ReSHAPE for Structural Optimization

ReSHAPE is a linear static FE solver that incorporates extensive structural optimization routines to calculate the derivatives of performance parameters (stress, displacement, modal/buckling eigenvalue, etc) with respect to the nodal degrees of freedom, and then adapt the mesh of the component to a shape that will improve the performance. It is the leading software for pure structural shape redesign problems.

Changing the shape of an existing FE model is a very difficult problem compared to topology and other structural optimization processes. ReSHAPE uses complicated algorithms to perform shape changes in generalised coordinates, and then fits the original FE mesh back onto the new shape - resulting in smooth shape changes.

Currently ReSHAPE has seven shape improvement 'PROCESSES':

  • PROCESS(RAW)
  • PROCESS(GEOMETRY)
  • PROCESS(FUNCTION)
  • PROCESS(VECTOR)
  • PROCESS(EVOLUTION)
  • PROCESS(TOPOLOGY)
  • PROCESS(SIZING)
FE model
Fatigue improvement of a control arm

Advea's approach to the shape improvement problem is that the analyst should choose a specific PROCESS that is suitable for solving the problem. For example, for a concept design of a new component, based on known boundary conditions, PROCESS(TOPOLOGY) should be used to find a suitable initial design shape.

A typical target that is achieved on recent components using ReSHAPE is 10%. ie, 10% weight reduction, or 10% stress reduction. We like to think that if you can reduce the weight of a component by 10%, then with your manufacturing process, you are getting every 10th component made for free!

How much you can improve an existing component also demonstrates the quality of the current design process. Often in companies that incorporate little CAE in their design process, it is possible to improve a design by more than 25%, resulting in a massive financial saving to the company.

Please read our comprehensive Starting with ReSHAPE manual, which is designed to have engineers solving real, practical problems in minutes, if you want more technical information about ReSHAPE's processes.

You can also read about ReSHAPE's licensing options.

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