Topology optimization considering visibility based on a fictitious physical model

This study presents a topology optimization method considering visibility as a design requirement. To evaluate visibility, a fictitious physical model governed by an anisotropic steady-state advection–diffusion equation is constructed. Next, a topology optimization formulation is developed to integrate the proposed fictitious physical model into the optimization process. Then, the topological derivative for visibility analysis is derived using the adjoint variable method. In addition, a strategy is proposed to reduce computational costs by decreasing the size of the computational domain. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed methodology and its constituent approaches is validated through several numerical examples. • A novel topology optimization method integrating visibility evaluation is proposed. • Visibility is treated as a design objective, not as a constraint. • A fictitious evaluation domain strategy significantly reduces computational cost. • Topological derivatives are derived for both compliance and visibility objectives. • Extensive 2D and 3D numerical examples validate the proposed methodology.