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.