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You can either create the geometry directly in MSC Apex Generative Design or import already existing files. You can import .xb, .xt, .step, and .sldprt files into the program.
Import/create the Design Space including the Non-Design Spacesin MSC Apex Generative Design 2020 as one solid. For this Bookshelf the already prepared Design Space was imported.
Create the material in the Materials editor and assign it to the Design Space
The specific values needed are the Young's Modulus (192372 MPa), Poisson ratio (0.3) and Density (7.97e-6 kg/mm3)
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Non-Design Spaceshave to be selected using the optimisation Tools. In this case the top plate is created as a Non-Design Spaces with an offset of 1 mm and the three screw holes are being used with an offset of 3 mm for each.
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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.
In this case one force is defined (on the top plate):
Name | Force/Moment/Pressure/Gravity | Direction | Value in N |
|---|---|---|---|
Force - Moment 1 | Force on cell | z | -1000 |
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Three constraints are created and attached on the Non-Design Spaces:
Name | Direction |
|---|---|
Constraint 1 | x, y, z (=0) |
Constraint 2 | x, y, z (=0) |
Constraint 3 | x, y, z (=0) |
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Step 4: Definition of load cases
The next steps are defined in the Studies area.
All boundary conditions must be assigned to the specific load cases, which are defined as Events. The number of Eventscan be changed by adding/deleting Eventsto the Meshless Generative Design Scenario. The assignment of the boundary conditions to the Eventscan be made in the Loads & Constrains Window. The already created loads and constraints that concern the Design Space are listed in this window and can be activated for each Eventindividually.
Active in Event1: Force-Moment 1, Constraint 1, Constraint 2 and Constraint 3
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The optimisation parameters are selected in the Studies Area as well.
Select the Strut Density: Medium
Select the Shape Quality: Balanced
Enter theStress Goal: 2 MPa
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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.
All result iterations are displayed as soon as they are available. Furthermore, you are able to stop the optimisation in this selection area. However, a Restart is not directly possible.
The optimisation is finished after 64 iterations (Shape Quality: Balanced).
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Generative Design
You can always change the Strut Density, Stress Goal 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!)
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The Strut Densityinfluences the structures which are formed during optimisation
The optimisations below show the influence of the Strut Density when nothing else is changed.
Strut Density: Medium
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Strut Density: Dense
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Strut Density: Sparse
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Step 7: Visualization of Stresses, Displacements & Mass
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The mass of each iteration can be visualized with a diagram
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The whole MSC Apex Generative Design project with all results can be downloaded here:
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