Ch

Chapter
1
Introduction

Design Exploration

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What is Design Xplorer?

Training Manual

DesignXplorer (DX) is a tool for designing and understanding the

analysis response of parts and assemblies enabling the user to
account for uncertainties in product design and use, and to
determine how best to improve product reliability. These tasks are
accomplished trough the use of response surfaces.
DesingXplorer uses parameters as its basic language. Parametric
data come from Mechanical application, DesignModeler (DM) and
numerous CAD systems in order to explore a wide range of
responses based on a limited number of actual solutions.

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Parameter Definitions . . .

Training Manual

DX uses 3 different types of parameters:

Input parameters.
Response (output) parameters.
Derived parameters.

Input
p Parameters:
Those parameters that define the geometry, loads, and material
properties for the analysis.
Input Parameters have predefined ranges that may be changed. These
include CAD parameters, Simulation parameters, and DesignModeler
parameters.
Examples of CAD and DM input parameters include:
Thickness,
Thickness length,
length etc.
etc

Examples of Mechanical input parameters include:

Pressure, material properties, force, etc.

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Parameter Definitions . . .

Training Manual

Response Parameters:
Parameters representing
p
g the outputs
p
(responses)
(
p
) from the analysis.
y
Typical examples include (but are not limited to):

volume
mass
frequency
stress
heat flow
critical buckling load
velocities
mass flow rate
Etc.

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Parameter Definitions . . .

Training Manual

Derived Parameters:
Parameters created using analytical expressions composed of input and
response parameters.
Cannot reference other derived parameters.

Derived parameters can be defined using various built in arithmetic,

trigonometric and statistical functions
functions.
Examples include (but are not limited to):
cost function (i.e., the product of mass and cost per mass)
normalized stress (i.e.,
(i e stress response divided by an applied stress)
average value (e.g., the average of the first three frequencies)

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Method Definitions

Training Manual

The response surface method allows us to do optimization and

probabilistic studies efficiently.
The Design of Experiments (DOE) method:
Based on the number of input parameters (Mechanical, CAD, etc.), a given
number of solutions (design points) are required to build a response
surface (DX uses a factorial method to calculate the necessary solutions).
A Design of Experiments, or DOE, method determines how many and
which design points should be solved for the most efficient approach to
optimization (many different DOE methods have been developed).
The default DOE method in DesignXplorer uses what is called a central
composite approach to determine what input parameter values are to be
solved. Other available approaches will be reviewed later.
Once the required
q
solutions are complete
p
a response
p
surface is curve fit
through the results allowing designs to be queried where no hard
solution exists (see 2d example below).
Curve fit response
Design Points
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Studies

Training Manual

DesignXplorer features the following studies:

Design point analysis (default) - examines how the input parameters affect
the output parameters by creating designs in a spreadsheet like view
view.
Response Surface
- Goal-Driven Optimization
p
or GDO)) automatically
y change
g design
g parameters
p
to find optimal design.
- Six Sigma incorporates uncertainties of input parameters.
Min-Max Search examines the entire output parameter space from a
Response Surface to approximate the minimum and maximum of each output
parameter. You can perform this search at any time.
Parameter Correlation gives correlation data that has been used to derive
sensitivities and decide if individual sensitivity values are significant or not.

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Goal Driven Optimization (GDO)

Training Manual

Goal Driven Optimization (GDO) is a multi objective technique in

which the best possible designs are obtained from a sample set
given the goals you set for parameters.
S
a series of design
g goals
g
which will be used to generate
g
States
optimized design.

Desired values for input and response parameters are specified

Importance
p
rankings
g are specified
p
for parameters.
p
A set of sample designs is generated.
The most promising candidate designs are chosen.

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Design for Six Sigma

Training Manual

For the previously discussed GDO method, an optimal solution is

considered without accounting for scatter in input quantities, so that
is why it is also referred to as a Deterministic study. To account for
these variations traditional methods typically include a safety factor.
Design for Six Sigma accounts for variations in input parameters to
predict the random nature of the responses.
In a Six Sigma Analysis statistical distribution (Gaussian, Weibull,
etc) describe uncertain parameters.
Specific examples include:
What is the likelihood a component will fail as a result of input variation?
Which input parameters contribute the most (and the least) influence on
the responses?
What is the range
g of output
p as a result of the input
p scatter?

