GPU-based mesh reduction strategy utilizing active nodes for structural topology optimization

This paper presents a novel mesh reduction strategy on graphics processing unit (GPU) that aims to reduce the computational complexity of conventional structural topology optimization. In the proposed strategy, the effective number of design variables is reduced by using the concept of active nodes and active elements in the finite element mesh. A novel mesh numbering scheme is also introduced to facilitate parallel identification of active nodes using a proposed GPU-based algorithm. The preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) solver is further developed using the proposed strategy and the numbering scheme. The proposed strategy is tested on three structural topology optimization problems using solid isotropic material with penalization method. Results of the proposed strategy demonstrate up to 8× speedup over the standard GPU implementation considering the entire mesh.