nov_05.pdf
8
IN THIS ISSUE NOVEMBER 2005 Altair Hosts First-Ever “Grid and Grow” HyperStudy Optimizes Fatigue Life Support Tips & Tricks QUICKLY MODIFY STRUCTURE SHAPES TO ANALYZE DURABILITY Altair HyperStudy Provides an Elegant Approach to Optimizing Fatigue Life Fatigue life is an important design criterion in the development of numerous highly engineered components. Popular codes, like nCode, FE-Safe or FEMFAT analyze the durability of structures by evaluating inputs from stress solvers, such as OptiStruct/ Analysis, loading time histories and specific material parameters. In an iterative process, the shape of a structure is often manually modified in order to improve durability. A more elegant approach is to use Altair HyperStudy – a design of experiment (DOE) and optimization software for arbitrary solvers – to optimize the shape in order to satisfy fatigue criteria. HyperStudy not only allows users to automate the optimization process, which includes multiple codes (FE and Fatigue solver), but also makes use of HyperMorph, Altair’s engine for finite element mesh morphing to create shape design variables. Using this combination of tools, it becomes very easy to solve the following optimization problem: to minimize the damage on the structure by changing the shape of the part. The process is shown in Fig. 1, in which HyperStudy runs the solvers, extracts the necessary results (e.g. damage, safety factors), and modifies the FE model until an optimum is reached.
Transcript of nov_05.pdf
Altair HyperWorks Newsletter November 2005
IN THIS ISSUE NOVEMBER 2005
Altair Hosts First-Ever “Grid and Grow”
HyperStudy Optimizes Fatigue Life
Support Tips & Tricks
QUICKLY MODIFY STRUCTURE SHAPES TO ANALYZE DURABILITY
Altair HyperStudy Provides an Elegant Approach to Optimizing Fatigue Life
Fatigue life is an important design criterion in the development of numerous highly engineered components. Popular codes, like nCode, FE-Safe or FEMFAT analyze the durability of structures by evaluating inputs from stress solvers, such as OptiStruct/Analysis, loading time histories and specific material parameters.
In an iterative process, the shape of a structure is often manually modified in order to improve durability. A more elegant approach is to use Altair HyperStudy – a design of experiment (DOE) and optimization software for arbitrary solvers – to optimize the shape in order to satisfy fatigue criteria. HyperStudy not only allows users to automate the optimization process, which includes multiple codes (FE and Fatigue solver), but also makes use of HyperMorph, Altair’s engine for finite element mesh morphing to create shape design variables.
Using this combination of tools, it becomes very easy to solve the following optimization problem: to minimize the damage on the structure by changing the shape of the part. The process is shown in Fig. 1, in which HyperStudy runs the solvers, extracts the necessary results (e.g. damage, safety factors), and modifies the FE model until an optimum is reached.
file:///H|/Altair/HTML_email/Altair Insider Newsletter/Nov2005/Temp$$$.html (1 of 8)11/21/2005 10:12:29 AM
Altair HyperWorks Newsletter November 2005
Fig. 1 The optimization process
What does HyperMorph do in this process?
For shape optimization, the optimizer must have design variables, which are the allowed design changes. For example, the optimizer is allowed to change the fillet radius of a design. In a finite element mesh, the design variable radius does not exist initially. The only parameters actually available are the coordinates of the nodes of the radius. HyperMorph parameterizes the nodes and creates the parameter “radius,” which then can be used as a design variable for the optimizer.
Why not just optimize stresses to improve fatigue life?
A different load case with higher forces but fewer cycles. So, merely optimizing on stresses could even deteriorate durability.
Case Study: Fatigue optimization of a connecting rod
The process described above was applied to an engine connecting rod. Seven different design variables have been created:
● Width of the rod● Radius of the crank end● Distance at the crank end
file:///H|/Altair/HTML_email/Altair Insider Newsletter/Nov2005/Temp$$$.html (2 of 8)11/21/2005 10:12:29 AM
Altair HyperWorks Newsletter November 2005
● Cross section of the rod● Radius of the piston end (Fig. 2)● Radius of the piston ring● Distance at the piston end
Fig. 2 Example of a shape parameter from HyperMorph, used as a design variable by HyperStudy
The optimization problem was formulated as:
● Minimize the mass of the rod● Constraint on the log life above a critical value
HyperStudy not only made it possible to optimize the shape, but also made it possible to understand the interaction and influences of the different shapes on the fatigue life by performing a DOE study. (Fig. 3)
file:///H|/Altair/HTML_email/Altair Insider Newsletter/Nov2005/Temp$$$.html (3 of 8)11/21/2005 10:12:29 AM
Altair HyperWorks Newsletter November 2005
Fig. 3 Response surface visualization after DOE study
The durability has been improved by more than 50 percent through the optimized shape. (Fig. 4)
Fig. 4 Fatigue life before (on left) and after the optimization
HyperStudy made it easy to set up the optimization process and to develop an improved design in a very short time.
file:///H|/Altair/HTML_email/Altair Insider Newsletter/Nov2005/Temp$$$.html (4 of 8)11/21/2005 10:12:29 AM
Altair HyperWorks Newsletter November 2005
ALTAIR HOSTS FIRST-EVER “GRID AND GROW”
Seminar Explores Grid Solutions for Competitive Business
Altair Engineering, IBM and Intel invite you to participate in a complimentary seminar that examines the challenges of deploying an integrated solution to manage computational workloads. The event will be held Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005, at Altair headquarters, 1820 E. Big Beaver Rd. in Troy, Mich., and is important for organizations interested in implementing a grid computing environment. Registration begins at 8:30am, and the seminar follows from 9:00am until 3:00pm. Lunch will be provided.
