Shape preserving topology optimization for structural radar cross section control

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to present a shape preserving topology optimization method to prevent the adverse effects of the mechanical deformation on the Radar Cross Section (RCS). The optimization will suppress the variation of RCS on the perfect conductor surface by structural design. On the one hand, the physical optics method is utilized to calculate the structural RCS, which is based on the surface displacement field obtained from the finite element analysis of the structure. The corresponding design sensitivities of topology optimization are derived analytically and solved by the adjoint method. On the other hand, the RCS variation and mechanical performance are taken into account simultaneously by extending a standard compliance-based topology optimization model. Two optimization formulations are discussed in an illustrative example, where the influences of upper limits of the compliance and the RCS variation are considered. Two more examples are further tested to show the ability and validity of the proposed optimization method.