Structural Optimization (Density Based) Analysis

In this example, using the support files, you perform a Structural Optimization analysis in Mechanical using a sequence of python journal commands that will define and solve the analysis. This analysis uses the Topology Optimization - Density Based method.

This example begins in the Mechanical application. It requires you to download the following Ansys DesignModeler and python files.

Topology_Optimization_Example_001.agdb
Topology_Optimization_Example_001.py

These files are available here.

Procedure

The following procedure assumes you understand how to add a system in Workbench and make changes to system cells and properties as well as saving the support files to a known location.

Add a Static Structural analysis to the Project Schematic. Drag and drop a Structural Optimization system onto the static system as shown.
Right-click the Geometry cell of the static system and select Import Geometry > Browse and select the Topology_Optimization_Example_001.agdb file.
Right-click the Model cell and select Edit. This action launches the Mechanical application.
In Mechanical, select the Automation tab and select the Scripting option to open the Mechanical Scripting pane.
Select the Open Script option ( ) from the Editor toolbar. Navigate to the proper folder location and select Topology_Optimization_Example_001.py.
Select the Run Script option ( ) from the Editor toolbar.

Scripts Illustrated

In this example, the python file automatically performs the following actions:

#Scenario 1 Store all main tree objects as variables
GEOMETRY = Model.Geometry
MESH = Model.Mesh
NAMED_SELECTIONS = Model.NamedSelections
CONNECTIONS = Model.Connections
COORDINATE_SYSTEMS = Model.CoordinateSystems
GLOBAL_COORDINATE_SYSTEM = COORDINATE_SYSTEMS.Children[0]


#Scenario 2 Select Unit System
ExtAPI.Application.ActiveUnitSystem = MechanicalUnitSystem.StandardMKS


#Scenario 3 Store Named selections as variables
Body_1 = [i for i in NAMED_SELECTIONS.GetChildren[Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical.NamedSelection](True) if i.Name == 'Body_1'][0]
Body_2 = [i for i in NAMED_SELECTIONS.GetChildren[Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical.NamedSelection](True) if i.Name == 'Body_2'][0]
Body_3 = [i for i in NAMED_SELECTIONS.GetChildren[Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical.NamedSelection](True) if i.Name == 'Body_3'][0]
Body_4 = [i for i in NAMED_SELECTIONS.GetChildren[Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical.NamedSelection](True) if i.Name == 'Body_4'][0]

Optimization_Region_1 = [i for i in NAMED_SELECTIONS.GetChildren[Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical.NamedSelection](True) if i.Name == 'Optimization_Region_1'][0]
Optimization_Region_2 = [i for i in NAMED_SELECTIONS.GetChildren[Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical.NamedSelection](True) if i.Name == 'Optimization_Region_2'][0]

Force_Face = [i for i in NAMED_SELECTIONS.GetChildren[Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical.NamedSelection](True) if i.Name == 'Force_Face'][0]
Fixed_Face_1 = [i for i in NAMED_SELECTIONS.GetChildren[Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical.NamedSelection](True) if i.Name == 'Fixed_Face_1'][0]
Fixed_Face_2 = [i for i in NAMED_SELECTIONS.GetChildren[Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical.NamedSelection](True) if i.Name == 'Fixed_Face_2'][0]

Exclusion_1 = [i for i in NAMED_SELECTIONS.GetChildren[Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical.NamedSelection](True) if i.Name == 'Exclusion_1'][0]
Exclusion_2 = [i for i in NAMED_SELECTIONS.GetChildren[Ansys.ACT.Automation.Mechanical.NamedSelection](True) if i.Name == 'Exclusion_2'][0]


#Scenario 4 Add mesh method
MESH.ElementSize = Quantity('0.005 [m]')

MESH_METHOD1 = MESH.AddAutomaticMethod()
MESH_METHOD1.Location = Body_1
MESH_METHOD1.Method =MethodType.Sweep
MESH_METHOD1.Algorithm = MeshMethodAlgorithm.Axisymmetric


#Scenario 5 Add local coordinate systems
COORDINATE_SYSTEM1 = COORDINATE_SYSTEMS.AddCoordinateSystem()
COORDINATE_SYSTEM1.OriginLocation = Body_2

COORDINATE_SYSTEM2 = COORDINATE_SYSTEMS.AddCoordinateSystem()
COORDINATE_SYSTEM2.OriginLocation = Body_4


#Scenario 6 Setup Static Structural analysis
STATIC_STRUCTURAL = Model.Analyses[0]

FIXED_SUPPORT1 = STATIC_STRUCTURAL.AddFixedSupport()
FIXED_SUPPORT1.Location = Fixed_Face_1

FIXED_SUPPORT2 = STATIC_STRUCTURAL.AddFixedSupport()
FIXED_SUPPORT2.Location = Fixed_Face_2

FORCE1 = STATIC_STRUCTURAL.AddForce()
FORCE1.Location = Force_Face
FORCE1.DefineBy = LoadDefineBy.Components
FORCE1.YComponent.Output.DiscreteValues = [Quantity("5000 [N]")]
FORCE1.ZComponent.Output.DiscreteValues = [Quantity("1000 [N]")]

SOLUTION1 = STATIC_STRUCTURAL.Solution
TOTAL_DEFORMATION = SOLUTION1.AddTotalDeformation()
EQUIVALENT_STRESS = SOLUTION1.AddEquivalentStress()


#Scenario 7 Setup Topology Optimization analysis
TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION = Model.Analyses[1]

