Topography Panel

Use the Topography panel to define design domains for topography 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.
props	Select one or more properties of the selected type.

Update Subpanel

Option	Action
desvar	Specify a name for the design variable.
props	Select one or more properties of the selected type.

Bead Params Subpanel

Option	Action
desvar	Specify a name for the design variable.
minimum width	Specify the width of the bead at its apex.
draw angle	Specify the angle of the bead's sloped sides.
draw height	Specify the height of the bead compared to its parent surface.
buffer zone	A draw angle exists between unperturbed nodes in the non-design region and nodes in the design region. Clear this checkbox to allow an unperturbed node in the non-design region to be directly adjacent to a node in the design region which is at full bead height. Note: This can lead to mesh quality problems.
draw direction	Specify a draw direction by clicking the toggle and specifying a direction or a vector normal to a plane. By default, the draw direction is normal to elements.
boundary skip	Select a method for determining which nodes OptiStruct will leave out of the design domain in order to prevent perturbation of nodes where loads or constraints are applied. None Include all nodes attached to elements whose PIDs are specified in the shape variables. spc Omit nodes that have SPC or SPC1 declarations from the design domain. load Omit nodes that have FORCE, FORCE1, MOMENT, MOMENT1, or SPCD declarations from the design domain. load and spc Omit nodes with either spc or load declarations from the design domain. Note: Only valid if TYPE is PSHELL or PCOMP.

Pattern Grouping Subpanel

Option	Action
desvar	Specify a name for the design variable.
pattern type	Select a pattern type.

Bounds Subpanel

Option	Action
desvar	Specify a name for the design variable.
upper bound	The upper limit for bead growth will be the Upper Bound value times the bead height.
lower bound	The lower limit for bead growth will be the Lower Bound value times the bead height.
default initial beadfraction	Specify the percentage of design space where beads are created.

Pattern Repetition Subpanel

Option	Action
desvar	Specify a name for the design variable
main / secondary / none	Choose 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.

Command Buttons

Button	Action
create	Create the design variable.
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.