Complete Update regarding the new Input Config
The configuration file The Configuration File contains all information necessary for the algorithm to run through the optimisation. It is subdivided into seven different areas : Geometry, Loads and Constraints, Cases (Events), Optimisation, FEMConfig, ImportConfig and Advanced User Settingsregarding the Configuration, Schedule, Material, Failure Criterion, Event, Boundary Conditions, Design, Geometry, Machining Allowance, Non-Design Spaces and Coordinate System. The file is written in the JSON-file format.
Based on the geometry data (STL-files) and the .config fileConfiguration File, the algorithm can run fully autonomous and generate saves the result files in one subfolder each time it is started in the main folder.
The configuration file Configuration File starts with the creation timestamp and also indicates the used unit system.
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MSC Apex Generative Design
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written on Tue Jun 16 11:46:20 2020
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unitSystem
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SI_mm_t
Geometry
In the Geometry section, the different roles of the geometries for the optimisation are defined. For each geometry used in the optimisation (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.
All values are based on the chosen unit system.
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Space
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Space Spacename
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Each object is given a unique name Spacename.
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.path = Design.stl
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The path is the name of the file.
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.material = Steel
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User-defined material name. This will not be used any further in the optimisation process.
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.E-Modul = 210000.000000
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Young's Modulus according to the unit scheme used (here MPa).
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.Poisson = 0.33
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Poisson ratio.
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.density = 7.9e-9
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Density of the material.
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Cells
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Mask Maskname
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Each object is given a unique name Maskname.
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.path = Non_Design_Region_1.stl
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The path is the name of the file.
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Mask.Non_Design_Region_3.nonDesign
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Defines the mask as a Non-Design Region
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Mask.Non_Design_Region_3.useCentreOfTheSurface
Mask.Non_Design_Region_3.useOnlySurface
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The mask represents a surface.
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Mask.Non_Design_Region_3.preserve
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The mask cannot be removed during the optimisation and will keep a connection to the
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Local Coordinate Systems
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CoordinateSystem Coordinate_System_1
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Each coordinate system is given a unique name Coordinate_System_1
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.euler1z =0.000000
.euler2x = 2.417309
.euler3z = 4.712389
.x = -0.071360
.y = -0.022816
.z = 0.02185
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The coordinate system is located/orientated with coordinate values and Euler angles regarding the global coordinate system.
More information regarding the difference between a space and mask here.
Machining Allowance
The Machining Allowances section collects all information regarding the Machining Allowances and the Design Space including the Machining Allowances to guarantee a correct intersection.
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MachiningOffset machOffset_MachiningAllowance_Machining_Allowance_1
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Each Machining Allowance is given a unique name.
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.mask = Maskname
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Defines to which mask the offset refers.
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.offset = 0.001000
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Defines the thickness of the Machining Allowance in the chosen unit.
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Mask DesignSpace_machiningOffset
offsetSpace = DesignSpace_machiningOffset
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Defines the geometry of the intersection model including Machining Allowances.
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automaticFunctionalFacesDetection.positiveNonDesignDirection=true
false
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Functional Surfaces are automatically detected. These areas grow during an optimisation to guarantee sharp edges and functional surfaces after the intersection.
If all functional surfaces have a Machining Allowance applied to them, this option should be deactivated.
Symmetry
symmetry.x
symmetry.y
general request to perform an optimisation and the Version number for which the configuration file was created.
applicationRequest | OptimizationLoop | Indicates that the regular optimisation loop is executed |
engine_version | 2021.2 | Indicates the version number with which the configuration file was created |
Configuration
The Configuration section defines the Design Space and general optimization parameters.
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iteration
.level_3=20"
.level_2=20"
.level_1=20"
.level_0=10"
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Specify how many iterations are calculated at which resolution level. Note that convergence should be achieved at each level.
Default settings normal: 20, 20, 20, 10
Default settings massive: 16, 40, 4, 4
Default settings filigree: 10, 10, 40, 10
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fOptimizer_stressPercentGoal
.level_3=30
.level_2=40
.level_1=90
.level_0=100
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The percentage at which the target stress is reached is set.
