A simple and versatile topology optimization formulation for flexure synthesis

High-tech equipment critically relies on flexures for precise manipulation and measurement. Through elastic deformation, offer extreme position repeatability within a limited range of motion in their degrees freedom, while constraining the constraint. Topology optimization proves prospective tool design short-stroke flexures, providing maximum freedom allowing application-specific requirements. State-of-the-art topology formulations flexure synthesis are subject to challenges like ease use, versatility, implementation complexity, computational cost, leaving generally accepted formulation absent. This study proposes novel uniquely based strain energy measures under prescribed displacement scenarios. The resulting self-adjoint problem resembles great similarity classic compliance minimization inherits similar simplicity, efficiency, convergence properties. Numerical examples demonstrate versatility types extendability additional provided source code encourages be explored applied academia industry.