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You can find all relevant data for this tutorial in the Example folder! ("C:\Program Files\MSC.Software\MSC Apex Generative Design\2019\Examples")
CAD Preparation: To use the symmetry function, the model must be centered in the coordinate origin along the symmetry plane.
Step 1: Create a new project
In a first step, you need to create a new project. All data (geometry and configuration) directly will be copied and saved in a new project-folder, located in your workspace:
- Start AMendateStart MSC Apex Generative Design 2019
- Create a new project using the symbo
- Enter a projectname Project name and save the project
- Open the newly created project
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- Upload all relevant stl files by clicking on the symbol in the objects/surfaces area
- select Select all stl files
- The field at the bottom shows notifications and makes you aware of missing input
- The uploaded objects are listed in the objects/surfaces area.
- Assign a Material to each object/surface and enter the specific values for the Young's Modulus (210e3) and poisson ratio ratio (0.28) in the Material Editor.
- Activate the option design space for the relevant stl file. Only one volume can be selected as such.
- In this case: Pedal - design-1
Step 3: Definition of boundary conditions
Go to the boundary conditions tab to enter the loads and fixations as follows
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. For each boundary condition a name, a space and the specification of the boundary condition is entered as follows:
| Name | Object | Direction | Value in N |
|---|---|---|---|
| Force | Pedalfootsurface1 | y | -1000 |
- Object "Pedalfootsurface1" experiences a force of -1000 N in y-direction (conditions 2L, conditions2R).
- Objects "interface1L" and "interface1R" each experience a force of 15701 N in x-direction and 14137 N in y-direction (conditions 3L, conditions3R).
- Objects "interface1L" and "interface1R" each experience a force of 19483 N in x-direction (conditions 4L, conditions4R).
- Objects "interface2", "interface3", "interface4" and "interface5" are all fixed in x-, y- and z-direction (=0) (dis1, dis2, dis3, dis4).
- A total of 8 forces and 4 fixations Force). The force of the whole pedal is -2000 N. If you are using the symmetry option, the force must be adjusted to the calculation model. If only half of the component is calculated (symmetry about the XY-Plane), the force must also be cut in half. The example already considers this restriction.
| Name | Object | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Fixation | Pedalaxle1 | x, y, z (=0) |
- A total of 1 force and 1 fixation should have been created as a result.
- The object "Pedalfixation1" does not experience any force or fixation but it's necessary to connect the pedal with the axle. Therfore the form is considered in the optimization.
All boundary conditions are must be assigned to the load cases. The number of load cases can be changed using the "+" or "-" characters. The assignment of the boundaries to the load cases can be made in the boundary conditions or load cases area.
- Active in load case 1: dis1, dis2, dis3, dis4, conditions4L and conditions4R
- Active in load case 2: dis1, dis2, dis3, dis4, conditions1L and conditions1R
- Active in load case 3: dis1, dis2, dis3, dis4, conditions2L and conditions2R
- Active in load case 4: dis1, dis2, dis3, dis4, conditions3L and conditions3R
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- Loadcase1: Force and Fixation
Step 4: Definition of optimization parameters
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- Choose the design type normal.
- Enter the optimization goal stress: 600 MPa
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- 60 MPa
- Set the symmetry setting: XY-Plane
- Open Result File Formats. The following result files should be activated:
- stl File: results of each iteration in stl file format
- stl Files Intersected: result of each iteration intersected with the design space in stl file format
- ply Files with Stress: results with the information of stresses of each iteration (must be activated to show the results in the Visualization space)
- ply Files with Displacement: results with the information of displacements of each iteration (must be activated to show the results in the Visualization space)
- More information on result file formats here
All Inputs can be viewed and checked in the configuration file. The file should look like this.
Step 5: Save the project
Step 6: Starting the optimization and visualizing the results
If all data are correct, the optimzation can be started and tracked in the results area.
All result iterations are displayed as soon as they are available. The progress of the optimization can also be monitored via the AMendate log file. Furtheremore you are able to stop the optimization in this selection area. A restart however is not possible without further expert settings.
The optimization is finished after 64 iterations (optimizationtype: optimizing).
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Step 7: Visualization of Stresses
The legend can be influenced using the slider. The function "Automatically set to local minimum and maximum" considers the stressesof each iteration and sets the values from the current iteration.
Step 8: Visualization of Displacements
The legend can be influenced using the slider. The function "Automatically set to local minimum and maximum" considers the displacements of each iteration and sets the values from the current iteration.
You might also be interested in these tutorials:
- Introductory Optimization - Jet-Enigne-Bracket
- Introductory Optimization - Hook
- Introductory Optimization - Eccentric
- Symmetrical Optimization - Bridge