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DesignXplorer Capabilities

Training Manual

DesignXplorer:
Any type of analysis can be studied (linear, modal, nonlinear, thermal,
multiphysics)
Supports native CAD parameters from various systems.
Supports analysis parameters from Mechanical.
Uses goals driven optimization method to create candidate design
sets b
based
d on preferred
f
d responses.
Allows exploration of response curves and surfaces.
Six Sigma Analysis allows you to determine the extent to which
uncertainties in the model affect the results of an analysis
analysis.

* Note: Reading Ansys APDL input file with parameters defined is supported at
th project
the
j t page level,
l
l see Chapter
Ch t 6.
6
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The DX User Interface

Training Manual

DesignXplorer manages the application of other software packages

(Mechanical, CAD, etc), and presents the results based on preset
parametric variations.
Although each participating application may perform complex tasks
DX needs only to manage parametric information. For this reason,
the user interface is inherently simple.
In the next several pages, basic GUI terminology is presented.
Familiarity will be gained through the workshops as well as
information presented in subsequent chapters.

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The DX User Interface

Training Manual

DesignXplorer can be started from Project Page.

By expanding Design Exploration in Toolbox on the Project Page you
will have an options to perform GDO, DOE by selecting Response
Surface, Min-Max search (beta in 12.0), Parameter Correlation, and
Six Sigma Analysis.
DX study needs to be attached to previously defined parameter set
where y
you can have defined input
p and output
p parameters.
p

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The WB User Interface

Training Manual

For most situations the Workbench GUI is divided into 2 primary

sections (there are other optional sections well see in a moment):

The Toolbox

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The Project Schematic

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The Toolbox

Training Manual

The toolbox contains 4 subgroups:

Analysis systems: predefined
templates that can be placed in the
schematic.
h
ti
Component systems: various
applications that can be accessed
to build, or expand, analysis
systems.
Custom Systems: predefined
analysis systems for coupled
applications (FSI, thermal-stress,
etc.). Users can also create their
own predefined systems.
Design Exploration: Parametric
management and optimization
tools.

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The Project Schematic

Training Manual

The Workbench project schematic is a graphical representation of the

workflow defining a system or group of systems.
The workflow in the project schematic is always left to right.
There are currently several applications which are native to
Workbench, meaning they run entirely in the Workbench window:
Project
j
Schematic,, Engineering
g
g Data and Design
g Exploration
p

Non-native applications (called data-integrated) run in their own

window:
Mechanical ((formerly
y Simulation),
), Mechanical APDL ((formerly
y ANSYS),
),
ANSYS Fluent, ANSYS CFX, Etc . . .

Blocks of cells can be deleted by RMB menu selection.

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The DX User Interface . . .

Training Manual

In this example a Static Structural analysis

type is selected for the project schematic.
From the toolbox the selection can be
dragged and dropped onto the schematic or
simply double clicked.

Drag and drop of Double click

on Response Surface will add
DX study using global
parameter set.
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The DX User Interface . . .

Training Manual

If you read an APDL input file, you first need to start Mechanical APDL, then
read the file and attach a DX study to the parameter set.

Status bar gives more

g solution
information during

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The DX User Interface . . .

Training Manual

Project Page

If you double click on Design of

Experiments the DX Design Space
becomes available.

In the DX Design
g Space
p
you will be able to see
details about DX run
such as Table of design
Points Parameter
Points,
properties, etc.
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The DX User Interface . . .

Training Manual

In DX Design Space you can see

the Properties, Outline, Table, and
Chart.

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Workbench File Management

Training Manual

Workbench creates a project file and a series of subdirectories to

manage all associated files.
Users should allow Workbench to manage the content of these
directories. Please do NOT manually modify the content or structure
of the project directories.
When a project is saved a project file is created (.wbpj), using the
user specified file name (e.g. MyFile.wbpj).
A project directory will be created using the project name. In the
above example the directory would be MyFile_files.
A number of subdirectories will be created in the project directory
(explained next).

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. . . Workbench File Management

Training Manual

Directory Structure:
dpn: this is the design point directory. This
essentially is the state of all parameters for a
particular
ti l analysis.
l i In
I the
th case off a single
i l analysis
l i
there will be only one dp0 directory.
global: contains subdirectories for each application
in the analysis.
analysis In the example at right the Mech
Mech
directory will contain the database, and other
associated files from the Mechanical application.
SYS: the SYS directory will contain subdirectories
for each system type in the project (e.g. Mechanical,
Fluent, CFX, etc.). Each system subdirectory
contains solver specific files. For example the
MECH subdirectory would contain the results file
file,
the ds.dat file, solve.out file and so on.
user_files: contains input files, user macro files etc.
that may
y be associated with a p
project.
j

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