Center for Design Optimization (CDO)

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Our Projects

The CDO works with clients to design systems for the nation’s ever-changing energy, environment, and security missions. CDO staff use high performance computing (HPC) and advanced manufacturing (AM) tools to meet and exceed design requirements, paving the way for technological breakthroughs and setting new standards in engineering excellence. Some examples of our work are highlighted below.

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Optimizing Stimuli-Responsive Materials

CDO researchers developed the first gradient-based shape and topology optimization framework for stimuli-responsive or “active” materials, which can change shape, color, or mechanical properties when exposed to stimuli like light, heat, or electricityRead more coverage

diagram showing RMI suppression

Controlling Richtmyer-Meshkov Instabilities

CDO researchers developed an AI-driven inverse design framework to identify and control Richtmyer-Meshokov instabilities (RMI), fluid dynamics phenomena that occur in multiple Lab-relevant scenarios like inertial confinement fusionRead more coverage

Increasingly optimized circular shape with branch-like material distribution

Modular Fischer-Troph Reactors

In collaboration with an industry partner, CDO researchers redesigned a small, modular Fisher-Troph (FT) reactorused to convert atmospheric CO2 into liquid hydrocarbonsusing both shape and topology optimization, which could make small, modular FT reactors viable and easier to deploy.
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diagram of a unit cell and a periodic crystal made of that structure next to it

Photonic Bandgap Materials

The CDO developed a topology optimization framework to design photonic bandgap materals, which block the transmission of electromagnetic waves within certain frequency ranges, resulting in designs that were superior to state-of-the-art photonic devices.  Read more coverage

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Metal Lattice Mount

As part of an NNSA challenge, CDO researchers developed a functionally-graded torus-shaped structure, designed so its unit cells that experienced greater loads had larger rod diameters. Read more coverage

model showing two interconnected materials in a cylindrical shape

Materials with Negative Thermal Expansion

CDO researchers helped design a class of metamaterials with negative thermal expansion, meaning they shrink when they are heated. These systems can potentially be used to fasten parts that move out of alignment under thermal loads, such as microchips, optical mounts, and precision devices.
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Our Publications

Our research has been published in a variety of high-impact journals in the field and our work has been cited hundreds of times. Check out some of our publications below:

Granlund G., Wallin M., Günther-Hanssen O., Tortorelli D., Watts S., "Topology optimization of compliant mechanisms under transient thermal conditions. “Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering.” (2024): 418, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2023.116478

Armstrong, M., Nguyen, J., Sterbentz, D., White, D., Benedict, L., Rieben, R., Hoff, A., Lorenzana, H., La Lone, B., D. Staska, M., Belof, J., “Suppression of Richtmyer-Meshkov instability via special pairs of shocks and phase transitions,” Physical Review Letters (2024): 132.2, DOI:10.1103/physrevlet.132.024001

Kline D.J., Hennessey M.P., Amondson D.K., Lin S., Grapes M.D., Ferrucci M., Li P., Springer H.K., Reeves R.V., Sullivan K.T., Belof J.L., “Reducing Richtmyer-Meshkov instability jet velocity via inverse design.” Journal of Applied Physics (2024): 135.7, DOI: 10.1063/5.0180712

Dalklint A., Wallin M., Tortorelli D., “Simultaneous shape and topology optimization of inflatable soft robots,” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2024): 420, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2024.116751

Barrera, J.-L., Cook, C., Lee, E., Swartz, K., Tortorelli, D.A. ,"Liquid Crystal Orientation and Shape Optimization for the Active Response of Liquid Crystal Elastomers." Polymers (2024): 16.10, DOI: 10.3390/polym16101425

Chung, S., Choi, Y., Roy, P., Moore, T., Roy, T., Lin, T., Nguyen, D., Hahn, C., Duoss, E., Baker, S., "Train small, model big: Scalable physics simulators via reduced order modeling and domain decomposition." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2024): 427, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2024.117041

