Automating OptiStruct

[mloew]

Has anyone tried to automate topology optimization in OptiStruct? As an occasional user of the tool, I can not seem to get over the, shall I say, difficult user interface in HyperMesh and would like to do as little in that environment as possible. I would like to do all my pre-processing in Pro/ENINGEER MECANICA FEM mode. I can treat the design domain and non-design domain as separate parts in Pro/E. The output from Pro/E would be an ANSYS or NASTRAN file. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.


Best regards,

Matthew Ian Loew
"I don't grow up. In me is the small child of my early days" -- M.C. Escher

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[GraviMan]

I optimised the MGF rear suspension trailing arm using Optistruct while at MIRA. It seemed straight forward, but at that time I had used Hypermesh for 5 years or so. I no longer have access to Hypermesh but what problems are you having in particular?

Mart

 

[Charlie48067]

Have you found a better way of doing your topology with Optistruct or have you moved on to another tool?
Charlie

 

[mloew]

Charlie,

OptiStruct is still the best tool to do the actual topology optimization in, but the lack of associativity to the original math data and unintuitive user interface makes it difficult to implement into my system. I had asked Altair for a proposal on helping with an automation tool for this, but the cost seemed high to me. I also had hired a contractor with HyperMesh and OptiStruct experience but he just left after about three months (contractors!). It seems that I need both an experienced user and a tool for automating the process. I am trying to do all of the pre-processing (loads, BC, meshing, etc.) in Pro/MECHANICA FEM mode so I have control and associatively and then pass it over to OptiStruct for solution. I have the process mapped, but have not had the resources to implement.

Best regards,

Matthew Ian Loew


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