Integrating non-HyperWorks solver in HyperStudy

Garima_Singh · December 2024

Hello HyperStudy users,

To check if a specific non-HyperWorks solver can be integrated with HyperStudy, one must ensure that the below listed pre-requisites are fulfilled:

If the non-HyperWorks solver meets the above listed pre-requisites, one can follow the below-mentioned process of integrating non-HyperWorks solver with HyperStudy using the ‘batch script’ method.

Step 1: Creating a non-HyperWorks solver batch script for batch mode execution:

A batch script needs to be created using the correct solver executable path & valid solver input arguments that would be required for the solver execution in a batch mode.
Note : If the process for creating such a batch script for the non-HyperWorks solver is not known, then, kindly check with respective non-HyperWorks solver team on 'executing the specific solver in a batch mode' as we can only provide some generic templates for the same.
An example of the specific solver input arguments for the non-HyperWorks solver are listed below:

Step 2: Testing the non-HyperWorks solver batch script from Windows Command Line/PowerShell:

The specific non-HyperWorks solver batch script created needs to be tested first & thus, for the same, execute the batch script from Windows Command Line/PowerShell to check if there are any errors related to the solver execution.
Note: if there are any errors related to the non-HyperWorks solver execution, kindly check with respective non-HyperWorks solver team on the solver executable selected, folder path & required solver input arguments (such as number of CPU’s, scratch directory etc.) for the batch script.

Step 3: Integrating working non-HyperWorks batch script in HyperStudy:

Once the specific non-HyperWorks solver batch script gets executed from Windows Command Line/PowerShell (with no errors), it can be integrated in HyperStudy.

Firstly, copy the non-HyperWorks solver batch script in the selected HyperStudy setup folder. This is a pre-requisite step. Then, integrate this batch script in HyperStudy using the process mentioned below:

In HyperStudy, click on 'Edit>Register Solver Script' to open the Register Solver Script window.

Then, click on ‘Add Solver Script’ to add ‘Other Application’ script option (as shown below).

Edit the Label as required such as ‘ABAQUS, LS-DYNA etc.’ & select the non-HyperWorks solver batch script from the selected HyperStudy setup folder (as shown below for the ABAQUS solver as an example).

Then, add a HyperMesh/Parametrized File Model in HyperStudy & select the ‘Solver Execution Script’ as ‘ABAQUS’ & edit the ‘Solver Input Arguments’ as ${basename} (as shown below). Note: this process will be same for any other non-HyperWorks solver as well.

In the HyperStudy online help (Altair HyperStudy>Tutorials>Advanced Solvers), there are specific tutorials for some of the non-HyperWorks solvers & can be referred to getting started with HyperStudy.

HyperStudy-ANSYS: HS-1540: Set Up a Shape Optimization Study Using HyperMesh and ANSYS, HS-1605: Set Up ANSYS Workbench Model
HyperStudy-ABAQUS: HS-1550: Set Up a Shape Optimization Study Using HyperMesh and Abaqus
HyperStudy-LS-DYNA: HS-1560: Set Up Study using LS-DYNA Model Parameters in HyperMesh

For specifically integrating HyperStudy with ABAQUS, kindly refer to the blog below for the additional details:

HyperStudy Tips and Tricks: #30 - Registering ABAQUS as a Solver in HyperStudy

Garima_Singh

Jun 12, 2024

Registering ABAQUS as a Solver in HyperStudy

Any solver which can be executed in a batch mode can be integrated with HyperStudy either using the solver executable directly or by creating a batch script. The selection of choosing the method (solver executable directly or a batch script) depends on the non-HyperWorks solver involved.

In this blog, we will focus on the process of integrating ABAQUS solver with HyperStudy using the ‘batch script’ method.

Step 1: Creating an ABAQUS batch script for the batch mode execution:

A batch script needs to be created using the correct ABAQUS solver executable path & valid solver input arguments that would be required for the solving.

