Topology Optimization of Nano-Mechanical Cantilever Sensors Using a C0 Discontinuous Galerkin-Type Approach

We demonstrate the use of a C0 discontinuous Galerkin method for topology optimization of nano-mechanical sensors, namely temperature, surface stress, and mass sensors. The sensors are modeled using classical thin plate theory, which requires C1 basis functions in the standard finite element method.

A discontinuous Galerkin type approach allows the use of C0 basis functions or any common basis functions, e.g. based on Lagrange elements. Thus the implementation is simple and requires fewer degrees of freedom per element compared to common finite element implementation of plate problems.