Sterbentz, D., Kline, D., White, D.A., Jekel, C., Hennessey, M., Amondson, D., Wilson, A., Sevcik, M., Cillena, M., Lin, S., Grapes, M., Sullivan, K., Belof, J., "Explosively driven Richtmyer–Meshkov instability jet suppression and enhancement via coupling machine learning and additive manufacturing." Journal of Applied Physics (2024): 136, DOI: 10.1063/5.0213123

Sjövall, F, Wallin, M., Tortorelli, D.A., "Shape optimization of hyperelastic structures subject to frictionless contact." Computers & Structures (2024): 301, DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruc.2024.107426

Lin, T., Li, H., Brady, N., Cross, N., Ehlinger, V., Roy, T., Tortorelli, D.A., Orme, C., Worsley, M., Bucci, G., "Shape Matters: Understanding the Effect of Electrode Geometry on Cell Resistance and Chemo-Mechanical Stress." Journal of the Electrochemistry Society (2024): 171, DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/ad81b4

Schmidt, M., Barrera, J.-L., Mittal, K., Swartz, K., Tortorelli, D.A., "Level-set topology optimization with PDE generated conformal meshes." Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2024): 67, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-024-03870-3

Li, H., Bucci, G., Brady, N., Cross, N., Ehlinger, V., Lin, T., Salazar de Troya, M., Tortorelli, D.A., Worsley, M., Roy, T., "Topology optimization for the full-cell design of porous electrodes in electrochemical energy storage devices." Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2024): 67, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-024-03901-z

Jekel, C., Sterbentz, D., Stitt, T. M., Mocz, P., Rieben, R., White, D.A., Belof, J., "Machine learning visualization tool for exploring parameterized hydrodynamics." Machine Learning: Science and Technology (2024): 5, DOI: 10.1088/2632-2153/ad8daa

Schmidt, M., Noël, L., Wunsch, N., Doble, K., Evans, J., Maute, K., "Adaptive immersed isogeometric level-set topology optimization." Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2024): 68, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-024-03921-9

Kim, D., Lazarov, B., Surowiec, T., Keith, B., "A simple introduction to the SiMPL method for density-based topology optimization." Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2025): 68, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-025-04008-9

Wallin, M., Watts, S., Sigmund, O., Tortorelli, D.A., "Response tailoring of elasto-plastic trusses." Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2025): 68, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-025-03993-1

Reale Batista M.D., Chandrasekaran S., Moran B.D., Salazar de Troya M., Pinongcos A., Wang Z., Hensleigh R., Carleton A., Zeng M., Roy T., Lin D., Xue X., Beck V.A., Tortorelli D.A., Stadermann M., Zheng R., Li Y., Worsley M.A., “Design and additive manufacturing of optimized electrodes for energy storage applications.” Carbon (2023): 205, DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2023.01.044

White D.A., Kudo J., Swartz K., Tortorelli D.A., Watts S., “A reduced order model approach for finite element analysis of cellular structures” Finite Elements in Analysis and Design (2023): 214.1, DOI: 10.1016/jfinel.2022.103855

Granlund G., Wallin M., Tortorelli D., Watts S., “Stress-constrained topology optimization of structures subjected to nonproportional loading.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering (2023): 124.12, DOE:10.1002/nme.7230

Sterbentz, D., Jekel, C., White, D., Rieben, R., Belof, J., “Linear shaped-charge jet optimization using machine learning methods.” Journal of Applied Physics (2023): 134.4, DOI:10.1063/5.0156373

Knueven B., Mildebrath D., Muir C., Siirola J.D., Watson J.-P., Woodruff D.L., “A parallel hub-and-spoke system for large-scale scenario-based optimization under uncertainty.” Mathematical Programming Computation (2023): 15.4, DOI: 10.1007/s12532-023-00247-3

Bollapragada R., Karamanli C., Keith B., Lazarov B., Petrides S., Wang J., “An adaptive sampling augmented Lagrangian method for stochastic optimization with deterministic constraints.” Computers and Mathematics with Applications (2023): 149, DOI: 10.1016/j.camwa.2023.09.014

Swartz K.E., Mittal K., Schmidt M., Barrera J.-L., Watts S., Tortorelli D.A., “Yet another parameter-free shape optimization method.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2023): 66.12, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-023-03684-9