Note : If the process for creating such a batch script for ABAQUS is not known, then, kindly check with ABAQUS on 'executing ABAQUS in a batch mode' as we can only provide some generic templates for the same.

Examples of sample ABAQUS batch scripts: Copy one of following commands in a .txt file (depending on the ABAQUS solver version) & save the text file as a batch file (.bat).

Sample ABAQUS batch script 1:

Call “C: \SIMULIA\CAE__________.exe” job=DOE_abaqus.inp input=%1 interactive %*

Sample ABAQUS batch script 2:

Call “C:\SIMULIA\Commands\abq2021” job= DOE_abaqus.inp input=%1 interactive

Step 2: Executing/Testing the ABAQUS batch script from the Windows Command Line/PowerShell:

This specific ABAQUS batch script created needs to be tested first & thus, for the same, execute the script from the Windows Command Line/PowerShell with no errors.

Note: if there are any errors related to the ABAQUS execution, kindly check with ABAQUS on the solver executable selected, its folder path & mentioned/required solver input arguments (such as number of CPU’s, scratch directory etc.) in that batch script.

Step 3: Integrating working ABAQUS batch script in HyperStudy:

Once the specific ABAQUS batch script gets executed from the Windows Command Line/PowerShell (with no errors), you can integrate this batch script in HyperStudy.

As a first step, copy the ABAQUS batch script in the selected HyperStudy setup folder. This is a pre-requisite step.

Then, integrate this batch script in HyperStudy using the process mentioned below.

In HyperStudy, click on 'Edit>Register Solver Script' to open the Register Solver Script window.

Then, click on ‘Add Solver Script’ to add ‘Other Application’ script option (as shown below).

Edit the Label as ‘ABAQUS’ & select the ABAQUS batch script from the selected HyperStudy setup folder (as shown below).

Then, add a HyperMesh/Parametrized File Model in HyperStudy & select the ‘Solver Execution Script’ as ‘ABAQUS’ & edit the ‘Solver Input Arguments’ as ${basename} (as shown below).

Note : This is the basic ABAQUS batch script which executes the filename mentioned from the designated folder & checking with ABAQUS is required if any specific solver input arguments such as scratch folder, number of CPU’s etc. needs to be added to this script.

If one is interested in adding shapes as design variables in HyperStudy, kindly refer to the blog below:

Using Shapes as Design Variables in HyperStudy

Garima_Singh

Sep 26, 2024

Using shapes as design variables in HyperStudy

Hello HyperStudy users,

HyperStudy can perform design exploration studies with size, shape, material etc. as design variables. In this blog, we will elaborate the process of adding shapes as design variables in HyperStudy using two different approaches.

Pre-requisite:

Regardless of the approach to be used in HyperStudy for adding shapes as design variables, the pre-requisite is having a HyperMesh model with the required shapes. If support is required for creating the required shapes in the HyperMesh model, then, kindly contact the HyperMesh experts using hwsupport@altair.com.

Once the required shapes are there in the HyperMesh model, one can follow one of the below mentioned methods to add the same as design variables in HyperStudy.

Method 1: Using HyperMesh Model type in HyperStudy

HyperStudy supports HyperMesh model as a model connection wherein the .hm file can be added as an input file to import the design variables such as shapes, thickness etc. However, from HyperStudy version 2021.1 & onwards, HyperMesh connector file (.hm2hst file) is also supported as an input file for importing the design variables such as shapes, thickness etc.

Detailed process of creating the HyperMesh connector file (.hm2hst file) from HyperMesh & adding the shapes as design variables in HyperStudy is explained below:

Steps to be followed in HyperMesh:

Open the .hm file in HyperMesh 2021.1 version onwards & click on 'Morph>Shapes'. Firstly, disable the 'Design Variable' selection (this is a mandatory step) enabled for the shapes by default (as shown in Figure 1) & save the HyperMesh file.

