Bulk Data Entry

DTPL Design Variable for Topology Optimization

Description
Defines parameters for the generation of topology design variables.
Format
(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

DTPL

ID

PTYPE

PID1

PID2

PID3

PID4

PID5

PID6

PID7

(10)

Optional continuation lines for minimum thickness definition:

(1)

(2)

(3)

TMIN

T0

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

Optional continuation lines for stress constraint definition:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

STRESS UBOUND

Optional continuation lines for member size constraint definition:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

MEMBSIZ MINDIM MAXDIM MINGAP

Optional continuation lines for mesh type definition:

(1)

(2)

(3)

MESH

MTYP

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

Optional continuation lines for draw direction constraint definition:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

DRAW

DTYP

DAID/XDA

YDA

ZDA

DFID/XDF

YDF

ZDF

OBST

OPID1

OPID2

OPID3

OPID4

OPID5

OPID6

OPID7

(10)

OPID8

NOHOLE

STAMP

TSTAMP

Optional continuation lines for extrusion constraint definition:

(1)

(2)

(3)

EXTR

ETYP

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

EPATH1 EP1_ID1 EP1_ID2 EP1_ID3 EP1_ID4 EP1_ID5 EP1_ID6 EP1_ID7

EP1_ID8

EPATH2 EP2_ID1 EP2_ID2 EP2_ID3 EP2_ID4 EP2_ID5 EP2_ID6 EP2_ID7

EP2_ID8

Optional continuation lines for "Master" definition for pattern repetition constraint:
(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

CID

CAID/XCA

YCA

ZCA

CFID/XCF

YCF

ZCF

CSID/XCS

YCS

ZCS

CTID/XCT

YCT

ZCT

(10)

MASTER

COORD

Optional continuation lines for "Slave" definition for pattern repetition constraint:
(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

SLAVE

DTPL_ID

SX

SY

SZ

COORD

CID

CAID/XCA

YCA

ZCA

CFID/XCF

YCF

ZCF

CSID/XCS

YCS

ZCS

CTID/XCT

YCT

ZCT

Optional continuation lines for pattern grouping constraint definition:

(10)

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

PATRN

TYP

AID/XA

YA

ZA

FID/XF

YF

ZF

UCYC

SID/XS

YS

ZS

(10)

Optional continuation lines for material definition if PTYPE=COMP:

(1)

(2)

(3)

MAT

MATOPT

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

Optional continuation lines for fatigue constraint definition:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

FATIGUE

FTYPE

FBOUND

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

Optional continuation lines for Level Set Method (Topology Optimization) activation:
(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

LEVELSET

HOLEINST

HOLERAD

NHOLESX

NHOLESY

NHOLESZ

(8)

(9)

(10)

Optional continuation lines for Lattice Structure Optimization:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

LATTICE

LT

LB

UB

LATSTR

(8)

(9)

(10)

Example 1
Define a topology design variable that allows the thickness of components referencing
the PSHELL properties 7, 8, and 17 to vary between 1.0 and 5.0 (the thickness defined
on PSHELL definitions with PID 7, 8, and 17 is 5.0). The optimized design should contain
members whose width is no less than 60.0 units.
(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

DTPL

PSHELL

17

MEMBSIZ

60.0

TMIN

1.0

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

Example 2
Define a topology design variable for components referencing the PSOLID properties 4,
5, and 6. The optimized design should contain members whose diameter is no less than
60.0 units. The final design will be manufactured using a casting process, where the
draw direction lies along the x-axis. The components referencing PSOLID properties 10,

11, and 12 are non-designable, but will form part of the same casting as the designable
components.
(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

DTPL

PSOLID

MEMBSIZ

60.0

DRAW

SPLIT

0.0

0.0

0.0

OBST

10

11

12

(7)

(8)

(9)

1.0

0.0

0.0

(10)

Field

Contents

ID

Each DTPL card must have a unique ID.

