Abstract: A method for fabricating a component includes receiving a first component design, calculating a plastic strain for a load case, and determining whether the plastic strain meets a target plastic strain for the load case. Responsive to determining that the plastic strain does not meet the target plastic strain for the load case the method includes calculating an elastic strain for the load case, defining a linear strain target as a function of the plastic strain, the target plastic strain, and the elastic strain, optimizing for the minimum mass of the component where a linear strain is less than the linear strain target, and outputting a second component design.

Abstract: A method for producing a design topology is provided. The method includes entering a problem constraint into a computer, wherein the problem constraint includes a domain, a load vector, an objective function, and a plurality of types of materials. The domain is divided into a plurality of elements, wherein individual elements are associated with one type of material such that each of the plurality of types of materials is associated with more than one element. A element variable is calculated for the element, and the computer determines if the calculations are complete. If the calculations are not complete, the step of calculating the element variable for the elements is repeated. If the calculations are complete, the design topology is output.