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The configuration file contains all information necessary for the algorithm to run through the optimization. It is subdivided into seven different areas: Geometry, Loads and Constraints, Cases (Events), Optimization, FEMConfig, ImportConfig and Advanced User Settings.

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MSC Apex Generative Design

written on Tue Jun 16 11:46:20 2020

unitSystem

SI_mm_t

Geometry

In the Geometry section, the different roles of the geometries for the optimzation are defined. For each geometry used in the optimization (stl file), either a space or a cell must be existing. A space can get additional information regarding the material whereas cells are only used as markers to define certain areas of the space.

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More information regarding the difference between a space and mask here.

Loads and Constraints

The Loads and Constraints section collects all information regarding the loads and fixations applied to the different masks.

Load Force_-_Moment_1

A force is marked with the word "Load" and additionally gets a name. 

Moment Force_-_Moment_2

A moment is marked with the word "Moment" and additionally gets a name.

Acceleration Apply_gravity_1

.space =

An acceleration is marked with the word "Acceleration" and additionally gets a name.

The acceleration is always applied to the whole Design space.

Pressure Pressure_1

A pressure load is marked with the word "Pressure" and additionally gets a name.

Displacement Constraint_1

A fixation is marked with the word "Displacement" and additionally gets a name (dis1).

For fixations, the degree of freedom (x, y, z) is subsequently defined by a prescribed displacment of 0.

.mask = Maskname

The mask affected by the boundary condition (Maskname) is selected

.x =

Boundary condition in x-direction

.y =

Boundary condition in y-direction.

.z =

Boundary condition in z-direction.

Cases

The previously defined loads and fixations are combined into Events (load cases).

Case Event_1.Force_-_Moment1

Case Event_1.Constraint_1

The Event is marked with the word "Case" and additionally gets a name.

The conditions are listed directly after the name distinguished by “.”

Optimization

In this section the optimization parameters are entered.

optimizeSpace =

Definition of the design space.

startSpace =

If you have added a Startspace via the Advanced User Settings you can find it here.

strutDensity =

dense

medium

sparse

Determine the style of the result structure.

More information here

shapeQuality =

preview

balanced

fineTune

Selection of the number of iterations being calculated.

More information here

Optimizer Global target stress =

Global optimization stress goal

Optimizer Case Event_1 target stress =

Event specific stress constraint for specific Event (Event_1)

FEMConfig

solver=

Extern

CG

Connection to the solver.

External CudaSolver.

CG Uses an integrated conjugated gradient solver.

solverIP=localhost

IP of the external solver, localhost for the same workstation. IP for cloud, for what the matrix is built locally and sent to the calculation unit. Large amounts of data can be moved with a corresponding amount of time.

solverPort=1234

Port which is used to access the CudaSolver. This can be selected arbitrarily, according to the specified value when starting the solver.

eigenThreads=2

Number of CPU threads that can be used to build the matrix. At least two cores should always remain free.

complexity=14.000000

Defines how complex the design is getting. More information here.

solverUsedGpuMax=n

Maximum number of GPUs used by the optimization (support GPUs: Nvidia Quadro Graphics Cards supported by CUDA Driver)

ImportConfig

detail=auto

Detail refers to the edge length of the FEM elements and can either be calculated automatically depending on the "complexity" or set manually. In the case of a defective stl file, the detail should be set manually, since the calculation of the volume has an error and the automatic estimation cannot take place. A reduction of the detail by half results in an 8-times change of the calculation time.

ExportConfig

The following output files can be selected.

Default export settings

export_ply_name_binary_Dis

export_ply_name_binary_Stress

export_allCasesInSingleFile

Generates file containing stress and displacement, if activated (combined file for all Events)

export_stl_name_MC_Smooth

Result geometry

Additional export options: Stresses

export_ply_name_Stress_RGB

Stresses: ply in color

export_ply_name_Stress

Stresses: ply values for nodes

export_ply_name_binary_Stress

Stresses: ply values for nodes in binaray format

export_mrc_name_Stress

Stresses: mrc values for nodes

export_ply_name_Stress_Prop

Stresses: ply values for facets

export_CSV_Element_StressAndDis

Save csv File stress and Displacement (each for loadcase)

Additional export options: Displacements

export_ply_name_Dis_RGB

Displacements: ply in colour

export_ply_name_Dis

Displacements: ply values for nodes

export_ply_name_binary_Dis

Displacements: ply values for nodes in binaray format

export_ply_name_Dis_Prop

Displacements: ply values for facets

Additional export options: Result Geometry

csv_Boundary_Reaction

csv_Boundary_Reaction_all

suit of csv files for knots loads and reaction visualization 

noIntersection

smoothed not intersected geometry is written out

Advanced User Settings

Have a look at the Advanced User Settings

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