No default (Integer > 0)

PTYPE

Property type or Laminate for which the DTPL card is

defined.
No default (PBAR, PBARL, PBEAM, PBEAML, PBUSH,
PROD, PWELD, PSHELL, PCOMP, PSOLID, or STACK)

PID#

Property or Laminate (STACK) identification numbers.

List of properties or laminates of PTYPE for which this
DTPL card is defined.
If PIDs are not listed, OptiStruct will check all properties
or laminates of type PTYPE to see if they are to be
included in the design space (see PCOMP, PSHELL,
PSOLID, STACK, and so on). If any properties satisfy
this search, then they will be affected by entries on this
card. In this situation (where PIDs are not defined), only
one DTPL card can be defined for the given PTYPE.
Default = blank (Integer > 0 or blank)

TMIN

Indicates that minimum thickness value will follow. Only

valid when PTYPE = PSHELL.
If not present when PTYPE = PSHELL, the minimum
thickness will default to the T0 value defined on the
PSHELL card. If a T0 value is not defined on the PSHELL
card, the minimum thickness will default to 0.0.

T0

Minimum thickness for PSHELL properties when the

referenced material is of type MAT1.
If PSHELL references a material which is not of type
MAT1, this value is ignored and T0 = 0.0 is used.
If a value is not entered for T0, the T0 value on the
PSHELL card is used. If T0 is not defined on the PSHELL
card, then T0=0.0 is assumed.

Default = blank (Real > 0.0)

STRESS

Indicates that stress constraints are active and that an

upper bound value for stress is to follow. See comment
1.

UBOUND

Upper bound constraint on stress.

No default (Real > 0.0)

MEMBSIZ

Indicates that member size control is active for the

properties listed and if MINDIM and possibly MAXDIM
are to follow.

MINDIM

Specifies the minimum diameter of members formed.

This command is used to eliminate small members. It
also eliminates checkerboard results. See comment 2.
Default = No Minimum Member Size Control (Real >
0.0)

MAXDIM

Specifies the maximum diameter of members formed.

This command is used to prevent the formation of large
members. Only used in combination with MINDIM. See
comment 3.
Default = No Maximum Member Size Control (Real >
0.0)

MINGAP

Defines the minimum spacing between structural

members formed. Only used in conjunction with
MAXDIM. See comment 3.
Default = blank (Real > MAXDIM)

MESH

Indicates that mesh type information is to follow.

MTYP

Indicates that the mesh conforms to certain rules for

which the optimizer is tuned. Currently, the only option
available is ALIGN, which indicates when manufacturing
constraints are active, the mesh is aligned with the draw
direction or extrusion path. See comment 4.
Default = blank (ALIGN or blank)

DRAW

Indicates that casting constraints are being applied and

that draw direction information is to follow.
Only valid if PTYPE = PSOLID. OptiStruct will terminate
with an error, if present for other PTYPEs.

DTYP

Type of draw direction constraint to be used.

SINGLE indicates that a single die will be used, the die
being withdrawn in the given draw direction.

SPLIT allows the optimization of the splitting surface of

two dies, with both dies moving apart in the given draw
direction.
SPLIT2 and SPLIT3 provide alternative methods to
optimize the splitting surface. These should only be used
in the case where SPLIT creates non-castable cavities.
Default = SPLIT (SINGLE, SPLIT, SPLIT2, or SPLIT3)
DAID/XDA, YDA, ZDA

Draw direction anchor point. These fields define the

anchor point for draw direction of the casting. The point
may be defined by entering a grid ID in the DAID field or
by entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the XDA, YDA,
and ZDA fields, these coordinates will be in the basic
coordinate system.
Default = origin (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

DFID/XDF, YDF, ZDF

Direction of vector for draw direction definition. These

fields define a point. The vector goes from the anchor
point to this point. The point may be defined by entering
a grid ID in the DFID field or by entering X, Y, and Z
coordinates in the XDF, YDF, and ZDF fields, these
coordinates will be in the basic coordinate system.
No default (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

OBST

Indicates that a list of PIDs will follow which are nondesignable, but their interaction with designable parts
needs to be considered with regard to the defined draw
direction. OBST stands for obstacle.
Only recognized if DRAW flag is also present on the
same DTPL card. OptiStruct will terminate with an error,
if OBST flag is present without DRAW flag.

