Shape200: A Program to Create Basis Vectors for Shape Optimization Using Solution 200 of MSC/Nastran

One powerful tool for the optimization of engineering components is solution 200 of MSC/Nastran. The user is able to define nearly every kind of objective function and restriction with the help of synthetic responses, in addition to the usual responses. For sizing problems, solution 200 is well-established and reasonably user-friendly. This is not the case in the field of shape optimization. The main problem is the creation of basis vectors, which are needed to describe the shape variations. There are some methods included in solution 200 to create these vectors, but for complex engineering components these methods are difficult to use and very time-consuming.

The program Shape200 has been developed to reduce the effort required to create basis vectors. It calculates shape variations using free-form deformation (FFD) technique, creates the corresponding basis vectors and transfers them into MSC/Nastran by using the DVGRID cards (They are the interface of solution 200 which allows the direct definition of the basis vectors). Some applications will be shown and discussed to demonstrate how Shape200 works in practice.