Composite Size Optimisation

Altair Forum User
Altair Forum User
Altair Employee
edited October 2020 in Community Q&A

Hello!

 

I have a problem and I haven't solved it for few days already. There is a rectangular composite plate and it is necessary to optimize thickness of the each ply to reach minimum mass and acceptable stiffness. Besides the thickness of each ply must to be multiple of the certain number. But a freesize optimisation with a composite optimisation result to the laminate with plies of different forms and each ply has inconstant thickness. I tried a lot of different ways, but it didn't help. For example, increasing of MINDIM is confined by some average dimension, and inspite of defined TMANUF of plies and PLYMAN of desvar the thickness is not multiple of the number. Can anybody help me?

 

Best regards

Answers

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited February 2015

    Hi Kazak,

     

    TMANUF doesn't really have an effect in Freesize optimization.

     

    can you try with size optimization instead and check if that gives a desired result?

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited February 2015

    Hi, Prakash Pagadala, thank for advice!

     

    These days I have also tried with composite size optimization, I was sure that it must help, but OptiStruct always performed analysis only and there is a message in output file:

     

    NO DESIGN MATRIALS OR DESIGN VARIABLES – ANALYSIS ONLY

     

    Can you say me anything about it, please?

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited February 2015

    Hi Kazak,

     

    have you created DESVAR and referenced the same in generic relationship subpanel in size panel?

     

    Please check this.

     

     

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>post-7616-0-59125500-1424423026_thumb.jp

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited February 2015

    Yes, I have just, this way helps really. Thanks!

     

    But in my previous message I meant not size optimisation (desvar), but composite size optimisation (dcomp). It seems like a useful function for my task but unfortunately it doesn't work. All guides and tutorials don't give a suitable answer, so I will be grateful if you explain me how can I use this function.

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited February 2015

    Kazak, 

     

    I will try to make a small video tutorial on a simple plate model and will share the same with you soon using PCOMPP. image/emoticons/default_smile.png' alt=':)' srcset='/emoticons/smile@2x.png 2x' width='20' height='20'>

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited February 2015

    Praksh Pagadala,

     

     

    Thanks a lot, it will be perfectly!

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited February 2015

    Prakash, 

     

    Afraid, you don't understand me. I mean don't optimisation 'size', but another optimisation, 'composite size'. The 'size' optimisation works but the results are wrong. I am trying to get a true work going.

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited February 2015

    Kazak,

     

    could you let me know have you applied any manufacturing constraints on DCOMP?

     

    I would like to have a look at your model. can you share the model to check why the solvers gives no design variable is available message.

     

    Please use the dropbox link in my signature to sahre the model.

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited February 2015

    Prakash Pagadala,

     

    I have sent.

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited February 2015

    Hi Kazak,

     

    I have the file with me.

     

    I will update to you soon on this.

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited February 2015

    Kazak,

     

    You missed setting up DESVAR in the deck. That is the reason you dont see any optimization happening.

     

    As I have said earlier, DESVAR should be created along with DCOMP as the DCOMP carries the manufacturing constraints for the composite sizing.

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited April 2018

    What is the use of Free Size Optimization?

     

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited April 2018

    Hi,

     

    Freesize optimization (composites) optimizes to provide the shape of the plies information. 

     

     

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited April 2018

    Free Size optimization is only for Composite ?

    And if you have any study material of free size optimization so please share .

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited April 2018

    @Vivek Singh

     

    Free Size optimization is only for Composite ?

     

    No, It can be applied to isotropic materials as well. Since the topic deals with composites, my answer is in relation to composites. 

     

    For more information on FreeSize optimization, please refer to 

    Practical Aspects of Structural Optimization (A Study Guide)

    Available https://altairuniversity.com/free-ebooks-2/free-ebook-practical-aspects-of-structural-optimization-a-study-guide/