OPID#

Obstacle property identification number. List of nondesignable properties that are to be considered with
regard to the defined draw direction. These must be
PSOLID.
No default (Integer > 0, blank or ALL)

NOHOLE

Prevents the formation of through-holes in the draw

direction. Note that it does not prevent holes
perpendicular to the draw direction. The assumed
minimum thickness in the draw direction is twice the
average mesh size.

STAMP

Forcing the design to evolve into a 3D shell structure.

Indicates that thickness (TSTAMP) is to follow. See
comment 5.

TSTAMP

Defines the thickness of the 3D shell structure that is

evolved with the STAMP option. The recommended
minimum thickness is three times the average mesh
size. See comment 5.
No default (Real > 0.0)

EXTR

Indicates that extrusion constraints are being applied

and that extrusion information is to follow.
Only valid if PTYPE = PSOLID. OptiStruct will terminate
with an error, if present for other PTYPEs.

ETYP

Type of extrusion constraint to be used.

NOTWIST indicates that the cross-section cannot twist
about the neutral axis, in which case only one path
needs to be defined.
TWIST indicates that the cross-section can twist about
the neutral axis, in which case two paths need to be
defined.
Default = NOTWIST (NOTWIST or TWIST)

EPATH1

Indicates that a list of grid IDs will follow to define the

primary extrusion path.
Only recognized if EXTR flag is also present on the same
DTPL card. OptiStruct will terminate with an error, if
EPATH1 flag is present without EXTR flag.

EP1_ID#

Primary extrusion path identification numbers. List of

grid IDs that define the primary extrusion path.
No default (Integer > 0 or blank)

EPATH2

Indicates that a list of grid IDs will follow to define the

secondary extrusion path. This is only required when
ETYP has been set to TWIST.
Only recognized if EXTR flag is present on the same
DTPL card. OptiStruct will terminate with an error, if
EPATH2 flag is present without EXTR flag.

EP2_ID#

Secondary extrusion path identification numbers. List of

grid IDs that define the secondary extrusion path.
No default (Integer > 0 or blank)

MASTER

Indicates that this design variable may be used as a

master pattern for pattern repetition. See comment 7.

COORD

Indicates information regarding the coordinate system

for pattern repetition is to follow. This is required if
either MASTER or SLAVE flag is present.

CID

Coordinate system ID for a rectangular coordinate

system that may be used as the pattern repetition
coordinate system. See comment 7.
Default = 0 (Integer > 0)

CAID/XCA, YCA, ZCA

Anchor point for pattern repetition coordinate system.

The point may be defined by entering a grid ID in the
CAID field or by entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the
XCA, YCA, and ZCA fields. These coordinates will be in
the basic coordinate system. See comment 7.
No default (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

CFID/XCF, YCF, ZCF

First point for pattern repetition coordinate system. The

point may be defined by entering a grid ID in the CFID
field or by entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the XCF,
YCF, and ZCF fields. These coordinates will be in the
basic coordinate system. See comment 7.
No default (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

CSID/XCS, YCS, ZCS

Second point for pattern repetition coordinate system.

The point may be defined by entering a grid ID in the
CSID field or by entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the
XCS, YCS, and ZCS fields. These coordinates will be in
the basic coordinate system. See comment 7.
No default (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

CTID/XCT, YCT, ZCT

Third point for pattern repetition coordinate system. The

point may be defined by entering a grid ID in the CTID
field or by entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the XCT,
YCT, and ZCT fields. These coordinates will be in the
basic coordinate system. See comment 7.
No default (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

SLAVE

Indicates that this design variable is slave to the master

pattern definition referenced by the following DTPL_ID
entry. See comment 7.

