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Goal of this tutorial
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Import/create the Design Space including the Non-Design Spaces in MSC Apex Generative Design. For this Pedal the already prepared Design Space and Non-Design Spaces were imported.
The CAD-file includes several solids.
The file .. Pedal_body_1 is used to split the upper surface
Thus, only one solid is supported for an optimisation, with a Boolean operation the solids can be merged to one. Activate Merge Solids as Cells to create partitions which can be used for Non-Design Spaces.
of the pedal to create the area for the load application point. Therefore, open the Split Surface Tool in the Geometry Edit Tools and select the top left surface as the split surface. Now select all curves that separate the surface as in the picture below.
Open the Design Space Tool in the Optimization Tools to select the imported Geometry as the Design Space. Activate the Symmetric Design Constraint and select the XZ plane to set up the symmetric optimisation.
The other solid of the pedal Pedal_body_1 is no longer needed and can be hidden or even deleted.
Create the material Steel in the Materials editor and assign it to the Design Space. In this case the material behaviour is Isotropic.
The specific values needed are the Young's Modulus (192372 MPa), Poisson ratio (0.3) and Density (7.97e-6 kg/mm3).
The Tension Strength is the maximum allowable stress for the material and is set to 320 MPa.
Step 3: Definition of boundary conditions
Go to the Loads & Boundary Condition Tool to enter the loads and fixations. Displacements, Forces, Moments, Gravity and Pressure Loads can be applied using different selection options.
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Interfaces have to be created for every functional surface - so every surface where a boundary condition is applied to. With this Tool an offset to the inside with the input “Interface Thickness”(Non-Design Space) and an offset to the outside with the input “Machining Allowance” is created. The Offset Distance is expanding the Interface to the set value to create material on front faces.
Three Interfaces are created to insert screws and fixate the Bookshelf to the wallOne Interface is created on the force application surface. Therefore, an Interface Thickness of 2 1 mm and a Machining Allowance of 1 mm is entered. Because not only the inner faces touching the screw but also the front and back face are supposed to contain material and have sharp, functional faces, an Offset Distance of 3 mm is entered. Now select the inner surfaces of the fixation surface and confirm the selection (MMB).
One Interface is created on the top plate to use this as the book storageinner surfaces of the fixation. Therefore, an Interface Thickness of 1mm 2 mm and a Machining Allowance of 1mm 2 mm is entered. Now select the top plate inner surfaces and confirm the selection (MMB). The outer most surface of the Fixation is not selected because is would create material outside of the Design Space.
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5: Definition of Events (load cases)
The next steps are defined in the Studies area.
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Active in Event1: Force-Moment 1 and Constraint1
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6: Definition of optimisation parameters
The optimisation parameters are selected in the Studies Area as well.
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Don’t forget to save the project!
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7: Starting the optimisation and visualizing the results
If all data is correct, the optimisation can be started and tracked in the Post Processing. The Analysis Readiness function checks if all information is provided and the optimisation can start.
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You can always change the Strut Density, Safety Factor and Complexityto influence the results and try out different options
The Complexitycan be increased for a higher resolution and more detailed result (increased calculation time!)
The Strut Densityinfluences the structures which are formed during optimisation
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8: Visualization of Stresses, Displacements & Mass
The legend can be influenced in different ways. You can add and reduce the stress/displacement steps, enlarge different steps and set new minimum and maximum values.
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The mass of each iteration can be visualized with a diagram
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You can go back to the model setup by clicking the Exit button in the right bottom corner.
The whole MSC Apex Generative Design project with all results can be downloaded here:
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Coming Soon!
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