A dual physics-informed neural network for topology optimization

Abstract

We propose a novel dual physics-informed neural network for topology optimization (DPNN-TO), which merges physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) with the traditional SIMP-based topology optimization (TO) algorithm. This approach leverages two interlinked neural networks-a displacement network and an implicit density network-connected through an energy-minimization-based loss function derived from the variational principles of the governing equations. By embedding deep learning within the physical constraints of the problem, DPNN-TO eliminates the need for large-scale data and analytical sensitivity analysis, addressing key limitations of traditional methods. The framework efficiently minimizes compliance through energy-based objectives while enforcing volume fraction constraints, producing high-resolution designs for both 2D and 3D optimization problems. Extensive numerical validation demonstrates that DPNN-TO outperforms conventional methods, solving complex structural optimization scenarios with greater flexibility and computational efficiency, while addressing challenges such as multiple load cases and three-dimensional problems without compromising accuracy.