OptiStruct

Further reading: [Success Story] PCB Modeling and Thermo-Structural Coupled Analysis Case

.......OptiStruct is built on finite element analysis technology and, with advanced analysis and optimization algorithms, enables product designers and engineers to rapidly develop innovative, lightweight, and efficient structural designs. OptiStruct provides innovative solutions for the design and optimization of 3D-printed lattice structures and various advanced materials such as laminated composites. While leading design trends, it also closely follows the latest manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing, continuing its 20-year history of delivering innovative, first-to-market optimization technologies. Thousands of companies worldwide use OptiStruct to analyze and optimize the strength, durability, and NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) performance of their structures.



 

【 Advantages 】

Accurate and Comprehensive Physics
       If simulation results are inaccurate, the simulation becomes meaningless. This is especially critical for projects where design and optimization are based on simulation results. Therefore, Altair has consistently focused on developing accurate and comprehensive analysis solutions to precisely capture the physical quantities engineers deal with every day.
 

Highly Parallel Solver for Modern Hardware

       OptiStruct is a highly parallel solver that can take full advantage of the latest hardware technologies. Using domain decomposition and other methods, OptiStruct can be executed on hundreds of cores. In large-scale development programs, this capability is particularly valuable: engineers can perform large-scale optimization, develop reliable and robust designs, and carry out exploratory studies via design of experiments.
 

Comprehensive Nonlinear Solver
       OptiStruct supports a wide range of static and dynamic analyses, including temperature-dependent nonlinear materials, geometric nonlinearity, and contact nonlinearity. It supports time-varying loads and friction coefficients that vary with load increments. It also supports element and contact failure, hyperelastic materials, user-defined materials, and continuous sliding. Bolt preloads and washer materials are available for powertrain system analysis, and multi-core parallel computing is supported to accelerate analysis.
 

State-of-the-Art NVH Analysis Solver
       OptiStruct provides cutting-edge capabilities and workflows to efficiently perform noise, vibration, comfort, and acoustic analyses. With its innovative workflows, users can quickly and efficiently run full-vehicle NVH analyses.


Higher Performance, Lightweight, and Innovative Designs
       To fully unlock the potential of designers and engineers throughout the design process, the right optimization techniques should be applied strategically. OptiStruct’s advanced optimization algorithms and innovative design concepts deliver better performance while reducing weight.
 

Optimization Technology Celebrated for 20 Years
       To date, OptiStruct has led innovation in optimization technology for over 20 years. This includes many first-to-market technologies such as stress- and fatigue-based topology optimization, topology-driven 3D lattice structure design, and optimization technologies for composite structures. OptiStruct offers the most comprehensive set of response variables and manufacturing constraints, enabling flexible definition of a wide variety of optimization problems.

Seamless Integration into Existing Processes
       OptiStruct is integrated into HyperWorks, helping companies significantly reduce CAE solver software costs. Leveraging existing pre- and post-processing environments and advanced analysis workflows, OptiStruct can be seamlessly integrated into current processes.

Save Valuable Engineering Time

       Simple, easy-to-understand error messages combined with rigorous model checking lead to more accurate design simulations. This allows users to reduce time spent debugging and re-running models due to modeling errors and instead focus more on engineering design.


Easy to Learn
       OptiStruct uses a streamlined analysis workflow and the widely known Nastran input format, making it easy to learn and straightforward to integrate into existing workflows.

 

【 Features 】

Integrated, Fast, Large-Scale Eigenvalue Solver
.......OptiStruct includes a standard feature within the Automated Multi-level Substructuring EigenSolver (AMSES), enabling fast computation of thousands of modes for models with millions of degrees of freedom.


Advanced NVH Analysis
.......OptiStruct provides unique and advanced features for NVH analysis, including single-step transfer path analysis (TPA), energy flow analysis, model reduction techniques (CMS and CDS superelements), design sensitivities, and ERP (equivalent radiated power) design criteria to optimize NVH performance.


Robust Solver for Nonlinear and Powertrain Durability Analysis
.......OptiStruct has evolved into a solver that supports a full range of physics for powertrain system analysis. This includes solutions for heat transfer, bolt and washer modeling, hyperelastic materials, and efficient contact algorithms.


