Webinar

optiSLang & ANSYS Workbench

Dynardo GmbH

1
 © Dynardo GmbH

1. Introduction
2. Process Integration
and variation studies

6. Signal
Processing

3. optiSLang
inside ANSYS
5. ANSYS Mechanical
APDL in optiSLang

4. ANSYS Workbench
node in optiSLang

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Introduction

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Excellence of optiSLang

• is an general purpose tool for variation analysis

using CAE-based design sets (and/or data sets) for

the purpose of

• sensitivity analysis
• design/data exploration
• calibration of virtual models to tests
• optimization of product performance
• quantification of product robustness and product reliability
• Robust Design Optimization (RDO) and Design for Six
Sigma (DFSS)

serves arbitrary CAX tools with support of process

integration, process automation and workflow
generation

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Robust Design Optimization

Optimization Robust Design

Sensitivity Analysis Variance-Based
Robustness Evaluation
Single- & Multi-Objective
(Pareto) Optimization Probability-Based
Robustness Evaluation
Start

CAE process (FEM, CFD, MBD, Excel, Matlab, etc.)

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optiSLang: Graphical User Interface

Build, Run and Analyze your flow using
• Wizards
• Comfortable Drag&Drop
• Dialogs and Tables
• Postprocessing

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Process Integration
and variation studies

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Process Integration
Parametric model as base for
• User defined optimization (design) space
• Naturally given robustness (random) space

Design variables
Entities that define the
design space

Scattering variables
Entities that define the
robustness space
Response variables
The CAE process Outputs from the
Generates the system
results according
to the inputs

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optiSLang Integrations
Direct integrations
 ANSYS Workbench
 Matlab
 Excel
 Python
 SimulationX

Supported connections
 Ansys APDL
 Abaqus
 Adams
 AMESim
 …

Arbitary connection of
ASCII file based solvers

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Metamodel of Optimal Prognosis (MOP)

• A fully automatic workflow identifies the subspace of important parameter
with the best possible meta-model (MOP) of every response variable
resulting in the best possible forecast quality towards result variation
• Include multi-dimensional nonlinear dependencies with automatic
identification + ranking of important input variables
MOP Solves 3 Important Tasks:
1st Best Input Variable Subspace
2nd Best Meta-model
3rd Estimation of Prediction Quality

DoE MOP

Solver

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Optimization on MOP
• Requires only one solver run to verify the optima from the MOP
• Save time to market
• Improve product performance

MOP Surface from Sensitivity Input Values for Best Design

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Optimization of a Hook
How to change the hook, so that
• The v.-Mises stress will not exceed 200MPa
• The mass will be as minimal as possible and
• Certain geometry parameters will be in
predefined bounds?

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The Design Parameters

A Outer_Diameter 25-35 mm
B Connection_Length 20-40 mm
C Opening_Angle 10-30 °
D Upper_Blend_Radius 18-22 mm
E Lower_Blend_Radius 18-22 mm
F Connection_Angle 120-150 °
G Lower_Radius 45-55 mm
H Fillet_Radius 2-4 mm
I Thickness 15-25 mm
Depth 15-25 mm

Questions
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optiSLang for ANSYS

3 ways to integrate ANSYS and optiSLang for parametric studies
• optiSLang inside ANSYS
- Integration of optiSLang into ANSYS Workbench
• ANSYS Workbench node in optiSLang
- Integration of ANSYS Workbench Parameter Set into optiSLang

• ANSYS Mechanical APDL in optiSLang

• Text Input – Script – Text Output
• Text Input – Solver Call – Result Extraction – Batch Script (optional)

+
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optiSLang inside ANSYS

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optiSLang inside ANSYS

• optiSLang modules Sensitivity + MOP, Optimization and
Robustness are directly available in ANSYS Workbench

Fully parametric

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optiSLang inside ANSYS

• Sensitivity Module: Definition of parameter variation with lower and
upper bound and continuous or discrete

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optiSLang inside ANSYS

• Sensitivity Module: The Metamodel of Optimal Prognosis (MOP) is
automatically created from the DoE-Sampling. Additionally, censoring
of outliers is supported via post-processing.

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optiSLang inside ANSYS

Optimization using MOP

After sensitivity, optimization

using the Metamodel is supported.

Minimum required user input:

• Drag the optimization
module onto MOP
• Define objective and
constraints

“Optima” which are based on

metamodels need to be verified!