DTPL_ID

DTPL identification number for a master pattern

definition.
No default (Integer > 0)

SX, SY, SZ

Scale factors for pattern repetition in X, Y, and Z

directions, respectively. See comment 7.
Default = 1.0 (Real > 0.0)

COORD

Indicates information regarding the coordinate system

for pattern repetition is to follow. This is required if
either MASTER or SLAVE flag is present.

CID

Coordinate system ID for a rectangular coordinate

system that may be used as the pattern repetition
coordinate system. See comment 7.
Default = 0 (Integer > 0)

CAID/XCA, YCA, ZCA

Anchor point for pattern repetition coordinate system.

The point may be defined by entering a grid ID in the
CAID field or by entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the
XCA, YCA, and ZCA fields. These coordinates will be in
the basic coordinate system. See comment 7.
No default (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

CFID/XCF, YCF, ZCF

First point for pattern repetition coordinate system. The

point may be defined by entering a grid ID in the CFID
field or by entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the XCF,
YCF, and ZCF fields. These coordinates will be in the
basic coordinate system. See comment 7.
No default (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

CSID/XCS, YCS, ZCS

Second point for pattern repetition coordinate system.

The point may be defined by entering a grid ID in the
CSID field or by entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the
XCS, YCS, and ZCS fields. These coordinates will be in
the basic coordinate system. See comment 7.
No default (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

CTID/XCT, YCT, ZCT

Third point for pattern repetition coordinate system. The

point may be defined by entering a grid ID in the CTID
field or by entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the XCT,
YCT, and ZCT fields. These coordinates will be in the
basic coordinate system. See comment 7.
No default (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

PATRN

Indicates that pattern grouping is active for the

properties listed and that information for pattern
grouping is to follow.
Only valid if PTYPE = PCOMP, PSHELL, or PSOLID.
OptiStruct will terminate with an error, if present for
other PTYPEs.

TYP

Indicates the type of pattern grouping requested. See

comment 10.

Default = No Pattern Grouping (1, 2, 3, 9, 10, or 11)

AID/XA, YA, ZA

Anchor point for pattern grouping. The point may be

defined by entering a grid ID in the AID field or by
entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the XA, YA, and ZA
fields. These coordinates will be in the basic coordinate
system. See comment 10.
Default = origin (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

FID/XF, YF, ZF

First point for pattern grouping. The point may be

defined by entering a grid ID in the FID field or by
entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the XF, YF, and ZF
fields. These coordinates will be in the basic coordinate
system. See comment 10.
No default (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

UCYC

Number of cyclical repetitions for cyclical symmetry. This

field defines the number of radial "wedges" for cyclical
symmetry. The angle of each wedge is computed as
360.0/UCYC. See comment 10.
Default = blank (Integer > 0 or blank)

SID/XS, YS, ZS

Second point for pattern grouping. The point may be

defined by entering a grid ID in the SID field or by
entering X, Y, and Z coordinates in the XS, YS, and ZS
fields. These coordinates will be in the basic coordinate
system. See comment 10.
No default (Real in all three fields or Integer in first
field)

MAT

Indicates the type of composite topology optimization.

Only considered for PTYPE=PCOMP.

MATOPT

PLY: Indicates that the optimization should be

performed at the ply level. Topology design variables are
applied to each ply individually. This method allows the
optimization process to determine which orientation is
preferred for each element.
HOMO: Indicates that the optimization should be
performed on the homogenized shell. This is the method
which was used in previous versions of OptiStruct.
Default = PLY

FATIGUE

Indicates that fatigue constraints are active and their

definitions are to follow.

FTYPE

Specifies the type of fatigue constraint; it can be

DAMAGE, LIFE or FOS.

FBOUND

Specifies the bound value.

If FTYPE is DAMAGE, FBOUND will be the upper bound of
fatigue damage.
If FTYPE is LIFE or FOS, FBOUND will be the lower bound
of fatigue life (LIFE) or Factor of Safety (FOS),
respectively.
No default (Real)

LEVELSET

Indicates that the Level Set method (for topology

optimization) is activated and the definitions of the
required parameters follow.

