Gauge Panel

Use the Gauge panel to create design variables (DESVAR) and property relation (DVPREL1) cards for shell and composite laminate components (PSHELL, PCOMP, and PCOMPG) selected for size optimization.

Location: Analysis page > Optimization panel
Note: Only available in the OptiStruct solver interface.

Use this panel when several shell or composite components have the same or different shell thickness, ply thickness, or ply angle, and size optimization is performed with the shell thickness, ply thickness, or ply angle as the design variable.

Create Subpanel

Option Action
value from property / initial value
value from property
Use the selected PSHELL, PCOMP or PCOMPG card images to assign initial values for shell thickness, ply thickness, or ply orientation.
initial value=
Assign a nominal initial value for all selected components.
lower bound / lower bound %
lower bound
Specify a specific value for the lower boundary.
lower bound %
Specify the lower bound as a percentage of the initial value.
upper bound / upper bound %
upper bound
Specify a specific value for the upper boundary.
upper bound %
Specify the upper bound as a percentage of the initial value.
props Select the property.
Note: You can input actual values for lower bound and upper bound, or select a percentage (%) of the initial value. For example, if the initial value = 10, lower bound % = -20, and upper bound % = 20, then after exporting the file the lower bound and the upper bound are automatically changed to 8 and 12, respectively.

Update Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.
type Select an entity type.
props Select the property.
minimum thickness Specify the minimum thickness or select zero to be the minimum.
maximum thickness Choose to use the thickness value from the selected property, or enter a thickness value.

Parameters Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.
minmemb off / mindim = Specify a value for the member size control, or toggle the switch to off.
stress constraint Specify a value for the stress constraint, or toggle the switch to none.
fatigue constraint Specify a value for the fatigue constraint, or toggle the switch to none.

Composites Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.
laminate thickness: min thickness = /off Specify a value for the laminate thickness minimum, or toggle the switch to off.
laminate thickness: max thickness = /off Specify a value for the laminate thickness maximum, or toggle the switch to off.
ply thickness: no. of constraints Specify the number of constraints for the ply thickness.
ply percentage: no. of constraints Specify the number of constraints for the ply percentage.
balance: no. of constraints Specify the number of constraints for the balance.
constant: no. of constraints Specify the number of constraints for the constant.

Pattern Grouping Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.
pattern type Select the pattern type.
anchor node Select the anchor node.
node id / coordinates Choose to manually enter the ID for the node, or specify the coordinates of the node.
first node  
second node Used for 2-plns sym or 3-plns sym types.
ucyc Specify the number of repetitions in 360 degrees. Used for cyclic or cyc 1-pln types.

Pattern Repetition Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.
main / secondary / none Determine whether you are establishing a main coordinate system, a secondary design variable, or neither.
system /coordinates Choose to manually enter the values for the coordinate system, or to graphically select the system.
global system / local system Reference coordinate system
anchor Select the anchor node.
sx /sy /sz x, y and z scale factors.

Command Buttons

Option Action
create Create the design variable.
edit Opens the property collector panel to edit the property.
reject Revert the most recent changes.
review Review the load in the graphic area.
update Update the load with the most recent changes.
return Exit the panel.