CONSTRUCTAL LAW, BIOMIMICRY, AND TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION THROUGH THE LENS OF GENERATIVE AI

Authors

  • MATEI-CRISTIAN IGNUTA-CIUNCANU SETTL Lab, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. Author
  • PHILIP TABOR SETTL Lab, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. Author
  • RICARDO F. MARTINEZ-BOTAS SETTL Lab, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59277/CLC.2024.09

Keywords:

Morphological Freedom, Thermal Management, Nature-Inspired Design, Generative AI

Abstract

Efficient heat management in the context of semiconductor miniaturization demands unconventional solutions to navigate constrained design spaces. The emergence of unsupervised learning as a versatile design companion capable of processing multi-disciplinary datasets presents promising avenues for streamlined bio-inspired solutions for fundamental conduction problems. As a case study, we tackle the pivotal area-to-point problem that led to the formulation of the Constructal Law. 

This study proposes a novel methodology harnessing Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models (DDPM) to seamlessly integrate features from topology optimization, constructal theory, and biomimetic structures. We use DDPM as a digital non-equilibrium complex system to generate geometric patterns for conductive heat sink design. These patterns are sampled to address the original formulation of the area-to-point problem. 

This study emphasizes the significance of morphological freedom in addressing multi-objective problems, reinforcing arguments first formulated within the constructal paradigm. Our framework facilitates low-cost sampling of intricate shapes capable of serving multiple temperature objectives by synthesizing principles from different fields. We show the emergence of dendritic structures to solve distribution problems in an unsupervised learning scenario, drawing a parallel between information and energy flows. 

This research underscores the transformative potential of Generative AI in blending design features across disparate disciplines, a potent tool for developing conductive heat sink solutions beyond deterministic optimization approaches. 

Author Biography

  • RICARDO F. MARTINEZ-BOTAS, SETTL Lab, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.

    Ricardo has an MEng (Hons) Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College London. He obtained a DPhil in the Rolls Royce University Technology Center at the University of Oxford University in 1993 with a thesis entitled Annular Cascade Aerodynamics and Heat Transfer. He has developed the area of unsteady flow aerodynamics of small turbines, with particular application to the turbocharger industry. The contributions to this area centre on the application of unsteady fluid mechanics, instrumentation development and computational methods. The work has attracted support not only from Government agencies but also from industry. His group has become a recognised centre of turbocharger turbine aerodynamics, and more particularly in the application experimental methods and one dimensional calculation procedures. In 2010 and 2009 he was awarded the best paper award by the Turbomachinery Committee of ASME and in 2011 has been given the Dugald Clerk Prize by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (UK) for contributions to internal combustion engines. He is a Visiting Professor in the University Teknologi of Malaysia. He has published extensively in journals and peer reviewed conferences. He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Turbomachinery (ASME) and the Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science (IMechE). He is currently the Theme Leader for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles of the Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College. He is the head of the Thermofluids Division

References

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Published

18.12.2024

How to Cite

CONSTRUCTAL LAW, BIOMIMICRY, AND TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION THROUGH THE LENS OF GENERATIVE AI. (2024). 14th CONSTRUCTAL LAW CONFERENCE | 10-11 October 2024, Bucharest, Romania, 2024(1), 41-44. https://doi.org/10.59277/CLC.2024.09