Objective: Automatically create Zones based on Element-level Sizing results.
After running an Element-Based Sizing Optimization, it is often necessary to group like-sized Elements into their own sizing Zones - or areas of constant cross-section or FEM property. The Zone Pattern Optimization feature automates this process by assessing Element-Based Sizing results and combining Elements of the same-or-similar cross-section into new, likely Zone shapes. These new Zones are typically more "organic" in nature in that they tend to follow the load path in the part.
Results from Element-Based Optimization must exist in the Project in order to run Zone Pattern Optimization.
Select the desired area, then open the Zone Pattern Optimization from the Structures tab of the Ribbon.
The optional settings in the middle of the form can be used to control how HyperX identifies the Zone pattern. The screenshot below contains a recommended starting point.
Use the slider bar to indicate your preference between weight savings (closer to the bookend of sizing per element), and minimizing Zones (closer to the bookend of encompassing all Elements into one Zone). Click Optimize to generate a Zone pattern with those preferences. The viewport and legend will populate with the proposed zones resulting from your selections.
The resulting new number of Zones and corresponding weight will be displayed alongside the existing results for comparison.
Iterate this process until a desirable Zone pattern is reached.
Tip
Make sure to maintain your selection in the Viewport as you iterate with the slider bar.
Once a desirable pattern is obtained in Step #3, click "Commit" to apply that pattern to the model.
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Review Zones and corresponding Sizing Results using the legend. See Tools for Reviewing Results.
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Make manual adjustments to Zone-Element membership to "clean-up" Zone boundaries. Select the Zone you would like to edit, then right-click in the Structure Tree to open the Zone Editor.