Design Concept Generation

• Topology optimization: OptiStruct uses topology optimization to generate innovative concept designs. Based on user-defined design space, performance targets, and manufacturing constraints, OptiStruct generates optimized design concepts. Topology optimization can be applied to 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D design spaces.
• Topography optimization: For thin-walled structures, beads or embossments are commonly used as stiffening features. For a given bead size, OptiStruct’s topography optimization technology generates innovative design concepts, providing the optimal bead layout and locations required to meet performance targets. Typical applications include panel reinforcement and frequency management.
• Free-size optimization: Free-size optimization technology is widely used to determine optimal thickness distributions in machined metal structures and identify optimal ply shapes in composite structures. The element thickness of each ply is treated as a design variable in free-size optimization.

• Size optimization: Size optimization is used to determine optimal model parameters such as material properties, cross-sectional dimensions, and ply thicknesses.

• Shape optimization: Shape optimization improves existing designs using user-defined shape variables. Shape variables are created using HyperMorph, the morphing technology available in HyperMesh.

• Free-shape optimization: OptiStruct’s proprietary non-parametric shape optimization technology automatically generates shape variables and determines optimal shape contours based on design requirements. This eliminates the need for users to manually define shape variables and provides greater flexibility for design improvement. Free-shape optimization is particularly effective for reducing high stress concentrations.

• Design and optimization of laminated composites: OptiStruct includes a unique three-stage process that supports the design and optimization of laminated composites. This process is based on an intuitive ply modeling approach and accounts for manufacturing constraints specific to composite layups, such as ply drop-off. It yields optimal ply shapes (Stage 1), optimal number of plies (Stage 2), and optimal stacking sequence (Stage 3).

• Design and optimization of lattice structures for additive manufacturing: Lattice structures offer many attractive characteristics, such as low weight and excellent thermal performance. They are also well suited for biomedical implants where porosity enhances integration with trabecular bone. OptiStruct provides a unique solution to design such lattice structures based on topology optimization. This enables large-scale size optimization of lattice beams while meeting performance targets such as stress, buckling, displacement, and frequency.

【 Analysis and Functional Highlights 】

Stiffness, Strength, and Stability

• Linear static analysis and nonlinear static analysis including geometric, contact, and plasticity effects
• Large-displacement analysis including hyperelastic materials and continuous sliding
• Fast contact analysis
• Buckling analysis

Noise and Vibration

Powertrain Durability

• 1D and 3D bolt preload

• Washer modeling

• Contact modeling and contact-friendly elements

• Plastic hardening

• Temperature-dependent material properties

• Domain decomposition

Heat Transfer Analysis

• Linear and nonlinear steady-state analysis

• Linear transient analysis

• Thermo-mechanical coupled nonlinear analysis

• One-step transient thermal stress analysis

• Contact-based thermal analysis

Kinematics and Dynamics

• Static, quasi-static, and dynamic analysis

• Load extraction and performance evaluation

• System optimization and flexible body technology

Structural Optimization

New Features in OptiStruct

.......OptiStruct 2017 introduces more than 130 new features and enhancements. The solver delivers many improvements in nonlinear static analysis, nonlinear transient dynamics, and new nonlinear capabilities such as additional hyperelastic material models. NVH and thermal analysis features have also been further enhanced. The new version likewise adds numerous improvements to its market-leading optimization technologies.
 

【 Some Highlights of OptiStruct 2017 】

Nonlinear Analysis

Supports nonlinear transient dynamic analysis including material, geometric, and contact nonlinearities.

• Added support for large displacement of 2D shell and CELAS elements, including finite sliding (continuous sliding), which can be used for gear interaction analysis.
• Loads and friction can be defined as time-dependent.
• Hyperelastic materials support the Ogden model.
• Composites can be analyzed using the Puck failure criterion.
• User-defined materials are supported.
• Solid elements can have their own material coordinate systems.

Noise and Vibration

• Supports brake squeal analysis.

• Supports coupled modal analysis of fluid–structure interaction using complex eigenvalue analysis.

• Supports inertia relief analysis for models with more than six rigid body modes.

Thermal Analysis

• Multi-step transient temperatures can now be applied in thermo-structural coupled analyses, and the structural analysis can be nonlinear.

• SPCFORCE output can be used for power calculation.

• Domain decomposition acceleration algorithms can be used to speed up direct FRF, preloaded modal FRF with AMSES, acoustic-structure coupled FRF (NVH), normal mode, preloaded normal mode, linear buckling, and nonlinear transient analyses.

• Linear static analysis supports models with larger degrees of freedom.

• Provides failure-controlled topology optimization.

• Engine liner deformation can be used as an optimization constraint.

• One-step transient thermal analysis can be coupled with optimization.

• New fatigue constraints for seam and spot welds.

• New Neuber stress and strain responses.

• Surface stresses of solid elements can be used directly in optimization, eliminating the need to artificially create shell elements on the “surface” of solid elements.