Set up a Shape Optimization analysis

Overview video (5:25)

Workflow: Run a Shape Optimization Study

1. Create a new study.
   • Refer to Create a Study topic for more details.
   • Optionally, you can adjust the study or mesh settings while in the New Study dialog.
2. Optionally, use the Simplify contextual environment to make simulation-specific changes to the model, preserving the production model:
   • Remove unnecessary features that only complicate the analysis and do not provide useful information.
   • See Model Simplification (Defeaturing).
   • Take advantage of Symmetry when appropriate to reduce the simulation model size and solution time. Symmetry can also facilitate constraining a model in a way that provides full stability but does not at all impede the natural deformation.
   • Split faces to confine loads or constraints to a only portion of a larger face.
3. Assign materials.
   • Refer to Assign Materials for more details.
4. Apply constraints.
   • Refer to Constraints for more details.
5. Apply loads.
   • Refer to Structural Loads for more details.
6. Preserve regions.
   • Refer to Preserve Region for more details.
7. Define the Shape Optimization settings.
   • Refer to Shape Optimization Criteria for more details.
8. Define the mesh settings.
   • If you haven't previously adjusted the mesh settings, do so now. The mesh is generated automatically when the solution is run, whether you keep the default mesh settings or not.
   • Refer to Meshes for more details.
   • Shape Optimization results are highly mesh dependent, so you are encouraged to perform a mesh sensitivity study on your model.
9. Solve the analysis.
   • Refer to Solve a Simulation for more details.
10. Review the optimization results.
    • Refer to Review Results for more details.
11. Export the optimized mesh.
    • Refer to Export Mesh for more details.

Subsequent related workflow

1. Modify your CAD model.
   • Use the exported optimized mesh as a template for modifying your original design in the Design workspace.
   • Remove unnecessary material from the indicated areas.
2. Perform a stress analysis.
   • Clone the shape optimization study and change the study type to Static Stress, Nonlinear Static Stress, or any other desired structural analysis.
   • Cloning the shape optimization study brings the loads and constraints into the stress analysis, so you do not have to recreate them.
3. Review the structural results.
   • Review the stress, displacement, and safety factor results to ensure the suitability of the modified design to handle the applied loads.