run the Python code, which can solve topological optimization problems for minimizing compliance with volume constraints for complex models of arbitrary shapes in 2D or 3D. The validation of several cases shows that the integrated approach can combine MATLAB open-source topology optimization code and ABAQUS to perform topology optimization of complex structures. The code in this paper is used for education purposes and provides a reference for topology optimization methods to access advanced finite element analysis.