Post Processing

After starting an optimisation MSC Apex Generative Design automatically switches to the post processing. When an optimisation is finished the results of the project can always be visualized inside the post process.

Live View

In the live post processing, the iterations of the optimisation are displayed as soon as they are available. The current iteration is shown and the number is displayed at the bottom progress bar. Furthermore, the progress bar shows the planned number of iterations. The Design space can be displayed by selecting the button Initial Shape beneath the progress bar.

Stresses

The approximated von Mises stress is shown as a coloured plot. By default, the maximum stresses of all Events are shown in one plot. Therefore, the stresses from all Events are enveloped and the highest stress for each area is shown. In the right top corner the scale from zero to the maximum of this iteration is displayed. The stresses in the colour plot and visualization area are smoothed values of the element representation and therefore estimated values. The goal of generative design is to create a lightweight design which is as close as possible to the stress goal.

The stress for each Event separately can be displayed by choosing a specific Event (see picture below).

By selecting the point chart the stress curve over the iterations can be displayed. These stresses are 95% of the stresses of the element representation. Because of FE inaccuracies we purposely leave out 5% (singularities etc.) and show the relevant values for the engineer to see. Of course 100% of the stresses are being used in the optimisation algorithm and this is just for the result overview.

Attention: The maximum stress is displayed here. Inaccuracies because of FE singularities or stress exceeding because of boundary conditions are included.

Displacements

By selecting the displacement button the translational displacements are shown. It can be chosen between the resultant or the component for each direction.

Mass

By selecting the mass point chart, the mass curve over the iterations is displayed.

Attention: The final mass can change with an intersection!

Export optimisation Result

The final optimisation results can be exported as an STL-file by selecting the button Export Design Candidate (beneath the progress bar). Because Generative Designs can be very complex, we recommend saving files as binary STL-file.

Scale

The scale can be influenced by expanding the scale window with the arrow in the top corner.

It can be chosen between a discrete and a continuous spectrum. The scale can be changed by replacing a number with a distinctly chosen number. Recommended is a scale from zero to double the optimisation goal. This displays the even distribution of the selected stress goal with the colour range of green and critical points are viewable in red. The fixated Nondesign spaces are displayed in blue because no stresses can occur in these areas. At the bottom out of range colours can be activated, which show areas which are above or under the adjusted scale.