Configuration File

The Configuration File contains all information necessary for the algorithm to run through the optimisation. It is subdivided into different areas regarding 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 Configuration File, the algorithm can run fully autonomous and saves the result files in one subfolder each time it is started in the main folder.

The Configuration File starts with the 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	2022.2	Indicates the version number with which the configuration file was created

Configuration

The Configuration section defines the Design Space and general optimization parameters.

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.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
schedule.prefabricated.supportReductionMode	New experimental function to reduce the needed support for which different operation modes are possible
schedule.prefabricated.supportReductionIntensity	For some support reduction modes the intensity is adjustable

You can influence these values further using the Advanced User Settings and the commands listed here.

Information about the experimental support reduction can be found 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.