Comparison of FETI-based domain decomposition methods for topology optimization problems

We critically assess the performance of several variants of dual and dual-primal domain decomposition strategies in problems with fixed subdomain partitioning and high heterogeneity in stiffness coefficients typically arising in topology optimization of modular structures. Our study considers Total FETI and FETI Dual-Primal methods along with three enhancements: k-scaling, full orthogonalization of the search directions, and considering multiple search-direction at once, which gives us twelve variants in total. We test these variants both on academic examples and snapshots of topology optimization iterations. Based on the results, we conclude that (i) the original methods exhibit very slow convergence in the presence of severe heterogeneity in stiffness coefficients, which makes them practically useless, (ii) the full orthogonalization enhancement helps only for mild heterogeneity, and (iii) the only robust method is FETI Dual-Primal with multiple search direction and k-scaling

EVALUATION OF INTERNAL COHESION OF MULTIPHASE PLASMA-SPRAYED COATINGS BY CAVITATION TEST: FEASIBILITY STUDY

Mechanical characterization of plasma-sprayed coatings at microscopic level represents a major challenge due to the presence of numerous inherent microstructural features such as cracks, pores, or splat boundaries, which complicate coatings characterization by conventional testing methods. Need for reliable testing of structural integrity of newly developed multiphase plasma-sprayed coatings introduced even more complexity to the testing. In this study, applicability of indirect vibratory cavitation test (adapted from ASTM G32 standard) for such testing was evaluated. Three plasmasprayed coatings having distinctive microstructures were tested: i) conventional alumina coating deposited from coarse powder, ii) hybrid coating deposited by co-spraying of coarse alumina powder and fine yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) suspension, and iii) compact alumina coating deposited from fine ethanol-based suspension. Differences in the coatings internal cohesion were reflected in different failure mechanisms observed within the cavitation crater by scanning electron microscopy and mean erosion rates being i) 280 μm/hour, ii) 97 μm/hour and iii) 14 μm/hour, respectively