4.1.7 Optimizing Your Design

1. Modifying Design Variables

1) On the Build menu, point to Design Variable, and then select Modify.

2) Double-click the first design variable you need to modify, in this case, DV_4.

The Modify Design Variable dialog box appears:

3) Set the Min. Value and Max. Value, which are the minimum and maximum values for your first design variable, DV_4, as shown in Table 4.6.

Table 4.6 Design Variable Limits

Design variable names:	Design point locations:	Minimum value:	Maximum value:
DV_4	POINT_2 y	1	6
DV_6	POINT_3 y	6.5	10
DV_8	POINT_5 y	9	11

4) Select Apply.

5) Right-click the Name text box, point to Variable, and Browse for DV_6.

6) Double-click on DV_6.

7) Type in the minimum and maximum values for DV_6. Make sure the Absolute Min and Max Values option is selected.

8) Select Apply.

9) Repeat the above three steps for DV_8.

10) After you’ve modified the last design variable, DV_8, select OK.

2. Running an Optimization

1) On the Build menu, point to Measure, and then select Display.

2) Select SPRING_1_MEA_1.

3) Select OK. The SPRING_1_MEA_1 plot appears.

4) On the Build menu, point to Measure, and then select Display.

5) Select overcenter_angle.

6)3 Select OK. The overcenter_angle plot appears.

7) On the Simulate menu, select Design Evaluation.

8) Fill in the dialog boxes as shown below and select Start after selecting Close from the two Solver Settings dialog boxes.

The spring force measure plot shows the optimal clamping force as a function of time.

The SPRING_1_force versus iteration plot shows how the spring force changed with each iteration.

The overcenter_angle plot shows the cases in which the angle reached the toggle point.

4.2 The Front Suspension Design Problem

In this section, you’ll build a Front Suspension model that is required to securely clamp two halves of large shipping containers together.

4.2.1 Introducing the Front Suspension Design Problem

Figure 4.6 shows an illustration of the physical model of the latch.

Figure 4.6 Physical Model of Front Suspension

Figure 4.7 adams/View Front Suspension Model

4.2.2 Building Model

1. To start adams/View and Setting Up Your Work Environment

(1) To start ADAMS/View in the Windows environment

1) Select Start. start ADAMS/View, Select Create a new model from the Welcome dialog box.

2) Replace the contents of the Model name text box with FRONT_SUSP.

3) Select OK.

(2) Setting Up Your Work Environment.

1) Setting up units: From the Settings menu, select Units. Set the units of length to Millimeter, the units of length to Kilogram, Force to Newton, Time to Second, Angle to Degree, Frequency to Hertz. Select OK.

2) Setting up Working Grid: From the Settings menu, select Working Grid. Set the grid size along X to 750 and Y to 800, and the grid spacing at 50. Select OK.

3) Setting up Icons: From the Settings menu, select Icons. In the New Size text box, enter 50. Select OK.

4) To display the Coordinates window: From the View menu, select Coordinate Window.