For a topology optimization study, the design space is the volumes within your model that are allowed to change during the study. All other volumes in the model are called preserved regions and remain unchanged during the study. For a shape optimization study, the design space is the set of faces that can be reshaped by moving points (nodes) on the interior of those faces. Note:
You can have only one design space for each study.
The design space and the preserved regions of the model in a study can be meshed with any solid element type. For example, you can use a tetrahedron mesh or a hexahedron mesh of the model. For a topology optimization, you use partitions to identify the design space and separate it from the preserved regions. If you use a hexahedron mesh for the design, you must use the partition hex mesher so that the partitions accurately identify the volume of the design space and preserved regions. For more information about the partition hex mesher, see Simulation | Multidiscipline and Multiscale | Mesh Creation | Meshing Geometries | Partition Hex Meshing | About Partition Hex Meshes. | |||||||||