Managing economic pressures is a reality in today’s business landscape. Whether the goal is to reduce IT costs and improve return on investment or to maintain a flexible infrastructure that can cope with business demands – without sacrificing reliability, resiliency and security – making the right choices is critical. This seminar will highlight the options available to you and your organization, as you examine these significant business challenges.
What you will learn:
● How to accelerate business results and time-to-market
● How to manage growth, while controlling costs● Customer testimonials describing real-life
experiences in deploying a grid computing solution
Who should attend:
● IT professionals with compute-intensive applications
● Business executives looking for comprehension IT solutions offered by committed industry leaders
To register for this complimentary event, please go to www.altair.com/gng
NEWSLETTER FORMAT
Please view the PDF if you are unable to see the pictures in this e-mail. If you can't access the PDF files or did not receive the attachments, please contact [email protected].
REGISTER TODAY
If you are new to this site or have not registered as an Insider user, we invite you to complete a brief sign-up form. As a registered user, you will have access to other support resources, including documentation, tutorials, software updates and macros. You will also have access to the iExchange message board.
file:///H|/Altair/HTML_email/Altair Insider Newsletter/Nov2005/Temp$$$.html (5 of 8)11/21/2005 10:12:29 AM
Altair HyperWorks Newsletter November 2005
SUPPORT TIPS & TRICKS
Using HyperWorks through NetMeeting - PDF
Contour the thickness change of components in gauge optimization. - PDF
If you have not registered on our site before, you will be asked to complete a brief signup form. This will also give you access to other support resources, including documentation, tutorials, software updates, macros and the iExchange message board.
HYPERWORKS ADDITIONAL MACROS
GaugeThickDiffPlot.tcl
The user can contour the thickness difference between the initial and final thicknesses in HyperView or HyperMesh. This macro grabs the original thickness values from the PSHELL card image and grabs the final thicknesses from the .prop file. The difference between the two is calculated, and this file is converted to a .res file. This .res file is directly loaded into HyperMesh, but the user can load this in HyperView with a .fem file to view the contour.
If the user has not requested a DENSRES card while doing the analysis, then this macro is useful. Download ZIP
TABLED1_CARD.tcl
This macro will be useful in creating and updating the TABLED1 load collector card for NASTRAN/OS solvers with multiple XY data. There is no need for the user to enter all the fields manually. The user can have the data in .txt or .csv file format. The user must import this file using the macro, which helps in creating the load collector or updating an existing one. Download ZIP
ALTAIR IN THE NEWS
Altair Engineering® and Accelrys® Integrate Technologies for Materials Sciences Community - Link
Altair Engineering’s PBS Professional™ To Be Released for IBM® Blue Gene® Architecture - Link
file:///H|/Altair/HTML_email/Altair Insider Newsletter/Nov2005/Temp$$$.html (6 of 8)11/21/2005 10:12:29 AM
Altair HyperWorks Newsletter November 2005
TRAINING COURSES
Develop your skills
Here are our upcoming training sessions for HyperWorks. Simply click on each title to view details of the course's content.
Michigan training classes
● Introductory FEA Modeling and Results Visualization, Dec. 5-7, Dec. 19-21
● Interfacing HyperWorks with LS-Dyna, Dec. 8● Introductory MBD Modeling and Results
Visualization, Dec. 12-13● Aspects of Model Definition Language, Dec. 14● Flexible Bodies for MBD, Dec. 15● Introductory DOE, Optimization and Stochastic
Studies, Dec. 16● Interfacing HyperWorks with ABAQUS, Dec. 22
California training classes
● Introductory FEA Modeling and Results Visualization, Dec. 6-7
● Introductory Results Visualization and Data Analysis, Dec. 8
Wisconsin training classes
● Introductory FEA Modeling and Results Visualization, Dec. 6-8
>> You can get more details on these courses, obtain a full schedule, or inquire about tailored, on-site training by calling your local Altair office or emailing [email protected]
file:///H|/Altair/HTML_email/Altair Insider Newsletter/Nov2005/Temp$$$.html (7 of 8)11/21/2005 10:12:29 AM
Altair HyperWorks Newsletter November 2005
Support inquiry? Unable to access the web links above? Please email [email protected] or call 248-614-2425 for assistance.
For more information about Altair Engineering, visit www.altair.com
Feedback on this message? Please email [email protected] you no longer wish to receive this monthly email, send an email with "remove" in the Subject to [email protected]
file:///H|/Altair/HTML_email/Altair Insider Newsletter/Nov2005/Temp$$$.html (8 of 8)11/21/2005 10:12:29 AM
