Numerical Homogenization and Optimization of Composite Spinodoids for Enhanced Heat Conduction

Spinodoids exhibit unique nonperiodic architectures that offer distinct advantages in mechanical performance compared to conventional architected materials such as triply periodic minimal surfaces and lattice structures. In this study, spinodal topologies are optimized to enhance thermal conductivity, particularly for use in high-temperature aerospace applications. For this purpose, two-dimensional dual-phase spinodal structures are first generated and mapped into three-dimensional geometries, and their anisotropic thermal conductivities are evaluated along different spatial directions. A mathematical optimization framework is then implemented to perform topology optimization of spinodoids having a base material of SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites. The spinodal structures are parameterized through orientation distributions constrained by conical angles. The steady-state thermal conduction is simulated numerically to compute elemental heat fluxes in three Cartesian directions, and effective thermal conductivities are extracted via the volume-averaging method. The optimization problem defines a composite objective function based on the anisotropic effective conductivities and is solved using a gradient-free heuristic algorithm. The resulting optimum design demonstrates the potential of spinodoid structures to improve thermal management in hot-section components of gas turbine engines.