MSC Apex Generative Design is a design generator and not . Thus, to verify the results a reanalysis with a high precisly precise FE-Analysis Tool , thus generative designed models should be reanalyzed with Apex and/or Nastranas MSC Apex (Nastran) should be done after deciding on a design. We recommend a reanalysis for all critical parts to include the relevant boundary & overload conditions that aren’t taken into account during an optimisation.
The workflow to get from the generated design to the FE-Analysis can be devided divided into the following steps:
The final generative designed part can be exported directly inside the postprocessing post processing as a STL-file. We recommend exporting a binary STL-file.
The exported file can be reimported into the same MSC Apex Generative Design project . Please check your Geometry Import/Export settings. A Feature and Vertex angle of 40 degrees is a good value and should be activated if this isn’t already the default valuecreated for the optimisation.
The import option Split on Feature/Vertex Angle can be deactivated due to already good approximated STL-files and no need of additional edges.To verify the generative designed part an intersection is needed. Further information about the intersection here. The intersected part can be exported as a Parasolid-file (.x_b or .x_t). Further information about the intersection here.
The Parasolid-file can subsequently be imported to MSC Apex 2020 or Apex Jaguar.
Sometimes the imported solid has some manifold faces which must be deleted before continuing with the overall workflow.
By hovering over the part they the faces are visible. With the Geometry Tools - Add/Remove Vertex the unnessesary unnecessary edges can be deleted (right mouse button - delete on the green edge - multiple selection possible).
picking filter: edges - selection of all edges - delete).
The cleaned part can be meshed with tet-elements. Usually the generative designs are very complex and need a lot of elements for an a good approximation. The reanalysis model can be set-up next.
The Boundary conditons can be conditions are applied on the intersected surfaces surface. After the model set-up a FE-Reanalysis can be carried out and the analysis model results can be set up. For a comparable result viewed in post processing.
For comparable stress results between MSC Apex Generative Design and Apex Nastran all loading and fixation conditions need to be set up identically which is often quite
...
difficult.
A Tutorial for a FE-Reanalysis is coming soon!