Running the Shape Optimization

You can run an optimization and create a finite element representation of the optimized shape.

Before you begin: Open the Shape Optimization assistant.
  1. From the Optimization section, select Shape Optimization.
  2. To define the mesh size, click Configure.

    For more information, see Setting Up Meshing Options.

  3. To check whether the optimization can be performed, click Verify.
  4. Define the objectives of your optimization.
  5. If you have selected Maximize stiffness for a given mass or Maximize lowest frequencies for a given mass, assign global mass constraints.

    Make sure the mass is comprised between 90 and 110%.

  6. Click Run.

    For more information, see About Remote Simulate Options for 3DOrchestrate.

  7. Choose the Location where the optimization (simulation) runs:
    OptionDescription
    Local Runs the simulation on the private 3DOrchestrate Station on your computer.
    Cloud Runs on a Dassault Systèmes cloud server if your company has purchased a cloud role and licensing. Licensing credits are always consumed when using a cloud server to cover the cloud infrastructure cost.
    Remote Runs through 3DOrchestrate if your system administrator has configured this infrastructure in your on-premises 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Click to choose 3DOrchestrate options such as where your simulation runs; see About Remote Simulate Options for 3DOrchestrate.
    Local interactive Runs locally on your computer without using 3DOrchestrate. If you select this method, keep the native client active throughout the simulation.

    For more information, see About Locations for Running Simulations.

  8. Select the license type.
    OptionDescription
    Embedded

    Runs the simulation on on-premises computers provided by your company, with a separate licensing mechanism that does not require any additional credits or tokens.

    When available, embedded licensing is always used first to reduce the number of credits or tokens required. While an embedded license simulation is running, additional concurrent simulations can be run using credit or token licensing.

    Credits

    Runs the simulation using license credits. Credits are one-time consumable licensing items that you can use to run the simulation.

    Tokens

    Runs the simulation using license tokens. Tokens are suitable for sustained simulation workloads over the license term.

    For more information, see About Simulation Licensing Schemes.

  9. Optional: Adjust the Performance (speed) of simulation runs.

    As you increase the requested performance, the simulation finishes faster but requires additional tokens or consumes credits at a faster rate. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform estimates the baseline number of processor cores required to run your simulation, based on the model size and degrees of freedom. The baseline number of cores is doubled for each increment of the performance setting to determine how many processor cores are used.

  10. Enter the maximum number of cycles.

    The optimization continues until it has converged or until the specified number of design cycles (iterations) has been reached.

    If you run the shape optimization study using simunit credits or simunit tokens, the app reduces the licensing cost of design cycles after the first cycle is complete. For more information about license attenuation for design studies, see Simulation | Simulation Compute | Simulation Licensing.

  11. To start the shape optimization, click OK.

    For local, local interactive, or cloud simulation runs, select Show live monitor to observe the optimized shape and the design space for the current iteration in a 3D viewer within the dialog box.

    When the optimization is complete, the Compute Shape dialog box shows the final status and whether the optimization satisfied the constraints that you applied.
  12. To end shape optimization early, click Terminate.
    The run ends when the current iteration completes.
  13. Optional: From the Compute Shape dialog box, you can select the following:
    OptionDescription
    Summary Displays an optimization summary, including the number of constraints that were met and the number of constraints that were not fulfilled.
    Results Displays the final value of the optimization targets, a comparison of their original and final values, and any bounds that were defined on the target. For incomplete simulations, you can view the results for all completed iterations.
    History Diaplys a plot showing the change in the value of a selected constraint or target over the course of the optimization. You can right-click the plot to activate a legend.
  14. Optional: To export history data as a CSV file with two columns (Iteration and Name of selected parameter):
    1. Select Export as CSV from the plot context menu in the History tab.
    2. From the Export as CSV dialog box, click Browse to navigate to a directory of your choice.
    3. Click Export to save the file.