AcuAutoShapes

Generates the morph shapes input to Acu3DShapes, based on AcuSolve results.

Syntax

acuAutoShapes

Type

AcuSolve Preparatory Program

Description

AcuAutoShapes is a utility program that uses the results from a topology optimization run to generate the morph shape input to Acu3DShapes. The results can be produced either from a basic flow simulation or a topology optimization run. The simulation sequence looks as follows:
  1. AcuSolve (basic flow or topology optimization)
  2. AcuAutoShapes
  3. Acu3DShapes
  4. AcuSolve (shape optimization)

To manage the distribution of control points and define the types of vector morph shapes, several input parameters may be specified. The design_volume is the name of the element set, as given in the input file, where the control points will be distributed. One key parameter is the max_nodes_out parameter, the maximum number of nodes used to generate control points, which directly influences the total number of morph shapes. By default, this value is set to 50, allowing for up to 150 morph shapes—comprising bending and area morph types. The distance_scale parameter controls the target distance between control points, but the distance may be greater than the target value if the max_nodes_out limit is reached. The space close to inlets and outlets, specified using the interface_surface parameter, will not contain control points up to a distance computed as the parameter perimeter_distance_factor multiplied by the distance_scale.

The output from the script is by default located in the AUTOSHAPES.DIR directory. In addition, a configuration file with the name problem_run_ts.cnf is created. The content of the created configuration file can be copied into the Acusim.cnf file, which may be used as the input to the Acu3DShapes utility. The Acu3DShapes utility creates the morph shapes files, using the files in the AUTOSHAPES.DIR directory as input, needed to run an optimization SIMULATION.

Parameters

The following parameters are supported:
help or h (boolean)
If set, the program prints a usage message and exits. The usage message includes all available options, their current values, and the place where each option is set.
problem or pb (string) [_undefined]
The name of the problem is specified via this option. This name is used to generate input file names and extracted surface file names.
morph_metric (string) [_undefined]
Morph metric output file name. morph_metric_out = _undefined [default].
vtk (boolean) [FALSE]
The resulting shapes to be exported in VTK format if vtk = TRUE.
working_directory or dir (string) [ACUSIM.DIR]
All internal files are stored in this directory. This directory does not need to be on the same file system as the user-supplied input files.
run_id or run (integer) [0]
Number of the run in which the translation is requested. If run_id is set to 0, the last run in the working directory is assumed.
case_id or case (integer) [0]
Number of the case in which the translation is requested. If case is set to 0, the last case in the working directory is assumed.
design_volume (string) [_undefined]
User-defined design volume name. design_volume = _undefined [default].
interface_surface (string) [_undefined]
Inlet/outlet interface surface names. interface_surfaces = _undefined [default].
max_nodes_out (integer) [50]
The maximum number of nodes after coarsening.
crsn (boolean) [TRUE]
Coarsening applied to all control points.
distance_scale (real) [0.0]
Scaling factor for the distance between morph shape centers.
perimeter_distance_factor (real) [1.5]
Scale factor for perimeter spacing.
coarsening_levels (integer) [10]
Number of levels for multi-level coarsening.
internal_distance_factor (real) [1.0]
Internal distance scale factor.
coarsen_distance_factor (real) [0.2]
Coarsening distance scale factor.
bsh (boolean) [TRUE]
Bending morph shapes.
ash (boolean) [TRUE]
Area enlarging morph shapes.
lsh (boolean) [FALSE]
Morph shapes for localized modifications.
bending_distance_factor (real) [0.5]
Bending distance factor.
area_distance_factor (real) [0.2]
Area distance factor.
local_distance_factor (real) [0.5]
Local distance factor.
length_scale_factor (real) [1.0]
Length scale factor.
adir (string) [_undefined]
Working directory for 3D auto shapes data.
verbose or v (integer)
Set the verbose level for printing information to the screen. Each higher verbose level prints more information. If verbose is set to 0 (or less), only warning and error messages are printed. If verbose is set to 1, basic processing information is printed in addition to warning and error messages. This level is recommended. verbose levels greater than 1 provide information useful only for debugging.verbose = 1 [default].