Abstract:Support conditions were given and unchanged in standard topology optimization. An integrated method, which was based on SIMP (solid isotropic material with penalization model) and for structure and supports, has been proposed. Support conditions were introduced as a new set of design variables that represented supported areas. In this work, supports were simulated as elastic springs such as the supports in the optimal design could be considered either free or fixed. The method has been applied in compliance minimization and several 2-D examples were tested. The effects of variable cost on supports, the original stiffness of the spring and intermediate densities of supports were discussed. The support conditions and structure were optimized simultaneously, which extended the standard topology optimization method and proposed a new method for supports design.