Configuring basic settings

During a shape optimization the Optimization module modifies the surface of your model. If the Optimization module modifies only the surface nodes without adjusting the inner nodes, the layer of surface elements will become distorted. Therefore, the results of the Abaqus analysis will no longer be reliable, and the quality of the optimization will suffer. To maintain the quality of the surface elements, the Optimization module applies mesh smoothing to selected regions, which adjusts the position of the inner nodes in relation to the surface nodes. For more information, see Applying mesh smoothing to a shape optimization.

Context:

The Optimization module can apply mesh smoothing only to triangular, quadrilateral, and tetrahedral elements. Other element types are ignored during the mesh smoothing.

Note:

It is important to have a good quality finite element mesh before you start the shape optimization, especially in areas where you expect the shape to change.

  1. In the optimization task editor, click the Basic tab.

  2. Choose whether to freeze boundary condition regions.

    Regions to which you have applied a displacement boundary condition in the Load module have the same displacement boundary condition during the optimization. The coordinate system that governs the displacement boundary condition in the Load module is used to govern the boundary condition in the optimization.

  3. By default, the Optimization module freezes boundary conditions for the whole model. If desired, click and select the region in which the boundary conditions should be frozen.

  4. Select the region to which the mesh smoothing will be applied:

    • Select Specify smoothing region (default), and click to select the region. You can apply mesh smoothing to cells or faces.

    • Select Specify first layer, and click to select the faces representing the first layer of elements to smooth. Enter the number of element layers to smooth.

    • Select Smooth six layers using the task region to smooth six layers of elements of the design region.

    It is recommended that you accept the default selection and manually select the region to which mesh smoothing will be applied.

  5. Select the number of layers of nodes adjacent to the design region that should be allowed to move during the mesh smoothing operation:

    • Select Fix all (default) to prevent free surface nodes from moving.

    • Select Fix none to allow all the free surface nodes to move.

    • Select Specify and enter the number of adjacent layers of free surface nodes that should be allowed to move.