Tutorial: Optimizing Topography - Minimize Mass

Set up a mounting bracket model and run topography optimization to minimize the mass of the bracket.

In this lesson you will learn how to:
  • Create fasteners and define contacts
  • Create local forces in X and -Y
  • Create local displacement constraints
  • Define multiple load cases
  • Apply a symmetry plane
  • Run a topology optimization to minimize mass


Open the Mounting Bracket Model

  1. Start Inspire.
  2. Click Open Model on the Files icon.


  3. In the Open File window, browse to the tutorial_models folder in Program Files\Altair\2020\Inspire2020.
  4. Select the Mounting_Bracket.stmod file and click Open.
  5. Make sure the display units in the Unit System Selector are set to MMKS (mm kg N s).
  6. Use the right mouse button and the middle mouse button to pan and rotate the view so the mounting bracket is positioned as shown below:


Create Fasteners and Define Contacts

  1. Right-click on the large solid and select Design Space.


    Note: Notice the solid bosses within the solid. This model has already been partitioned for loading and connections, which is recommended when running an optimization.
  2. Select the Fasteners tool on the Structures ribbon.


  3. Locations with aligned holes where fasteners can be placed are shown in red. Click Fasten All on the guide bar to create fasteners in all of the red locations.
  4. Click Aligned Holes on the guide bar and select Single Holes instead.


  5. Select the four single holes on the 2D plate. The fasteners are created as Grounded Bolts because the holes are single rather than aligned.


  6. Select the Contacts tool on ribbon.
  7. Select the large flat contact between the design space and the plate to Contacting.


Create Forces in the Local System

  1. Right-click the Loading Partition in the modeling window or Model Browser and select Isolate from the context menu.
  2. Select the Apply Force tool on the Loads icon.


  3. Click the inner surface of the partition and enter 1000 N for the force.


  4. Click the same inner surface and enter 2000 N.


  5. Click System 1 in the Model Browser to make the system visible.
  6. Click the icon in the force microdialog and select System 1.


  7. Select the Force 1 and click Y on the microdialog to orient the force in the Y direction of the local system.
  8. Repeat the process to orient Force 2 in the X direction of the local system.


Create Displacement Constraints in the Local System

  1. Select the Displacement Constraint tool on the Disps icon.


  2. Click the inner surface of the partition and enter 0.8 mm for the displacement constraint.
  3. Click the icon in the displacement constraints microdialog and select System 1.
  4. Click X on the microdialog to orient the displacement constraint in the X direction of the local system.
  5. Create a second displacement constraint and orient it in the Y direction of the local system.


  6. Right-click on Loading Partition In the Model Browser and select Show All Parts.

Create Load Cases

  1. Hover over the Loads icon and click to open the Load Cases Table.
  2. Right-click on the Name column header in the table and select New Load Case. You should now have two load cases.
  3. Right-click on a load case in the table header and select Rename Load Case to rename it.
    • Rename the first load case as Load Case X.
    • Rename the second load case as Load Case Y.
  4. Deselect Force 2 and Displacement Constraint 2 in Load Case X.
  5. Select Force 2 and Displacement Constraint 2, and the 4 grounded bolt fasteners to include them in Load Case Y.


Add Symmetry Planes

  1. Press A to display all.
  2. Select the Symmetry tool on the Shape Controls icon.


  3. Select the Symmetric tool from the secondary ribbon.


  4. Click on the bracket in the modeling window to select it. Three red symmetry planes appear.


  5. Shape Control 1 is added to the Shape Controls folder in the Model Browser.


  6. Click the two planes shown below to deselect them, so that only the vertical (red) plane remains active.


  7. Right-click twice to exit the tool.

Run an Optimization to Minimize Mass

  1. Click the Run Optimization tool on the Optimize icon.


  2. Select Minimize Mass for the optimization Objective.


  3. Confirm that Minimum safety factor is set to 1.2.
  4. Confirm Thickness Constraint Minimum is set to 40 mm.
  5. Click Run. A green check mark will appear in the Run Status window when the optimization is complete.


  6. Double-click on the name of the run to view the results. The optimized shape is displayed in the modeling window and is listed as an alternative in the Shape Explorer.


  7. Drag the topology slider on the Shape Explorer until all sections are continuous and solid.


You have completed the tutorial.