A SIMULIA e-Learning Resource
Created using Abaqus 6.14-2 including Tosca Structure 8.0.1
still valid for newer versions

Do you know how to....

... easily get a design draft which is optimal with respect to weight, stiffness or frequency behaviour? Topology optimization with Tosca Structure allows you to extract design proposals from a given design space.

Using Abaqus/CAE you can easily setup, submit and postprocess a topology optimization. In this simple example a standard topology optimization process is shown for the example of a control arm. Starting with a design space with appropriate load scenarios a design proposal with maximum stiffness and a specified volume will be extracted. The files required for this example are provided with each Tosca Structure installation.

Watch the videos below to learn how to perform this standard topology optimization task. The process is still applicable to current versions of Abaqus/CAE.

Narrated video:

The following video shows the setup and submission of the task:

- Introduction and Model (0:00 - 0:49) 
- Optimization Task(0:50 - 3:02)

- Design Responses (1:15 -1:40)
- Objective Function (1:40 - 2:05)
- Constraint (2:05 - 2:24)
- Geometric Restrictions (2:24 - 3:02)

- Optimization Process and Submission(3:02 - 3:28)

The next video shows the postprocessing of the result:

- Combining Results (0:00 - 0:36)
- Visualization (0:36 - 1:15)
- Extraction and Smoothing of Result (1:16 - 2:16)

Now You try it!

Setup (video 1)

1.  Copy the control_arm files to your local directory  from the Abaqus installation directory
   < abaqus_install_dir > \\code\\bin\\SMAExternal\\TOSCA\\abaqus\\examples\\topo\\control_arm
   or directly from the Tosca Structure installation
   < Tosca_structure_install_dir > \\abaqus\\examples\\topo\\control_arm.
2. Import your model (contral_arm.inp)
3. Create a topology optimization task
   • Choose DESIGN_ELEMENTS as design area
   • Choose condition-based algorithm
4. Create necessary design responses
   • Strain energy (as stiffness measure)
   • Volume
5. Create your objective function
   • set target to minimize
   • assign strain energy
6. Create your volume constraint
   • set a relative value of 0.7
   • assign volume
7. Create geometric restrictions
   • Choose Casting restriction (Demold Control)
   • Apply to DESIGN_ELEMENTS
   • pull direction (0,0,1)
8. Create Optimization process
   • assign optimization task
   • define settings
   • submit

Postprocess (video 2)

1. Combine your results
    
   • Choose relevant results for visualization
2. Switch to visualization
   • Navigate through optimization cycles
   • View material property results, hide soft material
3. Extract result
   • Set isovalue for isosurface extraction
   • Extract model to input or stl file
   • Reload extracted input deck into CAE

References

Getting started with topology optimization 
(e-Learning session - general overview on topology optimization with Tosca Structure)

Getting started with shape optimization 
(e-Learning session - general overview on shape optimization with Tosca Structure)

Efficient Design Optimization in Your CAE Environment
(eSeminar recording - basic overview on Tosca Structure)