Dalklint A., Sjövall F., Wallin M., Watts S., Tortorelli D., “Computational design of metamaterials with self contact.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2023): 417, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2023.116424

Brust J.J., Marcia R.F., Petra C.G., Saunders M.A., "Large-Scale Optimization with Linear Equality Constraints Using Reduced Compact Representation.” SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing (2022): 44.1, DOI: 10.1137/21M1393819

Barrera J.L., Geiss M.J., Maute K., "Minimum feature size control in level set topology optimization via density fields." Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2022): 65.3, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-021-03096-7

Dalklint A., Wallin M., Bertoldi K., Tortorelli D., “Tunable phononic bandgap materials designed via topology optimization.” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids (2022): 163, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmps.2022.104849

Swartz K.E., Tortorelli D.A., White D.A., James K.A., “Manufacturing and stiffness constraints for topology optimized periodic structures,” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2022): 65.4, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-022-03222-z

Roy T., Salazar de Troya M.A., Worsley M.A., Beck V.A., “Topology optimization for the design of porous electrodes.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2022): 65.6, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-022-03249-2

Zhang Z.J., Butscher A., Watts S., Tortorelli D.A., “Anisotropic yield models for lattice unit cell structures exploiting orthotropic symmetry.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2022): 394, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2022.114935

Alidoost K., Fernandez F., Geubelle P.H., Tortorelli D.A., “Fracture-based shape optimization built upon the topological derivative.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2022): 395, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2022.114994

Lin T.Y., Baker S.E., Duoss E.B., Beck V.A., “Topology Optimization of 3D Flow Fields for Flow Batteries.” Journal of the Electrochemical Society, (2022): 169.4, DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/ac716d

Sterbentz D.M., Jekel C.F., White D.A., Aubry S., Lorenzana H.E., Belof J.L., "Design optimization for Richtmyer-Meshkov instability suppression at shock-compressed material interfaces.” (2022) Physics of Fluids (2022): 34.8, DOI: 10.1063/5.0100100

Humbird K.D., Peterson J.L., “Transfer learning driven design optimization for inertial confinement fusion.” Physics of Plasmas (2022): 29.10, DOI: 10.1063/5.0100364

McBane S., Choi Y., Willcox K., “Stress-constrained topology optimization of lattice-like structures using component-wise reduced order models.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2022): 400, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2022.115525

Petra C.G., Salazar De Troya M., Petra N., Choi Y., Oxberry G.M., Tortorelli D.A., “On the implementation of a quasi-Newton interior-point method for PDE-constrained optimization using finite element discretizations.” Optimization Methods and Software (2023): 38.1, DOI: 10.1080/10556788.2022.2117354

Najafi, A.R., Safdari, M., Tortorelli, D.A., Geubelle, P.H., “Multiscale design of nonlinear materials using a Eulerian shape optimization scheme.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering (2021): 122.12, DOI: 10.1002/nme.6650

Fernandez, F., Lewicki, J.P., Tortorelli, D.A., “Optimal toolpath design of additive manufactured composite cylindrical structures.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2021): 376, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2021.113673

Ivarsson, N., Wallin, M., Amir, O., Tortorelli, D.A., “Plastic work constrained elastoplastic topology optimization.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering (2021): 122.16, DOI: 10.1002/nme.6706

Zambrano, M., Serrano, S., Lazarov, B.S., Galvis, J., “Fast multiscale contrast independent preconditioners for linear elastic topology optimization problems.” Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics (2021): 389, DOI: 10.1016/j.cam.2020.113366

Swartz, K.E., White, D.A., Tortorelli, D.A., James, K.A., “Topology optimization of 3D photonic crystals with complete bandgaps,” Optics Express (2021): 29.14, DOI: 10.1364/OE.427702

Brust J.J., Di Z.W., Leyffer S., Petra C.G., “Compact representations of structured BFGS matrices.” Computational Optimization and Applications (2021): 80.1, DOI: 10.1007/s10589-021-00297-0

McBane, S., Choi, Y., “Component-wise reduced order model lattice-type structure design.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2021): 381, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2021.113813