Proof optima:
• Automatic verification with
real ANSYS call
• Check differences in post-
processing
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optiSLang inside ANSYS

Optimization with Real Solver Calls

After Sensitivity and Optimization on MOP, the

user can continue with gradient-based, NOA-
based or ARSM optimization.

Minimum required user input:

• define objectives and constraints
• choose optimizer, assisted by wizard

For all algorithms, robust default settings are

provided.

NOA - Nature inspired optimization contains:

evolutionary, genetic, particle swarm optimization

ARSM – Adaptive Response Surface Method

Questions
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ANSYS Workbench node

in optiSLang

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The Workbench Node

• The workbench node directly connects to the
workbench project and gets the inputs and outputs
from the parameter set
• A connections to a local project on the same
workstation or to a project at a distributed
workstation in the same network is possible
• Local projects could be already open or started from
optiSLang to get the necessary parameters

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The Workbench Node

• The workbench node directly connects to
the workbench project and gets the inputs
and outputs from the parameter set

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The Workbench Node

Batch mode (w/ or w/o GUI):
• Open a closed project in batch
mode and connect to it (A)
• Every design gets a new clean
WB project (group of designs
are possible)
(A)
• Initial WB (B) project stays
untouched (using a working
copy #files#, which is located
(B)
in the design directory)
• Possibility to use a python
script (C) to update the
ANSYS Workbench project
(C)

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The Workbench Node

Save project files:
• “Save DPs as project” (A) in WB Node (save the whole project) or
“select files” (B) in ANSYS Workbench, if you want to save only a few files (C)

(B)

(C)

(A)

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The Workbench Node

• Provides the flexibility to extend the process chain

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The Workbench Node

Advantage of the ANSYS Workbench Node:
• User can choose which Parameter and Responses from the Workbench
should be used for the Parameter Study in optiSLang
• New Parameters can easily added an configured in the working system
(Parameter Tab  dependent, conditional, )
• A following Signal Processing (ETK node) can extract and calculate all
inputs and responses
• The ANSYS Workbench can be coupled with different other solvers like
MATLAB, SimulationX or Abaqus
• External geometry or mesh generators can work together with the
ANSYS Workbench node
• Reliability-based robustness analysis to quantifies product risks are
usable with the ANSYS Workbench node
• Reevaluation of already calculated designs is possible
(supported by a Reevaluation Wizard )

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ANSYS Mechanical APDL in

optiSLang

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ASCII Input – ASCII Output

• Auto-parametrization of numerical expressions
• Automatic name assignment for inputs possible
• Define markers
• Incremental read of response

ASCII input file ASCII output file

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Batch Solver Call

• Performing a single solver or script call
• Timeout and parallel batch call is possible
• Additional input files and environmental variables can be specified

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optiSLang for ANSYS

 Product bundle containing
 optiSLang inside ANSYS Workbench
 optiSLang including WB node

 Use same dialogs, same algorithms, same post processing

 Wizard driven set up of analysis
 Algorithms with proven default settings
 Minimization of necessary user input to design/robustness space,
constraints and objectives

 Maximize the outcome/benefits of parametric studies with the

help of Wizards, best practice algorithms and the
Metamodel of Optimal Prognosis (MoP)

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Signal Processing

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Signals in optiSLang
• Signals are vector outputs having an abscissa (e.g. time axis)
and several output channels (e.g. displacements, velocities)
• Signal functions enables the user to extract local and statistical
quantities and to analyze differences between several signals
• Match signal data (curves) with Signal Processing

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Signal Processing – Definition of Signals

• The ETK node enables the
definition of several solver
and reference signals
• Reads many CAE binary output
formats and text files
• Can read signals, vectors
and matrices
• Instant visualization of
vectors and signals

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Training Program

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Training
optiSLang Basics
• 3 day introduction to process integration (ASCII, Matlab, Excel, Python),
sensitivity, optimization, calibration and robustness analysis

optiSLang inside ANSYS Workbench

• 2 day introduction seminar to parameterization in ANSYS Workbench
and sensitivity analysis and optimization via optiSLang inside ANSYS WB

optiSLang and ANSYS Workbench

• 1 day introduction to the integration of ANSYS Workbench projects in a
optiSLang solver chain, parameterization of signals via APDL output

optiSLang Update
• 1 day update seminar introducing process integration and automation
with optiSLang

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Thank you
For more information please
visit our homepage:
www.dynardo.com

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