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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 GD-Bracket 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 (192e3 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 six fixation points at the bottom of the part and four force application points are selected using the direct method.

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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.

Creation of local coordinate systems to apply forces

For this model one Local Coordinate System needs to be created to easily apply the corresponding force to the model.
By opening the Coordinate Tools a local coordinate system is created by entering the three orientations (alpha = 75°, beta = 90°, gamma = 315°) and placing it on the front plane (coordinate system 1).

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To apply the forces the Loads & Boundary Condition Tool is needed. By disabling the Thunderbolt (tool execution mode selector) on the top, both Non-Design Spaces can be selected simultaneously. Select the cells on the left side.

Three loads are created (Force - Moment 1, Force - Moment 2 and Force - Moment 3) with the given values in the tables.

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One Constraint which includes all six Non-Design Spaces is created:

Therefore, the Loads & Boundary Condition Tool is needed.

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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.

• Event1: Force-Moment 1, Force-Moment 2, Constraint 1

• Event2: Force-Moment 2, Force-Moment 3, Constraint 1

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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

• Choose the Complexity: 6 GB (you can start with a lower value to receive fast results)

• Enter theStress Goal: 80 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.

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Step 7: Visualization of Stresses & Displacements

• Inside the Post Processing the von Mises stress and the displacements are visible for all iterations

• The Scale can be influenced individually

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The whole MSC Apex Generative Design project with all results can be downloaded here:

You might also be interested in these tutorials:

• Generative Design - Jet Engine Bracket

• Restart Optimisation