HOLEINST

Defines the method used to insert holes into the design.

Default = ADAPT (NONE, ADAPT, ALIGN or TOPDER)
NONE: Indicates that there are no holes in the initial
design, and it will work similar to shape optimization.
ADAPT: Indicates that the optimization will start with a
cheese-like initial design, where the holes are adaptively
inserted into the design domain, as illustrated in Figure
2. This works well with irregular design domains.
ALIGN: Indicates that the optimization will start with
evenly distributed holes aligned with axes X and Y (and
Z for 3D) of the basic coordinate system, as illustrated
in Figure 3. This option is specially developed for regular
design domains.
TOPDER: Indicates that OptiStruct will automatically
identify locations for the insertion of holes during the
optimization process.
If the HOLEINST field is blank, it is set to ADAPT by
default.

HOLERAD

<REAL NUMBER>
Default = 4 times the average mesh size
A real number that specifies the initial radius of the
holes.
If blank, the radius will be set to 4 times the average
mesh size.

NHOLESX / NHOLESY /
NHOLESZ

<POSITIVE INTEGER>
A positive integer that specifies the number of holes in X
direction (when HOLEINST= ALIGN).
If blank, OptiStruct will automatically assign a number
based on HOLERAD and the dimensions of the domain.
NHOLESY and NHOLESZ can be inferred by analogy.

LATTICE

Indicates that Lattice Structure Optimization is activated

and the definitions of the required parameters are to
follow.

LT

Lattice type (see comments 15 and 16)

Default = 1 (Integer: 1, 2, 3 or 4)

LB

Density lower bound (see comments 15 and 16)

Default = 0.1 (0.0 < Real < 1.0)

UB

Density upper bound (see comments 15 and 16)

Default = 0.8 (0.0 < Real < 1.0)

LATSTR

Stress constraint for Phase 2 of Lattice Optimization (see

Stress Constraints in the User's Guide).
No default (Real)

Comments
1.The von Mises stress constraints may be defined for topology and free-size
optimization through the STRESS optional continuation line on the DTPL or the DSIZE
card. There are a number of restrictions with this constraint:
The definition of stress constraints is limited to a single von Mises permissible stress.
The phenomenon of singular topology is pronounced when different materials with
different permissible stresses exist in a structure. Singular topology refers to the
problem associated with the conditional nature of stress constraints, that is, the
stress constraint of an element disappears when the element vanishes. This creates
another problem in that a huge number of reduced problems exist with solutions that
cannot usually be found by a gradient-based optimizer in the full design space.
Stress constraints for a partial domain of the structure are not allowed because they
often create an ill-posed optimization problem since elimination of the partial domain
would remove all stress constraints. Consequently, the stress constraint applies to
the entire model when active, including both design and non-design regions, and
stress constraint settings must be identical for all DSIZE and DTPL cards.
The capability has built-in intelligence to filter out artificial stress concentrations
around point loads and point boundary conditions. Stress concentrations, due to
boundary geometry are also filtered to some extent as they can be improved more
effectively with local shape optimization.
Due to the large number of elements with active stress constraints, no element
stress report is given in the table of retained constraints in the .out file. The iterative
history of the stress state of the model can be viewed in HyperView or HyperMesh.
Stress constraints do not apply to 1D elements.
Stress constraints may not be used when enforced displacements are present in the
model.

Note:

The functionality of the STRESS continuation line to define topology stress

constraints consists of many limitations. It is recommended to use DRESP1based Stress Responses. Actual Stress Responses for Topology and Free-Size
Optimization are available through corresponding Stress response RTYPEs on

