Goal of this tutorial
Introduction to MSC Apex Generative Design 2020
Gain basic optimization knowledge
Training:
Relevant data for this tutorial:
Step 1: Start MSC Apex Generative Design 2020
The program starts and you can directly create your optimization model
Step 2: Model generation
You can either create the geometry directly in Apex GenDes or import already existing files. You can import .xb, .step and .stl files into the program.
For this Bridge a design space needs to be created which includes the 4 pillars as fixations and the street as the force entry point.
Import/create the design space including the nondesign spaces in MSC Apex Generativ Design 2020 as one solid
Create the material in the materials editor and assign a Material to the design space
The specific values needed are the Young's Modulus (210e3), poisson ratio (0.28) and density (7.85)
Nondesign spaces have to be selected using the optimization tools
Step 3: Definition of boundary conditions
Go to the boundary conditions tool to enter the loads and fixations. Displacements, Forces, Moments and Pressure Loads can be applied using different selection options. In this case one Force
Name | Surface | Direction | Value in N |
|---|---|---|---|
Force-Moment1 | Pedalfootsurface1 | y | -1000 |
and one Fixation need to be created.
Name | Surface | Direction |
|---|---|---|
Constraint1 | Pedalaxle1 | x, y, z (=0) |
The next steps are carried out in the Studies Area. To start an optimization a Meshless Genreative Design Study needs to be created. This study automatically selects the existing solid from the model setup as the design space. Different scenarios can be created and simulated for this design space.
Step 4: Definition of load cases
All boundary conditions must be assigned to the specific load cases, which are defines as Events. The number of load cases can be changed by adding/deleting Events to the Meshless Generative Design Scenario. The assignment of the boundarie conditions to the Events can 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 Event individually.
Active in Event1: Force-Moment and Constraint1
Step 4: Definition of optimization parameters
The optimization parameters are selected in the Studies Area as well. You can find more information about the parameter selection here.
Select the Thickness: normal
Select the Calculation Type: optimizing
Enter the Maximum Stress: 50 MPa
Step 5: Generative Design
You can always change the Thickness, Maximum Stress and SolverMaxMemory to influence the results and try out different options
The SolverMaxMemory can be increased for a higher resolution (increased calculation time!)
The Thickness influences the strucures which are formed during optimization
You can find further information here.
Step 6: Save the Project
Before starting the optimization, save your project!
Step 7: Starting the optimization
If all data are correct, the optimization can be started. Click on the Meshless Generative Design Scenario that you want to start and click Run Simulation. When the Optimization is started succesfully the notification Run simulation will appear in the left, down corner of the program.
The optimization is finished after 64 iterations (calculationtype: optimizing).
The files created for the optimization can be found and checked here: User/AppData/Local/Temp/Meshless_Generative-Design_Scenario_1
Be aware that the unit system is changed to SI units for the optimization.
Step 7: Visualization of Stresses
The legend can be influenced using the slider. The function "Automatically set to local minimum and maximum" considers the stresses of each iteration and sets the values from the current iteration.
Step 8: Visualization of Displacements
The legend can be influenced using the slider. The function "Automatically set to local minimum and maximum" considers the displacements of each iteration and sets the values from the current iteration.