Default settings normal: 30, 40, 90, 100
Default settings massive: 60, 90, 95, 100
Default settings filigree: 10, 25, 50, 100
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configuration.offsetSpace | Geometry used for the intersection with the Design Space to receive the print geometry |
configuration.buildSpace | Geometry used for the intersection with the Design Space to receive the nominal geometry |
configuration.complexity | Defines how complex the design is getting. More information here. |
configuration.eigenThreads | Number of CPU threads that can be used to build the matrix. At least two cores should always remain free. We recommend using 2-6 threads. |
configuration.maxConcurrentGPUSolvers | Maximum number of GPUs used by the optimisation (support GPUs: Nvidia Quadro Graphics Cards supported by CUDA Driver) |
configuration.solver.<name>.strategy | InternalCPU: CPU based solver ExternLegacy: External (GPU) solver |
configuration.solver.<name>.host | 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. |
configuration.solver.<name>.port | Port which is used to access the CudaSolver. This can be selected arbitrarily, according to the specified value when starting the solver. (The default port for the Cuda service is 42001). |
configuration.symmetry.x configuration.symmetry.y configuration.symmetry.z | x-axis as symmetry plane (Y-Z-Plane) |
y-axis as symmetry plane (X-Z-Plane) |
z-axis as symmetry plane (X-Y-Plane) |
configuration. |
symmetry. |
coordinateSystem | If the symmetry is to refer to a local coordinate system, the following command must also be entered (Coordinate_system_1 is the name of the local coordinate system and can vary) |
automaticFunctionalFacesDetection. |
Loads and Constraints
The Loads and Constraints section collects all information regarding the loads and fixations applied to the different masks.
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Load Force_-_Moment_1
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A force is marked with the word "Load" and additionally gets a name.
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Moment Force_-_Moment_2
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A moment is marked with the word "Moment" and additionally gets a name.
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Acceleration Apply_gravity_1
.space =
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An acceleration is marked with the word "Acceleration" and additionally gets a name.
The acceleration is always applied to the whole Design Space.
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Pressure Pressure_1
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A pressure load is marked with the word "Pressure" and additionally gets a name.
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Displacement Constraint_1
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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 displacement of 0.
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.mask = Maskname
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The mask affected by the boundary condition (Maskname) is selected
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.x =
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Boundary condition in x-direction
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.y =
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Boundary condition in y-direction.
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.z =
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Boundary condition in z-direction.
Cases
The previously defined loads and fixations are combined into Events (load cases).
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Case Event_1.Force_-_Moment1
Case Event_1.Constraint_1
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The Event is marked with the word "Case" and additionally gets a name.
The conditions are listed directly after the name distinguished by “.”
Optimisation
In this section the optimisation parameters are entered.
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optimizeSpace =
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Definition of the Design Space.
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startSpace =
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If you have added a Start Space via the Advanced User Settings you can find it here.
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strutDensity =
dense
medium
sparse
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Determine the style of the result structure.
More information here
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shapeQuality =
preview
balanced
fineTune
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Selection of the number of iterations being calculated.
More information here
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Optimizer Global target stress =
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Global optimisation Stress Goal
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Optimizer Case Event_1 target stress =
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Event specific Stress Goal for specific Event (Event_1)
FEMConfig
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solver=
Extern
CG
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Connection to the solver.
External CudaSolver.
CG Uses an integrated conjugated gradient solver.
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solverIP=localhost
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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.
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solverPort=42001
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Port which is used to access the CudaSolver. This can be selected arbitrarily, according to the specified value when starting the solver. (The default port for the Cuda service is 42001)
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eigenThreads=4
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Number of CPU threads that can be used to build the matrix. At least two cores should always remain free. We recommend using 2-6 threads.
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complexity=14.000000
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Defines how complex the design is getting. More information here.
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solverUsedGpuMax=n
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Maximum number of GPUs used by the optimisation (support GPUs: Nvidia Quadro Graphics Cards supported by CUDA Driver)
ImportConfig
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detail=auto
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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 ST-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.
