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<a name = "hj-top"> </a><table class = "table1" id = "table11"><tr><td><table class = "DocHeader"><tr><td class = "DocHeader1" colspan = "2"><h1>Overview of the Optimization Process</h1></td></tr><tr><td class = "DocHeader4" colspan = "2"/></tr><tr><td class = "DocHeader3" colspan = "2"><table class = "DocThemeIntro" id = "table12"><tr><td class = "Intro1Only"><p class = "header"><p class = "abstract">
<span class = "shortdesc">
Each optimization requires several steps independent of the
optimization type.
</span>

</p>
<p>This page discusses: </p><ul><li><a href = "#tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-plan" id = "toc_rg" title = "">Planning</a></li><li><a href = "#tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-preproc" id = "toc_rg" title = "">Preprocessing: Model Generation</a></li><li><a href = "#tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-checkRun" id = "toc_rg" title = "">Check Run</a></li><li><a href = "#tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-optLoop" id = "toc_rg" title = "">Optimization Loop</a></li><li><a href = "#tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-postproc" id = "toc_rg" title = "">Post-Processing: Evaluation of Optimization Results</a></li><li><a href = "#tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-validRun" id = "toc_rg" title = "">Result Transfer and Validation Run</a></li></ul>
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<div class = "body conbody">
<p>
Details to each step shown in the following graphic can be found below:
</p>
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<div class = "section" id = "tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-plan"><h2 class = "title sectiontitle">Planning</h2>

<p>
The optimization and simulation tasks should be carefully thought
out and formulated before beginning the optimization. All requirements
like the optimization target, the necessary restrictions and the acceptable
volume of the whole project should be considered.
</p>
</div>


<div class = "section" id = "tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-preproc"><p><map name = "FPMap1"><area href = "#hj-top" title = "Back to Top" shape = "rect" coords = "416, 0, 435, 10"/></map><span class = "itemsprite"/></p><h2 class = "title sectiontitle">Preprocessing: Model Generation</h2>

<p>
All requirements from the planning step must be considered for
the generation of the simulation model. In order to avoid unnecessary
tasks, it is important that the relevant information for the analysis
and optimization is carefully considered before starting.
</p>
<p>Model generation covers the following:</p>
<ul class = "ul">
<li class = "li">
Creating the <span class = "ph uicontrol">analysis model   </span>(if not yet created)
in the FE preprocessor. It contains all data that is important for
the FE analysis. Normally no special specifications for the optimization
are required in the FE model. However, some definitions (for example, definition
of groups) in the FE model might help to simplify the optimization process.
Groups can be defined graphically when the optimization task is set
up. The functionalities available for
the applied solver and the relevant preprocessor are depicted in
<a class = "xref" href = "tso-m-usr-post-sb.htm#tso-m-usr-post-sb" title = "Post-processing of Tosca Structure optimization results consists mainly of visualizing the model changes in the optimization process and regarding plots and tables of optimization relevant values. These data can be combined and provided using Tosca Structure.report. Visualization and processing are done using Tosca Structure.view. Certainly, the analysis results of the single optimization steps can be evaluated in your familiar FE-post-processing system by reading the corresponding solver result file from the SAVE.&lt;ext&gt; directory. Further, the results of your validation run can also be processed in your post-processing environment.">Post-Processing of Optimization Results</a>.
The model properties are described in more detail in
<a class = "xref" href = "tso-m-usr-model-sb.htm#tso-m-usr-model-sb" title = "Each optimization task is based on one or more finite element analysis models. These models form the basis for the optimization, that is, contain the nodes or elements to be changed and the loads and boundary conditions for the calculation of important terms for the optimization.">Model</a>.
</li>
<li class = "li">
Combination of the <span class = "ph uicontrol">optimization model</span> The
optimization model consists of the analysis data (compiled in one or
more analysis models) and the settings for the optimization task. The
definition of the optimization task in <span class = "ph">Tosca Structure</span>
can be performed using <span class = "ph">Tosca Structure.gui</span>.
All specifications for the optimization task are stored in a parameter
file. The specifications and data necessary for an optimization can be
found in
<a class = "xref" href = "tso-m-user-TopOpt-sb.htm#tso-sb-user-TopOpt" title = "At the beginning of the conventional design process, the design engineer often defines the shape and the topology of new components using the experience and the results gained from existing designs. This results in an evolution process that might lead to an optimum design after several manual design iterations and a long process development time. Nowadays it is necessary to shorten the development process of new components, and at the same time develop fundamentally new designs. Therefore, optimization tools are necessary for replacing the natural evolution process by an automatic procedure. With SIMULIA Tosca Structure, it is possible to carry out topology and shape optimization in the existing CAE environment.">Topology Optimization</a>,
<a class = "xref" href = "tso-m-usr-shape-sb.htm#tso-m-usr-shape-sb" title = "Shape optimization allows specific detail improvements of existing designs. Through shape optimization the surface geometry of a given model is modified automatically to avoid material failure and increase durability or comfort.">Shape Optimization</a>,
<a class = "xref" href = "tso-m-usr-beadOpt-sb.htm#tso-sb-usr-beadOpt" title = "Bead optimization is a way to enhance shell structures without adding more mass to the structure. The beads can easily be added in the stamping process which makes beads a low weight and cost neutral alternative to enhance a sheet-metal structure.">Bead Optimization</a> and
<a class = "xref" href = "tso-m-usr-sizing-sb.htm#tso-sb-usr-sizing" title = "At the beginning of the conventional design process, the design engineer often defines new components using the experience and the results gained from existing designs. This results in an evolution process that might require several manual design iterations and a long process development time. Optimization tools provide the engineer with an automatic procedure to develop fundamentally new designs and shorten the development process. For sheet metal structures ideal sheet thicknesses according to the existing load and boundary conditions must be derived. With SIMULIA Tosca Structure, it is possible to carry out sizing optimization in the existing CAE environment. Within this process shell thicknesses are calculated automatically to obtain optimal sheet metal structures.">Sizing Optimization</a>.
</li>
</ul>
</div>


