Free Shape Panel

Use the Free Shape panel to define design domains for free shape optimization.

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

Create Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.
nodes / set Select surface or edge nodes that are to form part of the free shape design space.

Update Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.
nodes / set Select surface or edge nodes that are to form part of the free shape design space.

Parameters Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.
direction Choose a direction constraint. You can choose to allow the structure to grow only, to shrink only or not to enforce any direction constraints (default).
smoothing method Choose between optimized for speed or optimized for accuracy
options Display further options.
nsmooth Specify the desired number of smoothing layers.
mvfactor Specify the initial maximum perturbation factor.

Draw/Extr Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.
draw type Select none or single.

Pattern Grouping Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.
pattern type Select none or 1-pln sym.

Gridcon Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.
constraint type Select fixed, vector or planar.

Sidecon Subpanel

Option Action
desvar Specify a name for the design variable.

Command Buttons

Button Action
create Create the design variable.
edit Only appears when "set" is selected. Opens the Entity Sets panel to update the selected set.
reject Revert the most recent changes.
review Review the design variable in the modeling window.
update Update the design variable with the most recent changes.
return Exit the panel.