Circular pattern grouping allows you to force OptiStruct to create beads that
form concentric circles around a user-defined axis.
This can be very useful for optimizing the shape of circular parts that must have a circular
reinforcement pattern such as a part turned on a
lathe.
For circular pattern grouping (TYP=2 or 12),
OptiStruct generates
shape variables that form circles about an axis
defined by the first vector. These circular beads
have a width equal to the minimum bead width
parameter. The anchor point can be located
anywhere, but the first vector must be collinear
with the desired central axis for the circular
beads. The simple circular pattern grouping
(TYP=2): Figure 1. TYP=2: Circular Pattern Grouping
For one plane circular pattern grouping (TYP=12), the
circular patterns are reflected about a plane
located at the anchor node and defined by the
first vector. One plane circular symmetry ensures
that nodes equal distances above and below the
plane of symmetry will be grouped into the same
variables. Figure 2. TYP=12: One Plane Circular Symmetry
