A symmetrical optimization is a unsupported function which can be activated with the advanced user settings
The geometry as well as the boundary conditions need to be symmetrical
The part must be located in the global coordinate origin
Since the forces and moments always affect an object/volume they must be adjusted. If only considering half the part, the forces and moments need to be divided in half as well.
To activate a symmetry the following comands can be typed into the advanced user settings textbox:
symmetry.x (Y-Z-Plane is symmetry plane)
symmetry.y (X-Z-Plane is symmetry plane)
symmetry.z (X-Y-Plane is symmetry plane)
All three symmetry planes can be used simultaneously if the model supports this
The symmtery constraint might not show exactly symmetrical designs while choosing the calculation type “estimate”. This is because of the low resolution level but will not occur once the calculation type is set to “optimizing” and the optimization runs through.
Attention: You will get a warning message that Nondesign spaces are missing because not all of them are considered in the optimization. The optimization works anyway.
Hint: Only a half, a quarter or an eighth of the model will be calculated. Thus only a a half, a quarter or an eighth of the resources are needed.
Further information here.