Dalklint, A., Wallin, M., Tortorelli, D.A., “Structural stability and artificial buckling modes in topology optimization.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2021): 64.4, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-021-03012-z

Wallin, M., Dalklint, A., Tortorelli, D., “Topology optimization of bistable elastic structures — An application to logic gates,” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2021): 383, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2021.113912

Beck, V.A., Wong, J.J., Jekel, C.F., Tortorelli, D.A., Baker, S.E., Duoss, E.B., Worsley, M.A., “Computational design of microarchitected porous electrodes for redox flow batteries.” Journal of Power Sources (2021): 512, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.230453

Kang Z., Tortorelli D.A., James K.A., “Parallel projection—An improved return mapping algorithm for finite element modeling of shape memory alloys,” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2021): 389, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2021.114364

Choi, Y., Coombs, R., Anderson, R., “SNS: A Solution-based Nonlinear Subspace method for time-dependent nonlinear model order reduction.” SIAM journal on Scientific Computing (2020): 42.2, DOI: 10.1137/19M1242963

Wallin, M., Ivarsson, N., Amirand, O., Tortorelli, D.A., "Consistent boundary conditions for PDE filter regularization in topology optimization." Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2020): 62, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-020-02556-w

Dalklint, A., Wallin, M., Tortorelli, D.A., “Eigenfrequency constrained topology optimization of finite strain hyperelastic structures.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2020): 61, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-020-02557-9

Ivarsson, N., Wallin, M., Tortorelli, D.A., "Topology optimization for designing periodic microstructures based on finite strain viscoplasticity.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2020): 61, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-020-02555-x

Wallin, M., Tortorelli, D.A., “Nonlinear homogenization for topology optimization.” Mechanics of Materials (2020): 145, DOI: 10.1016/j.mechmat.2020.103324

Salazar De Troya, M., Tortorelli, D.A., "Three dimensional adaptive mesh refinement in stress constrained topology optimization." Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2020): 62, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-020-02618-z

Fernandez, F., Puso, M.A., Solberg, J., Tortorelli, D.A., "Topology optimization of multiple deformable bodies in contact with large deformations." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2020): 371, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2020.113288

Fernandez, F., Barker, A.T., Kudo, J., Lewicki, J.P., Swartz, K., Tortorelli, D.A., Watts, S., White, D.A., Wong, J., "Simultaneous Material, Shape and Topology Optimization." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2020): 371, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2020.113321

Watts, S., “Elastic response of hollow truss lattice micro-architectures.” International Journal of Solids and Structures (2020): 206, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2020.08.018

Choi, Y., Boncoraglio, G., Anderson, S., Amsallem, D., Farhat, C., “Gradient-based constrained optimization using a database of linear reduced-order models.” Journal of Computational Physics (2020): 423, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcp.2020.109787

Choi, Y., Carlberg, K., “Space–time least-squares Petrov–Galerkin projection for nonlinear model reduction.” SIAM journal on Scientific Computing (2019): 41.1, DOI: 10.1137/17M1120531

White, D., Arrighi, B., Kudo, J., Watts, S., “Multiscale Topology Optimization using Neural Network Surrogate Models.”  Computer Applications Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2019): 346, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2018.09.007

Petra, C.G., Chiang, N., Anitescu, M., “A structured quasi-Newton algorithm for optimizing with incomplete Hessian information.” SIAM Journal on Optimization (2019): 29.2, DOI: 10.1137/18M1167942

Journal of Experimental Mechanics cover 2019

Saito, Y., Fernandez, F., Tortorelli, D.A., Compel, W.S., Lewicki, J.P., Lambros, J., “Experimental Validation of an Additively Manufactured Stiffness-Optimized Short-Fiber Reinforced Composite Clevis Joint.” Experimental Mechanics (2019): 59.6, DOI: 10.1007/s11340-019-00514-2

Watts, S., Arrighi, W., Kudo, J., Tortorelli, D.A., White, D.A., “Simple, accurate surrogate models of the elastic response of three-dimensional open truss micro-architectures with applications to multiscale topology design.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2019): 60.5, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-019-02297-5

