User-Defined Output Files (USER_FILE)

In addition to the standard output files TOSCA.OUT, TOSCA.LOG, and optimization_report.csv, the files in user-defined output can be generated. For the evaluation or documentation of the optimization results, it is useful to specifically write some information from the large amount of data to individual files. With the USER_FILE command, the user can create customized output files. These files contain specific information from selected groups in a special format.

This page discusses:

See Also
In Other Guides
USER_FILE

These files can be used, for example, to evaluate the results in a spreadsheet program (ASCII data) or convert geometric information (ONF format) into data for viewer or post-processor.To generate result files, several settings must be set for every output file created:

  • Name of the output file.
  • Output format (default: ASCII).
  • Type of result data.
  • Node or element group for which the results data should be written.
  • Point in time when the file should be generated.

The most important property is the type of the results. Different types of data are permitted depending on the output format set. More information concerning what kind of data is allowed for a certain output format can be found in the Commands Manual. The node coordinates or the properties of the nodes in the shape optimization (free or restricted) are examples of useful output results. The values can be written at the end of the optimization or for each optimization iteration.

Examples

The tension stress in a notch is homogenized using shape optimization. All relevant nodes of the two-dimensional model are in the node group nd_ground. The tension data should be written for all iterations in the ASCII file, GROUND.INFO.

The required command sequence is the following:


USER_FILE
 ID_NAME   = my_user_file
 FILE_NAME = ground.info
 FORMAT    = ASCII
 ND_GROUP  = nd_ground
 TYPE      = NODE_MOVE_PATH
 WRITE     = EVER
END_

Remarks

Experience has shown that certain user-defined command sequences are often used to generate result files. Therefore, it is recommended that the user collects these commands in a macro and saves this macro in a directory. These macros can then be loaded with the command INCLUDE during the optimization preprocessing.

Tabular Output

Per default, Tosca Structure always writes a file optimization_report.csv containing the progress of the value(s) of the objective function and objective function terms as well as the constraint terms. If other design responses or variable values are required, these can be compiled to a table with the following command sequence:


DRESP
 ... (several DRESP definitions, for example, DRESP_MAX_MISES)
END_

VARIABLE
 ... (several variable definitions for later reference)
END_

USER_FILE
 ID_NAME     = tab1
 FILE_NAME   = my_table
 FILE_OPTION = ADD
 FORMAT      = ASCII
 WRITE       = EVER
 TYPE        = TABULAR
 SEPARATOR   = COMMA
 DATA_TAB    = ITER
 DATA_TAB    = DRESP_MAX_MISES
 DATA_TAB    = ...
END_

In addition, another file called optimization_status_all.csv is written per default. It not only contains the same information as optimization_report.csv, but also the progress of values for all design responses and variables that are defined in the parameter file. In addition, a measure for the average change of objective function and design variables is listed.

Modification File for CATIA RSO Module

The results of the shape optimization can be transferred to the CAD model in such a way that the results are used to deform/modify the geometry of the CAD-based component. All modifications added by the optimization system is applied. To obtain the modification file, a specific USERFILE definition must be activated in your parameter file. In your installation directory, the macro uf_shape_catia_rso.mac already contains the required output request.


USER_FILE
 ID_NAME     = UF_RSO
 FILE_NAME   = RSO_OUTPUT.TXT
 FILE_OPTION = VAR
 FORMAT      = ASCII
 ND_GROUP    = all_nodes
 TYPE        = CATIA_RSO
 WRITE       = EVER
 SEPARATOR   = TAB
 TITLE_1     = x(mm) # y(mm) # z(mm) # 
 C1(mm) # C2(mm) # C3(mm)
END_

ONF Output

The output of optimization results and model information is required in ONF format (Optimization Neutral Format) when other postprocessing possibilities are required. Model and result information in ONF format form the basis for the calculation of isosurfaces with Tosca Structure.smooth. ONF data is also required for the preparation of the optimization results for FE postprocessing.

In general, ONF data is written per default. If the user requires specific information (for example, only part of the model) this can be requested with the user file command, parameter FORMAT=ONF. The node and element information can be written using TYPE=FINITE_MODEL (for an example, see the macro uf_model_onf.mac). The macro uf_topo_onf.mac defines the output of the results of the topological optimization in ONF format.