Wave Manipulation by Topology Optimization - Solid Mechanics

Preface
This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining the
degree of Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Denmark
(DTU). The Ph.D. project was funded by DTU and the Danish Council for independent
Research | Technology and Production Sciences (FTP) through the project:
”Topology Optimization of Electromagnetic Metamaterials for Miniaturization of
Wireless Communication Antennas (TopAnt)”. The work was carried out at the Department
of Mechanical Engineering, Solid Mechanics, at DTU in the period February
1 st 2009 - January 31 st 2012. Supervisors on the project were Professor Dr.techn.
Ole Sigmund (Department of Mechanical Engineering), Professor Dr.techn. N. Asger
Mortensen (Department of Photonics Engineering) and Professor Ph.D. Olav
Breinbjerg (Department of Electrical Engineering).
I am very grateful to my three supervisors for their inspiring support and for
always taking their time to discuss the work and the results during the project.
Part of this work was carried out during a 10 months visit to Professor Ph.D.
Shinji Nishiwaki and his research group at the Department of Mechanical Engineering
and Science, Kyoto University, Japan, from March 2010 to December 2010.
Ph.D. Tsuyoshi Nomura from Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc. co-supervised me
during my visit. I am very grateful to Professor Ph.D. Shinji Nishiwaki and Ph.D.
Tsuyoshi Nomura for the supervision as well as making the stay possible and to my
colleagues at Kyoto University for creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
I am also very thankful to Ph.D.-student Masaki Otomori for discussions on electromagnetic
wave propagation during my visit to Kyoto University and his visit to
DTU.
I am thankful to Krister Svanberg at Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, who
has granted me permission to use the MMA-code. Thanks to my colleagues in the
TopOpt and TopAnt Group, at the section of Solid Mechanics and in particular the
other phd-students for creating a cheerful and inspiring working environment.
Finally, I wish to thank my family and friends for their support. Special thanks
to my girlfriend Maria Ota for her support and patience during the project.
Kgs. Lyngby, January 31 st 2012.
Jacob Andkjær
i