Gauge Panel

Location: Analysis page > Optimization panel

Note: Only available in the OptiStruct solver interface.

Use this panel when several shell or composite components have the same or different shell thickness, ply thickness, or ply angle, and size optimization is performed with the shell thickness, ply thickness, or ply angle as the design variable.

Create Subpanel

Option	Action
value from property / initial value	value from property Use the selected PSHELL, PCOMP or PCOMPG card images to assign initial values for shell thickness, ply thickness, or ply orientation. initial value= Assign a nominal initial value for all selected components.
lower bound / lower bound %	lower bound Specify a specific value for the lower boundary. lower bound % Specify the lower bound as a percentage of the initial value.
upper bound / upper bound %	upper bound Specify a specific value for the upper boundary. upper bound % Specify the upper bound as a percentage of the initial value.
props	Select the property.

Note: You can input actual values for lower bound and upper bound, or select a percentage (%) of the initial value. For example, if the initial value = 10, lower bound % = -20, and upper bound % = 20, then after exporting the file the lower bound and the upper bound are automatically changed to 8 and 12, respectively.

Update Subpanel

Option	Action
desvar	Specify a name for the design variable.
type	Select an entity type.
props	Select the property.
minimum thickness	Specify the minimum thickness or select zero to be the minimum.
maximum thickness	Choose to use the thickness value from the selected property, or enter a thickness value.

Parameters Subpanel

Option	Action
desvar	Specify a name for the design variable.
minmemb off / mindim =	Specify a value for the member size control, or toggle the switch to off.
stress constraint	Specify a value for the stress constraint, or toggle the switch to none.
fatigue constraint	Specify a value for the fatigue constraint, or toggle the switch to none.

Composites Subpanel

Option	Action
desvar	Specify a name for the design variable.
laminate thickness: min thickness = /off	Specify a value for the laminate thickness minimum, or toggle the switch to off.
laminate thickness: max thickness = /off	Specify a value for the laminate thickness maximum, or toggle the switch to off.
ply thickness: no. of constraints	Specify the number of constraints for the ply thickness.
ply percentage: no. of constraints	Specify the number of constraints for the ply percentage.
balance: no. of constraints	Specify the number of constraints for the balance.
constant: no. of constraints	Specify the number of constraints for the constant.

Pattern Grouping Subpanel

Option	Action
desvar	Specify a name for the design variable.
pattern type	Select the pattern type.
anchor node	Select the anchor node.
node id / coordinates	Choose to manually enter the ID for the node, or specify the coordinates of the node.
first node
second node	Used for 2-plns sym or 3-plns sym types.
ucyc	Specify the number of repetitions in 360 degrees. Used for cyclic or cyc 1-pln types.

Pattern Repitition Subpanel

Option	Action
desvar	Specify a name for the design variable.
master / slave / none	Determine whether you are establishing a master coordinate system, a slave design variable, or neither.
system /coordinates	Choose to manually enter the values for the coordinate system, or to graphically select the system.
global system / local system	Reference coordinate system
anchor	Select the anchor node.
sx /sy /sz	x, y and z scale factors.

Command Buttons

Option	Action
create	Create the design variable.
edit	Opens the property collector panel to edit the property.
reject	Revert the most recent changes.
review	Review the load in the graphic area.
update	Update the load with the most recent changes.
return	Exit the panel.