Figure 1 : Disabling the 'Design Variable' selection for the shapes under ‘Morph>Shapes’ in HyperMesh.

Then, click on 'File>Export>HyperStudy' (as shown in Figure 2) to create the HyperMesh connector file (.hm2hst file). In the dialog window, mention the 'Study Name' & select the folder for the file creation using 'Study Path'. Here, disable the option of ‘Launch HyperStudy’ & click on 'Export' (as shown in Figure 2).

Figure 2 : Export feature in HyperMesh & ‘HyperStudy Export’ dialog window for creating the HyperMesh connector file (.hm2hst).

Then, in the Model Parameters window, select the shapes & click on 'Add'. By doing so, the shapes will get added in the next section ‘HyperStudy Parameters’ (as shown in Figure 3). Then, click 'OK'.

After this process, .hm2hst & .hm files will get created in the folder selected in the 'Study Path' option.

Figure 3 : Model Parameters window displaying the parameters (shapes) available in HyperMesh for exporting to HyperStudy.

Steps to be followed in HyperStudy:

In HyperStudy, add the HyperMesh model in the 'Define Models' step, select the .hm2hst file under 'Resource' & click on 'Import Variables' (as shown in Figure 4).

Figure 4 : Adding the HyperMesh model type & selecting .hm2hst file as a resource file in HyperStudy.

By doing so, the shapes will be imported as design variables from HyperMesh in HyperStudy.

Method 2: Using Parametrized File Model type in HyperStudy

This method is the traditional method of adding shapes in HyperStudy & Method 1 mentioned earlier is preferred over this method. However, when there is a requirement to include other parameters as design variables which are not available in HyperMesh by default such as loads, forces etc. along with shapes, then, this is the only method to be used.

Steps to be followed in HyperMesh:

For adding shapes using this approach, two files (.node.tpl & .shp) are required from HyperMesh.

To understand the process of creating these files from HyperMesh, kindly refer to the process detailed in the article (mentioned below).

HyperMesh: How to export shapes to use them in HyperStudy?

Using this process, the .node.tpl & .shp files can be created for various solvers such as OptiStruct, RADIOSS, ABAQUS, LS-DYNA etc.

Steps to be followed in HyperStudy:

In HyperStudy, add the Parametrized File model in the 'Define Models' step, select the .fem file under 'Resource'. By doing so, a dialog window (as shown in Figure 5) will appear. Here, click ‘Yes’ & by doing so, HyperStudy editor window will be opened.

Figure 5 : Adding the Parametrized File model & selecting .fem file as a resource file in HyperStudy.

Then, right click in the ‘Editor’ & select the option of ‘Select Nodes>GRID’ (as shown in Figure 6).

Note: the option of GRID, *NODE, /NODE, NODE / should be selected based on the solver file to be used. The GRID option is relevant only for OptiStruct.

Figure 6 : In the editor, use the ‘Select Nodes’ option to select the GRIDS from the .fem file

Once done, then, again right click in the ‘Editor’ & select the option of ‘Include Shape’ (as shown in Figure 7) & select the .node.tpl file from the folder automatically pointed out by HyperStudy.

Figure 7: In the editor, use the ‘Include Shape’ option to select the node.tpl file from the folder automatically pointed out by HyperStudy.

Then, edit the ‘Solver Input file’ to .fem (instead of default as .tpl) & add -optskip in the ‘Solver Input Arguments’. Then, click on 'Import Variables' (as shown in Figure 8).

Note:

When other solvers are being used than OptiStruct, then add the relevant solver file name in the ‘Solver Input file’ section such as demo_0000.rad for RADIOSS, demo.inp for ABAQUS etc.

When other solvers are being used than OptiStruct then adding -optskip in the ‘Solver Input Arguments’ is not required.

Figure 8 : Editing the ‘Solver Input file’ & ‘Solver Input Arguments’ for OptiStruct use-case.