Fernandez, F., Compel, W.S., Lewicki, J.P., Tortorelli, D.A., “Optimal design of fiber reinforced composite structures and their direct ink write fabrication.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2019): 353, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2019.05.010

Keshavarzzadeh, V., Ghanem, R.G., Tortorelli, D.A., “Shape optimization under uncertainty for rotor blades of horizontal axis wind turbines.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2019): 354, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2019.05.015

Chen, W., Watts, S., Jackson, J.A., Smith, W.L., Tortorelli, D.A., Spadaccini, C.M., "Stiff isotropic lattices beyond the Maxwell criterion," Science Advances (2019): 5.9, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw1937

Petra C.G., “A memory-distributed quasi-Newton solver for nonlinear programming problems with a small number of general constraints.” Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing (2019): 133, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpdc.2018.10.009

White, D.A., Choi, Y., Kudo, J., "A dual mesh method with adaptivity for stress-constrained topology optimization," Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2019): 61.2, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-019-02393-6

Lian, H., Christiansen, A., Tortorelli, D.A., Sigmund, O., Aage, N., “Combined shape and topology optimization for minimization of maximal von Mises stress, Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2017): 55.5, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-017-1656-x

Watts, S., Tortorelli, D.A., “Optimality of thermal expansion bounds in three dimensions.” Extreme Mechanics Letters (2017): 12, DOI: 10.1016/j.eml.2016.06.007

Keshavarzzadeh, V., Fernandez, F., Tortorelli, D.A., “Topology optimization under uncertainty via non-intrusive polynomial chaos expansion.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2017): 318.1, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2017.01.019

Watts, S., Tortorelli, D.A., “A geometric projection method for designing three-dimensional open lattices with inverse homogenization.”  International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering (2017): 112.11, DOI: 10.1002/nme.5569

Barbarosie, C., Tortorelli, D.A., Watts, S., “On domain symmetry and its use in homogenization.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2017): 320, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2017.01.009

Najafi, A., Safdari, M., Tortorelli, D.A., Geubelle, P., “Shape optimization using a NURBS-based interface-enriched generalized FEM.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering (2017): 111.10, DOI: 10.1002/nme.5482

Alidoost, K., Geubelle, P., Tortorelli, D.A., “Energy release rate approximation for edge cracks using higher-order topological derivatives.” International Journal of Fracture (2018): 210, DOI: 10.1007/s10704-018-0271-1

Ivarsson, N., Wallin, M., Tortorelli, D.A., “Topology optimization of finite strain viscoplastic systems under transient loads.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering (2018): 58, DOI: 10.1002/nme.5789

Ivarsson, N., Wallin, M., Tortorelli, D.A., “Stiffness optimization of non-linear elastic structures.” Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering (2018): 330, DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2017.11.004

Dilgen, S.B. and Dilgen, C.B. and Fuhrman, D.R. and Sigmund, O., Lazarov, B.S., “Density based topology optimization of turbulent flow heat transfer systems.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2018): 57, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-018-1967-6

White, D.A., Stowell, M., Tortorelli, D.A., “Topological optimization of structures using Fourier representations.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2018): 58, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-018-1962-y

Fernandez, F., Tortorelli, D.A., “Semi-analytical sensitivity analysis for nonlinear transient problems.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2018): 58, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-018-2096-yv

Dan White, D.A., Alexey Voronin, A., “A Computational Study of Symmetry and Well-Posedness of Structural Topology Optimization.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2018): 59.3, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-018-2098-9

Salazar De Troya, M., Tortorelli, D.A., “Adaptive mesh refinement in stress-constrained topology optimization.” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (2018): 58, DOI: 10.1007/s00158-018-2084-2

Carlberg, K., Choi, Y., Sargsyan, S., "Conservative model reduction for finite-volume models," Journal of Computational Physics (2018): 371, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcp.2018.05.019

Petra, C.G., “A memory-distributed quasi-Newton solver for nonlinear programming problems with a small number of general constraints.” Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing (2018): 133, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpdc.2018.10.009

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