Stochastic Unit Cell Structures for Fluid Flow and Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Regular structures are susceptible to turbulence and stagnation when fluid flows through them, leading to reduced mass flow and efficiency, and are prone to adverse structural behaviors such as resonant frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A method of forming stochastic structures by randomizing the parameters of unit cells in a parent structure, such as applying statistical distributions to the dimensions and positions of unit cells to create a randomized array that can be manufactured using additive techniques, resulting in improved fluid flow and structural behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If regular structures are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but fluid flow efficiency deteriorates due to turbulence and stagnation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by transforming uniform, symmetric unit cells into stochastic structures with randomized positions, sizes, and geometries. This randomization eliminates the periodicity and symmetry of regular structures, preventing flow patterns from becoming trapped in repetitive turbulence and stagnation zones, thereby improving fluid flow efficiency while maintaining manufacturability through systematic design methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by systematically varying key geometric parameters of unit cells including position coordinates (x, y, z), dimensions (length, width, height), and orientation angles. These parameter variations are controlled through statistical distributions to create stochastic structures that optimize fluid flow characteristics while remaining compatible with additive manufacturing processes.
2Stability of the object's composition
If regular structures are used, then structural uniformity is maintained, but structural behavior deteriorates due to resonant frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry to structural design by introducing stochastic variations in unit cell geometry and arrangement. This breaks the periodic symmetry of regular lattices, thereby eliminating resonant frequencies that arise from repetitive structural patterns. The resulting stochastic structures maintain overall uniformity in material distribution while achieving superior vibration attenuation and structural reliability.
3Productivity
If stochastic structures are created by randomizing unit cell parameters, then fluid flow efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the stochastic structure into discrete, standardized unit cells that can be independently defined and manufactured. Each unit cell contains randomized parameters within controlled ranges, allowing the complex stochastic structure to be built from simple, repeatable modular elements. This segmentation approach simplifies manufacturing by enabling systematic production through additive manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent manages manufacturing complexity through controlled parameter changes by defining statistical distributions for unit cell parameters rather than completely random variations. This ensures that parameter changes remain within manufacturable ranges and can be systematically implemented through computer-aided design and additive manufacturing, balancing fluid flow optimization with manufacturing feasibility.
4Ease of manufacture
If uniform unit cells are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates due to flow stagnation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by replacing uniform unit cells with stochastic structures that eliminate flow stagnation zones. The randomized geometry and arrangement create continuously varying flow paths that enhance convective heat transfer by preventing boundary layer separation and dead zones, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency while maintaining compatibility with additive manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of forming a stochastic structure, the method comprising the steps: selecting a parent structure, the parent structure defining an array of unit cells, initially the array of unit cells is uniform, defining each unit cell of the array of unit cells a size, a geometry, a relative density and at least one node, placing an implicit function of an object or part of an object at each node, wherein the object having parameters to define its position xcn, ycn, zcn, and extent rxn, ryn, and rzn or a shape defined by an equation having at least the parameters x, y and z, randomising any one or more of the parameters by applying a statistical distribution, the statistical distribution having a standard deviation σ, the standard deviation σ controls at least one of the three dimensions where random values of each parameter are created and selecting a value greater than zero of the standard deviation σ to define the degree of randomisation for any one or more of the parameters, thereby creating a randomised array of unit cells representative of the stochastic structure wherein the randomised array of unit cells forms three-dimensional volume data comprising iso-surfaces, the method comprising rendering the iso-surfaces with polygons having faces and vertices to form a solid model of the stochastic structure and optionally printing the stochastic structure in an additive manufacturing process.