the DRESP1 Bulk Data Entry. The Stress-NORM aggregation is internally used
to calculate the Stress Responses for groups of elements in the model.
2.It is recommended that a MINDIM value be chosen such that it is at least 3 times, and
no greater than 12 times, the average element size. When pattern grouping, draw
direction, or extrusion constraints are active, a MINDIM value of 3 times the average
element size is enforced, and user-defined values (which are smaller than this value) will
be replaced by this value. However, in cases where a MINDIM greater than 12 times the
average element size is defined, irrespective of whether or not other manufacturing
constraints are defined, the value is reset to be equal to 12 times the average element
size.
If MINDIM is defined, but no other manufacturing constraint exists, MINDIM will not
be reset to the recommended lower bound value for PTYPE = PSHELL or PSOLID, if
the defined value is less than the recommended value. For PTYPE = PCOMP, MINDIM
will be reset in the absence of manufacturing constraints.
3.MAXDIM should be at least twice the value of MINDIM. If the input value of MAXDIM is
too small, OptiStruct automatically resets the value and an INFORMATION message is
printed.
The MAXDIM constraint introduces significant restriction to the design problem.
Therefore, it should only be used when it is a necessary design requirement. A study
without MAXDIM should always be carried out in order to compare the impact of this
additional constraint.
MAXDIM implies the application of a MINGAP constraint of the same value as
MAXDIM, as well. Therefore, for MINGAP to be effective, it should be greater than
MAXDIM.
It is important to pay attention to volume fraction as the achievable volume is below
50% when MAXDIM is defined, and further decreases as MINGAP increases.
4.MTYP "ALIGN" may be used in conjunction with draw direction or extrusion
manufacturing constraints to indicate that a mesh is aligned with a draw direction or
extrusion path.

Figure 1: Draw direction

Mesh 1 is "aligned" for draw direction 1 in the example shown, but not for draw
direction 2.
MTYP "ALIGN" may also be used in conjunction with manufacturing constraints
(minimum member, maximum member, pattern grouping, and pattern repetition)
other than draw direction and extrusion, and Mesh 1 is considered "aligned" for
those manufacturing constraints, too.
In both cases, this will enable OptiStruct to use a smaller minimum member size
and smaller maximum member sizes. The default minimum member size is three
times the average element edge length; with an "aligned" mesh, the default size can
be two times the average element edge length.
Mesh 2 in the example shown is not "aligned" in any case.
5.The stamping constraint is available for only one sheet, which is defined by the
combination of STAMP and DTYP as SINGLE.
It is recommended that the stamping thickness, TSTAMP, be chosen such that it is
at least 3 times the average element size. If TSTAMP is defined less than the
minimum recommended value, TSTAMP will be reset to the minimum recommended
value.
STAMP and NOHOLE can be a good combination as this helps to produce a
continuous/spread shell structure.
Note that attention should be paid to the compatibility between thickness and target
volume.
6.Extrusion constraints cannot be combined with draw direction constraints.
7.Pattern repetition allows similar regions of the design domain to be linked together so
as to produce similar topological layouts. This is facilitated through the definition of
"Master" and "Slave" regions. A DTPL card may only contain one MASTER or SLAVE flag.
Parameters will not be exported for any DTPL cards containing the SLAVE flag. For both
"Master" and "Slave" regions, a pattern repetition coordinate system is required and is
described following the COORD flag. In order to facilitate reflection, the coordinate
system may be a left-handed or right-handed Cartesian system. The coordinate system
may be defined in one of two ways, listed here in order of precedence:
Four points are defined and these are utilized as follows to define the coordinate
system (this is the only way to define a left-handed system):
-

A vector from the anchor point to the first point defines the x-axis.
The second point lies on the x-y plane, indicating the positive sense of the y-axis.

The third point indicates the positive sense of the z-axis.

A rectangular coordinate system and an anchor point are defined. If only an anchor
point is defined, it is assumed that the basic coordinate system is to be used.
Multiple "Slaves" may reference the same "Master."
Scale factors may be defined for "Slave" regions, allowing the "Master" layout to be
adjusted.
For a more detailed description, refer to Pattern Repetition contained within the
User's Guide section Manufacturability for Topology Optimization.

