© Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.

Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1A - Generating Your First Design Concept

File Name and Location

…\Ch1\Exercise_1.stmod

Exercise Goals
1. Open the model
2. Run an optimization analysis with Maximize Stiffness objective
3. Use the Topology Slider to explore the results
4. Perform a structural analysis on the optimized part
5. Explore the various results in the Analysis Explorer

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 © Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1A - Generating Your First Design Concept

Goal: In this exercise, you will learn how to import existing geometry and generate
your first design concept.
Final Design
Optimization
Original Design 30% stiffer
Result
20% mass savings

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 © Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1A - Generating Your First Design Concept

Step 1: Open the model

a) Start Inspire
b) File > Open …\Ch1\Exercise_1.stmod
c) Change Display Units to MMKS (mm kg N s).

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 © Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1A - Generating Your First Design Concept

Step 2: Run an optimization analysis with Maximize Stiffness objective

a) Structure ribbon > Run group >

b) Select Maximize Stiffness objective with Mass Targets 30%.
c) Review the optimization window to make sure the Minimum Thickness
Constraints is set to 30 mm.
Note: The parameters seen in the Run Optimization window will be covered
in depth later in the training.
d) Click on Run.
Note: Due to the larger Minimum Thickness Constraint, this run should
only take a few minutes.

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 © Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1A - Generating Your First Design Concept

Step 3: Use the Topology Slider to explore the results

a) Once the optimization is complete, a green flag will appear. the run name imports the results. You can also
import the results by clicking View Now in the Run Status window.

b) Use the Topology Slider in the Shape Explorer Note: If the Shape Explorer
to explore the results. window is not visible, on the
optimized region of the part and
the Shape Explorer window
will reopen.

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 © Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1A - Generating Your First Design Concept

Step 4: Perform a structural analysis on the optimized part

a) Reposition the Topology Slider to the center mark.

b) Select the Analyze icon in the Shape Explorer.

c) Once the Analysis is complete, a green flag will appear.

the run name imports the results. You can also import
the results by clicking View Now in the Run Status window.

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 © Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1A - Generating Your First Design Concept

Step 5: Explore the various results in the Analysis Explorer

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 © Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1B (Optional) - Generating Your First Design Concept

File Name and Location

…\Ch1\Optional.stmod

Exercise Goals
1. Open the model
2. Set the Design part to be Design Space
3. Define a symmetry XZ plane
4. Run Optimization with Minimize Mass objective,
Safety Factor of 1.5.
5. Analyze Results

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 © Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1B (Optional) - Generating Your First Design Concept

Step 1: Open the model

a) File > Open …\Ch1\Optional.stmod

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 © Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1B (Optional) - Generating Your First Design Concept

Step 2: Set the Design part to be Design Space

Step 3: Define a symmetry XZ plane

a) Structure ribbon > Setup group > >

b) Use Property Editor to manage Symmetry Shape Controls.

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 © Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1B (Optional) - Generating Your First Design Concept

Step 4: Run Optimization

a) Run Optimization with Minimize Mass objective,
Safety Factor of 1.5.

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 © Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved.
Inspire Structures, v2021

Exercise 1B (Optional) - Generating Your First Design Concept

Step 5: Analyze Results

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