<div class = "section" id = "tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-checkRun"><p><map name = "FPMap1"><area href = "#hj-top" title = "Back to Top" shape = "rect" coords = "416, 0, 435, 10"/></map><span class = "itemsprite"/></p><h2 class = "title sectiontitle">Check Run</h2>

<p>
The check run should be performed before starting the optimization
to avoid wrong or missing definitions for the optimization task. With <span class = "ph">Tosca Structure.gui</span>
the check run is a normal optimization run with special settings (<a class = "xref" href = "tso-c-usr-work-guiCheckRun.htm#tso-c-usr-work-guiCheckRun" title = "The check run should be performed before starting the optimization to avoid wrong or missing definitions for the optimization task.">Check Run</a>).
</p>
</div>


<div class = "section" id = "tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-optLoop"><p><map name = "FPMap1"><area href = "#hj-top" title = "Back to Top" shape = "rect" coords = "416, 0, 435, 10"/></map><span class = "itemsprite"/></p><h2 class = "title sectiontitle">Optimization Loop</h2>

<p>
The optimization can be started using <span class = "ph">Tosca Structure.gui</span>
(see <a class = "xref" href = "tso-c-usr-work-guiStartOpt.htm#tso-c-usr-work-guiStartOpt" title = "Tosca Structure first starts a preprocessing step to check the definitions and write the complete optimization model to the database. Then the optimization loop runs until the stop criteria defined by the user is reached.">Start Optimization</a>)
or by calling <span class = "ph">Tosca Structure</span>
in a command shell (see <a class = "xref" href = "tso-c-usr-work-cmdShell.htm#tso-c-usr-work-cmdShell__tso-c-usr-work-cmdShell-startOpt">Start Optimization</a>).
<span class = "ph">Tosca Structure</span>
first starts a preprocessing step to check the definitions and write
the complete optimization model to the database. Then the optimization
loop runs until the stop criteria defined by the user is reached.
</p>
</div>


<div class = "section" id = "tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-postproc"><p><map name = "FPMap1"><area href = "#hj-top" title = "Back to Top" shape = "rect" coords = "416, 0, 435, 10"/></map><span class = "itemsprite"/></p><h2 class = "title sectiontitle">Post-Processing: Evaluation of Optimization Results</h2>

<p>
After the optimization is completed, <span class = "ph">Tosca Structure.report</span>
can be called for data preparation with respect to post-processing. During
the optimization process, the optimization results can be combined to
animated sequences which can be visualized by <span class = "ph">Tosca Structure.view</span>
(see <a class = "xref" href = "tso-m-usr-post-view-sb.htm#tso-m-usr-post-view-sb" title = "Tosca Structure.view is a powerful viewer for Tosca Structure optimization results in vtfx format. It allows for easy post-processing of your optimization task.">Tosca Structure.view</a>). Further, the process
of specific optimization values like terms for the objective or constraints
can be visualized in graphs and tables. All this post-processing data
can be combined in vtfx archives.
</p>
</div>


<div class = "section" id = "tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc__tso-c-usr-ovw-optProc-validRun"><p><map name = "FPMap1"><area href = "#hj-top" title = "Back to Top" shape = "rect" coords = "416, 0, 435, 10"/></map><span class = "itemsprite"/></p><h2 class = "title sectiontitle">Result Transfer and Validation Run</h2>

<p>
Valid optimization results must be further processed in the design
process. <span class = "ph">Tosca Structure.smooth</span>
can be used to prepare the optimization results for a transfer to a CAD
system or FE-Preprocessor. Further, smoothed topology optimization results
can be remeshed and a validation run can be performed. In other environments validation runs require a minimal amount of manual
model adaptation (<a class = "xref" href = "tso-c-usr-validation-otherEnv.htm#tso-c-usr-validation-otherEnv" title = "The optimization result must be processed for further use. In particular for topology optimization results, the quality of the design proposal must be checked. A validation run can be set up and started automatically following the task manager. In other environments, this is also possible but requires some - sometimes time consuming - manual work and is thus not recommended.">Workarounds Using Other Environments</a>).
</p>
</div>

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