OPTIMIZATION_REGION1 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.Children[1]
OPTIMIZATION_REGION1.DesignRegionLocation = Optimization_Region_1
OPTIMIZATION_REGION1.BoundaryCondition = BoundaryConditionType.AllLoadsAndSupports
OPTIMIZATION_REGION1.OptimizationType = OptimizationType.TopologyDensity

# Insert Exclusion Region 1
EXCLUSION_REGION1 = OPTIMIZATION_REGION1.AddExclusionRegion()
EXCLUSION_REGION1.ExclusionRegionLocation = Exclusion_1

# Insert Optimization Region 2
OPTIMIZATION_REGION2 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.AddOptimizationRegion()
OPTIMIZATION_REGION2.DesignRegionLocation = Optimization_Region_2
OPTIMIZATION_REGION2.BoundaryCondition = BoundaryConditionType.AllLoadsAndSupports
OPTIMIZATION_REGION2.OptimizationType = OptimizationType.TopologyDensity

# Insert Exclusion Region 2
EXCLUSION_REGION2 = OPTIMIZATION_REGION2.AddExclusionRegion()
EXCLUSION_REGION2.ExclusionRegionLocation = Exclusion_2

# Mass Constraint
RESPONSE_CONSTRAINT1 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.Children[4]
RESPONSE_CONSTRAINT1.Location = OPTIMIZATION_REGION1
RESPONSE_CONSTRAINT1.PercentageToRetain = 40

# Insert Volume Constraint
RESPONSE_CONSTRAINT2 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.AddVolumeConstraint()
RESPONSE_CONSTRAINT2.Location = OPTIMIZATION_REGION2
RESPONSE_CONSTRAINT2.DefineBy = ResponseConstraintDefineBy.Range
RESPONSE_CONSTRAINT2.PercentageToRetainMin = 40
RESPONSE_CONSTRAINT2.PercentageToRetainMax = 50

# Insert Member Size Constraint
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT1 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.AddMemberSizeManufacturingConstraint()
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT1.Location = OPTIMIZATION_REGION1
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT1.Minimum = ManuMemberSizeControlledType.Manual
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT1.MinSize = Quantity('0.0125 [m]')

# Insert Symmetry Constraints
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT2 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.AddSymmetryManufacturingConstraint()
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT2.Location = Body_2
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT2.CoordinateSystem = COORDINATE_SYSTEM1
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT2.Axis = CoordinateSystemAxisType.PositiveYAxis

MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT3 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.AddSymmetryManufacturingConstraint()
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT3.Location = Body_2
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT3.CoordinateSystem = COORDINATE_SYSTEM1
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT3.Axis = CoordinateSystemAxisType.PositiveZAxis

MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT4 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.AddSymmetryManufacturingConstraint()
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT4.Location = Body_3
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT4.CoordinateSystem = GLOBAL_COORDINATE_SYSTEM
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT4.Axis = CoordinateSystemAxisType.PositiveZAxis

MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT5 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.AddSymmetryManufacturingConstraint()
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT5.Location = Body_3
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT5.CoordinateSystem = GLOBAL_COORDINATE_SYSTEM
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT5.Axis = CoordinateSystemAxisType.PositiveYAxis

MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT6 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.AddSymmetryManufacturingConstraint()
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT6.Location = Body_4
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT6.CoordinateSystem = COORDINATE_SYSTEM2
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT6.Axis = CoordinateSystemAxisType.PositiveXAxis

MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT7 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.AddSymmetryManufacturingConstraint()
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT7.Location = Body_4
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT7.CoordinateSystem = COORDINATE_SYSTEM2
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT7.Axis = CoordinateSystemAxisType.PositiveZAxis

# Insert Cyclic Constraints
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT8 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.AddCyclicManufacturingConstraint()
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT8.Location = OPTIMIZATION_REGION1
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT8.NumberofSectors = 4
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT8.CoordinateSystem = GLOBAL_COORDINATE_SYSTEM
MANUFACTURING_CONSTRAINT8.Axis = CoordinateSystemAxisType.PositiveZAxis

# Get Tracker and Result
SOLUTION2 = TOPOLOGY_OPTIMIZATION.Solution
SOLUTION_INFORMATION2 = SOLUTION2.SolutionInformation
TOPOLOGY_DENSITY_TRACKER1 = SOLUTION_INFORMATION2.Children[0]
TOPOLOGY_DENSITY_TRACKER1.ScopingMethod = GeometryDefineByType.AllOptimizationRegions

TOPOLOGY_DENSITY1 = SOLUTION2.Children[1]
TOPOLOGY_DENSITY1.ScopingMethod = GeometryDefineByType.AllOptimizationRegions

# Insert Smoothing
SMOOTHING1 = TOPOLOGY_DENSITY1.AddSmoothing()


#Scenario 8 Solve and Review Results

SOLUTION2.Solve(True)

TOPO_DENS1_OV = TOPOLOGY_DENSITY1.OriginalVolume.Value
TOPO_DENS1_FV = TOPOLOGY_DENSITY1.FinalVolume.Value
TOPO_DENS1_PVO = TOPOLOGY_DENSITY1.PercentVolumeOfOriginal

TOPO_DENS1_OM = TOPOLOGY_DENSITY1.OriginalMass.Value
TOPO_DENS1_FM = TOPOLOGY_DENSITY1.FinalMass.Value
TOPO_DENS1_PMO = TOPOLOGY_DENSITY1.PercentMassOfOriginal

Summary

This example demonstrates how scripting in Mechanical can be used to automate your actions.