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Default export settings
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export_ply_name_binary_Dis
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export_ply_name_binary_Stress
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export_allCasesInSingleFile
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Generates file containing stress and displacement, if activated (combined file for all Events)
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export_stl_name_MC_Smooth
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Result geometry
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export_ply_name_offsetSpaceIntersection
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Result geometry including Machining Allowances
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Additional export options: Stresses
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export_ply_name_Stress_RGB
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Stresses: ply in colour
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export_ply_name_Stress
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Stresses: ply values for nodes
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export_ply_name_binary_Stress
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Stresses: ply values for nodes in binary format
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export_ply_name_Stress_Prop
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Stresses: ply values for facets
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export_CSV_Element_StressAndDis
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Save csv File stress and Displacement (each for loadcase)
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Additional export options: Displacements
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export_ply_name_Dis_RGB
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Displacements: ply in colour
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export_ply_name_Dis
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Displacements: ply values for nodes
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export_ply_name_binary_Dis
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Displacements: ply values for nodes in binary format
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export_ply_name_Dis_Prop
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Displacements: ply values for facets
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Additional export options: Result Geometry
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csv_Boundary_Reaction
csv_Boundary_Reaction_all
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suit of csv files for knots loads and reaction visualization
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noIntersection
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smoothed not intersected geometry is written out
Advanced User Settings
Have a look at the Advanced User Settings
Using the expert settings, you can change the resolution and switch between the individual resolution levels to influence the result. These settings overwrite the selection of the DesignType (dense, medium, sparse), as they are only default settings for the ones described here. These should not be accessible via standard GUI, but maybe with an additional text editor inside the GUI.
When choosing a startSpace, these settings should be made to reduce the computational effort even more. The "coarser" resolution levels can thus be skipped and it can be started directly with a finer level (Level 1 or even Level 0). It is important that both level definitions are consistent.
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Influencing the design
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UpSampleConfig
fOptimizer_switchAddRemove=58
positiveNonDesignDirection=true false | Functional Surfaces are automatically detected. These areas grow during an optimisation to guarantee sharp edges and functional surfaces after the intersection. If all functional surfaces have a Machining Allowance applied to them, this option should be deactivated. |
configuration.unitSystem | Used unit system |
Schedule
The schedule section contains the information regarding the levels and iterations during the optimisation.
schedule.prefabricated.shapeQuality | |
schedule.prefabricated.strutDensity |
You can influence these values further using the Advanced User Settings and the commands listed here.
Material
The Material section includes all relevant information regarding the material used during the optimisation. Three different material types can be entered.
material.<name>.failureCriterionName | Name of the Failure Criterion |
material.<name>.coordinateSystem | Coordinate system related to the material |
material.<name>.density | Material density |
material.<name>.material | Material name |
Isotropic Material
material.<name>.elementMode | Name of an element type |
material.<name>.young | Young’s modulus |
material.<name>.poisson | Poisson ratio |
3D Transversely Isotropic Material
material.<name>.elementMode | Specified material name |
material.<name>.exx material.<name>.eyy | Axial Young’s Modulus x Transversal Young’s modulus yz |
material.<name>.gxy | Shear modulus of parallel planes. |
material.<name>.vxy material.<name>.vyz | Axial Poisson ratio Transversal Poisson ratio |
3D Orthotropic Material
material.<name>.elementMode | Specified material name |
material.<name>.exx material.<name>.eyy material.<name>.ezz | Young’s modulus x Young’s modulus y Young’s modulus z |
material.<name>.gxy material.<name>.gxz material.<name>.gyz | Shear modulus of xy plane Shear modulus of xz plane Shear modulus of yz plane |
material.<name>.vxy material.<name>.vyx material.<name>.vxz material.<name>.vzx material.<name>.vyz material.<name>.vzy | xy component of Poisson ratio tensor yx component of Poisson ratio tensor xz component of Poisson ratio tensor zx component of Poisson ratio tensor yz component of Poisson ratio tensor zy component of Poisson ratio tensor |
Failure Criterion
The Failure Criterion section contains all information regarding the goal of the optimisation.
