How to postprocess a topology optimization problem?

Once the topology optimization is completed, Flux 2D will write the following outputs in the Working directory configured by the user:
  • A new Flux 2D project containing the optimized design. This project has the following properties:
    • This project may or may not be automatically opened in a new instance of Flux 2D at the end of the optimization, depending on the settings configured in the Optimization options (as discussed in step 7 of the previous section).
    • The new project has its name derived from the name of the initial project (the string _OptimizationResults is appended to the original project name).
    • That project contains the design that results from the topology optimization, considering the default Density threshold configured in the Optimization options (see step 7 of the previous section).
      Note: In the topology optimization procedure, the material density is a real-valued function in the range [0,1] defined on the faces subjected to optimization. The Density threshold is the lowest density value for which the material is considered present in a given design.
      Note: To make sure that the design resulting from the topology optimization is properly displayed in the new Flux project, it is mandatory to click the button Display or hide face elements available in the Flux 2D toolbar after its opening.
    • The scenario provided for the execution of the command Run Topology optimizaton is solved in the new project. Consequently, it is ready for post-processing, allowing the user to evaluate electromagnetic quantities to verify if the optimization goals and constraints have been satisfied.
  • An H3d file (with .h3d extension) representing the evolution of the optimized design through the optimization procedure. This file may be opened in Altair SimLab and has the following properties:
    • Its name is derived from the name of the initial project used to launch the topology optimization (the string _des is appended to the original project name).
    • It may be used to display in SimLab a graphical representation of the design at each optimization step. More precisely, it allows viewing a color map representing the material density function on the faces subjected to optimization at each optimization step.
    • It may also be used to explore the effect of changing the material Density threshold at each optimization step, including the final design. This may be achieved with the aid of Shape Explorer tool available in SimLab. Analyzing the results this way is useful to explore the impact of that threshold in the final design yielded by the optimization.
    • The H3d file may be previewed and analyzed in SimLab during the optimization process, before it reaches its end.
The Density threshold may also be modified in the project containing the topology optimization results to generate variations of the final design. To modify this threshold and generate a new project with a variant design:
  • In the project with the topology optimization results, click the Solving menu.
  • Select the command Explore topologies from optimization results.
  • In the Explore topologies from optimization results dialog box:
    • Provide a name for the new project (the project is overwritten with the new design if no name is provided)
    • Provide the new value for the density threshold in the field.
  • After confirming the threshold modification, Flux will update the design.
    Note: After updating the design with a new density threshold, the user needs to re-solve the scenario to post-process the results.