ANSYS Tutorial Design Optimization
ANSYS Tutorial Design Optimization
ANSYS Workbench Tutorial: Want to know more about you model? Run a What if scenario? How sensitive are you results for changes in the input variables? Maybe optimize your model in terms of weight? Then DesignXplorer is the tool for you. This article will first give you a short summation of what DesignXplorer is and then show how to set up a simple optimization.
What is DesignXplorer?
Design Explorer is based on a method called Design of Experiments (DOE). This together with various optimization methods helps the program to develop an optimized structure based on selected input and output parameters. Input parameters can either come from DesignModeler or from various CAD systems. These parameters can be in terms of thickness, length, etc. They can also come from Mechanical in terms of forces, material properties, etc. The output parameters are calculated in Mechanical and can for example be in terms of total mass, stress or frequency response. After setting up an analysis with a number of input parameters and out parameters there are the steps that can be run within DesignXplorer:
Design of Experiments
Design of experiments is the foundation that everything within DesignXplorer is built on. What this technique is about is to determine how many and for what input values the analysis shall be run. There are various techniques for this but the same goal for all is to get as good response surface as possible with as few input combinations as possible. So basically this step defines is how many analysis that will be run. Each combination that ANSYS solves for is referred to as a Design Points.
Response Surface
When the Design of Experiments is run the next step is to create a response surface based on these results. A response surface will be created for each output parameter. The response surface is basically created via curve fit through the Design Points. From this response surface you can then investigate output results for input variable combinations that hasnt been solved for.
Wi ithin Design nModeler th paramete are simply defined b checking the box be he ers by g etween the d desired par rameter. In this case we have two parameters. A thicknes and a rad e . ss dius.
No you will have to def your materials, loa boundar condition mesh set ow fine ads, ry ns, ttings etc. a usual in as Me echanical. W resides from an or What s rdinary analysis is that you also w have to define you o t will d output par rameters. In this case w will use t n we total mass and Maximu Principa Stress as o a um al output parameters. Fir define loads, rst
On could also check the parameters set to see t all your parameters are proper defined. ne o s that r s rly
Besides the ca apability to p the resp plot ponse surfa itself, there are here a lot of cap ace e pabilities to plot the o nnection bet tween input and output variables. Among oth things w have the p t t her we possibility t plot how to con sen nsitive outpu results ar based on changes in the input va ut re ariables.
Wh weve d hen defined obje ectives it is j to run the optimiza just t ation and ra the different candid ate dates that AN NSYS gives us. In this case ANSY gives us the followin candidat to choose between. s YS ng tes
No we can s ow select the ca andidate tha suites us th best. Bas on the r at he sed rates (stars) given by A ANSYS, is sea like Can ams ndidate B is the best so s olution for us. When se u elected the appropriate candidate it could alwa a t ays be a good prac ctise to inse this as a d ert design poin and run th analysis again to ma sure that there is no nt he a ake t o bstanially di ifference be etween the r solution and that ta real n aken from th response surface. he e sub The result from the final run can be s m r seen in the f figure below w.