Von Mises
failureCriterion.<name>.failureCriterion | Specified name of the Failure Criterion |
failureCriterion.<name>.tensileStrength | Tensile Strength of the material |
Tsai Hill Failure Criterion
Failure Criterion for directional dependent Stress Goals (max. allowable Stress)
failureCriterion.<name>.failureCriterion | Specified name of the Failure Criterion. |
failureCriterion.<name>.x_t | Axial Tensile Strength |
failureCriterion.<name>.y_t | Transversal Tensile Strength |
failureCriterion.<name>.x_c | Axial Compression Strength (3D Orthotropic Material) |
failureCriterion.<name>.y_c | Transversal Compression Strength (3D Orthotropic Material) |
failureCriterion.<name>.s | Shear Strength |
Tsai Wu Failure Criterion
Failure Criterion for directional dependent Stress Goals (max. allowable Stress)
failureCriterion.<name>.failureCriterion | Specified name of the Failure Criterion |
failureCriterion.<name>.x_t | Tensile Strength x |
failureCriterion.<name>.y_t | Tensile Strength y |
failureCriterion.<name>.x_c | Compression Strength x |
failureCriterion.<name>.y_c | Compression Strength y |
failureCriterion.<name>.s_xy | Shear Strength in XY |
Event
The Event section sorts all Loads & Boundary Conditions to load cases and also defines the goal for each load case during the optimisation.
event.<name>.eventName | Specified name of the event |
event.<name>.safetyFactor | Event specific Safety Factor |
event.<name>.condition.<name> | Collection of boundary conditions considered for this event |
Boundary Conditions
The Boundary Conditions section contains all information regarding the different loads and constraints.
boundaryCondition.<name>.geometryName | Name of a geometry entry to associate with. |
boundaryCondition.<name>.coordinateSystem | Name of a coordinate system described in the same file, used for describing constraints in local coordinates |
boundaryCondition.<name>.load.x boundaryCondition.<name>.load.y boundaryCondition.<name>.load.z | x-direction of load y-direction of load z-direction of load |
boundaryCondition.<name>.displacement.x boundaryCondition.<name>.displacement.y boundaryCondition.<name>.displacement.z | x-direction of displacement y-direction of displacement z-direction of displacement |
boundaryCondition.<name>.moment.x boundaryCondition.<name>.moment.y boundaryCondition.<name>.moment.z | x-direction of moment y-direction of moment z-direction of moment |
boundaryCondition.<name>.acceleration.x boundaryCondition.<name>.acceleration.y boundaryCondition.<name>.acceleration.z | x-direction of acceleration y-direction of acceleration z-direction of acceleration |
boundaryCondition.<name>.pointOfApplication.x boundaryCondition.<name>.pointOfApplication.y boundaryCondition.<name>.pointOfApplication.z | x-direction of point of application y-direction of point of application z-direction of point of application |
boundaryCondition.<name>.pointOfApplication.coordinateSystem | Coordinate system related to the point of application |
boundaryCondition.<name>.pressure | value of the pressure force |
Design
The Design section defines the geometry for the Design Space and connects this with the defined Material.
design.<name>.geometryName | Definition of the Design Space. |
design.<name>.materialName | Definition of material for the Design Space. |
Geometry
In the Geometry section, all geometries and their paths are defined. For each geometry used in the optimisation an STL-file needs to be available in the optimisation folder.
geometry.<name>.isOpenSurface geometry.<name>.useSurfaceOnly geometry.<name>.useSurfaceCentroid | Indicates that the geometry is a surface and not a volume |
geometry.<name>.path | Path to the geometry file |
Machining Allowance
The Machining Allowances section collects all information regarding the Machining Allowances.
machiningOffset.<name>.geometryName | Specified name of the Machining Allowance reference geometry |
machiningOffset.<name>.offset | Defines the thickness of the Machining Allowance in the chosen unit |
Non-Design Spaces
The Non-Design Spaces section defines the preserve behaviour of specific regions and includes the information regarding retained Volumes.
nonDesign.<name>.geometryName | Specified geometry name |
nonDesign.<name>.preserveGeometry | The volume cannot be removed during the optimisation and will keep a connection to the rest of the design |
nonDesign.<name>.retainedVolume | A Retained Volumes specifies an area of the optimisation model which is included in the analysis but not in the design. |
Coordinate System
In the Coordinate System section all used coordinate systems are listed and defined.
coordinateSystem.<name>.alpha coordinateSystem.<name>.beta coordinateSystem.<name>.gamma | The coordinate system is located/orientated with coordinate values and Euler angles regarding the global coordinate system. |
coordinateSystem.<name>.origin.x coordinateSystem.<name>.origin.y coordinateSystem.<name>.origin.z | The coordinate system has a point of origin. |
Advanced User Settings
Have a look here for more information and commands that can be used.