8.Pattern grouping is applicable for PCOMP, PSHELL, and PSOLID components only.
9.For historic reasons, the SYMM flag may be used in place of the PATRN flag.
10.Currently there are six pattern grouping options:
1-plane symmetry (TYP = 1)

This type of pattern grouping requires the anchor point and first point to be defined.
A vector from the anchor point to the first point is normal to the plane of symmetry.
2-plane symmetry (TYP = 2)
This type of pattern grouping requires the anchor point, first point, and second point
to be defined. A vector from the anchor point to the first point is normal to the first
plane of symmetry. The second point is projected normally onto the first plane of
symmetry. A vector from the anchor point to this projected point is normal to the
second plane of symmetry.
3-plane symmetry (TYP = 3)
This type of pattern grouping requires the anchor point, first point, and second point
to be defined. A vector from the anchor point to the first point is normal to the first
plane of symmetry. The second point is projected normally onto the first plane of
symmetry. A vector from the anchor point to this projected point is normal to the
second plane of symmetry. The third plane of symmetry is orthogonal to both the
first and second planes of symmetry, passing through the anchor point.
Uniform Pattern Grouping (TYP = 9)
This type of pattern grouping does not require any additional input. It only requires
the TYP field to be set equal to 9. All elements included in this DTPL entry are
automatically considered for uniform pattern grouping. All elements on this DTPL
entry are set equal to the same element density with respect to one another.
Cyclic (TYP = 10)
This type of pattern grouping requires the anchor point, first point, and number of
cyclical repetitions to be defined. A vector from the anchor point to the first point
defines the axis of symmetry.
Cyclic with symmetry (TYP = 11)
This type of pattern grouping requires the anchor point, first point, second point,
and number of cyclical repetitions to be defined. A vector from the anchor point to
the first point defines the axis of symmetry. The anchor point, first point, and
second point all lay on a plane of symmetry. A plane of symmetry lies at the center
of each cyclical repetition.
For a more detailed description, refer to Pattern Grouping contained within the
User's Guide section Manufacturability for Topology Optimization.
11.The level set method can merge existing holes but cannot nucleate new holes in the
design domain. Therefore, creating an initial design with holes is necessary, especially
for 2D design problems (For 3D design problems, new holes can be tunneled when two
surfaces merged).
12.By default, OptiStruct will automatically create a Cheese-like initial design with holes
adaptively distributed over the design domain, as shown in Figure 2. The default hole
radius is 4.0 times the average mesh size.

Figure 2: A Cheese-like Initial design generated with (left) the default setting, and (right) double hole
radius.

13.Changing the value of HOLERAD can result in different initial designs. Figure 2 (right)
shows an initial design filled with holes possessing a doubled hole radius when compared
to Figure 2 (left). If you want to create an initial design with evenly distributed and well
aligned holes (this may be preferable for regular design domains), HOLEINST can be set
to ALIGN. The number of holes in each direction can be further specified by using
NHOLESX, NHOLESY and NHOLESZ, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: A Cheese-like initial design with 3-by-5 evenly distributed holes generated using the following
settings: HOLEINST=ALIGN, NHOLESX=5 and NHOLESY=3.

14.Currently, level set supports both SINGLE and SPLIT draw direction constraints. When
multiple DTPL cards are involved, the draw directions need to be the same. The
information needed for draw direction constraint is read from the DTPL cards and thus no
extra settings are required.
15.The LT field can be used to specify the lattice type used in Lattice Structure
Optimization.
Refer to Lattice Structure Optimization in the Users Guide for further information.
16.The density thresholds are defined using the LB and UB fields on the LATTICE
continuation line. Elements with densities below LB (real) are considered voids and
removed for the second phase. Elements with densities above UB (real) are considered
solid and are retained as solid elements for the second phase. Elements with densities
between LB and UB are considered as porous phases and elements having these
densities are replaced by lattice structures. The amount of intermediate densities
(between 0.0 and 1.0) is controlled using DOPTPRM, POROSITY. Refer to Lattice
Structure Optimization in the Users Guide for further information.
17.This card is represented as an optimization designvariable in HyperMesh.
See Also:
Bulk Data Section
Guidelines for Bulk Data Entries
The Input File
Topology Optimization