VisualDOC

A General Purpose Design, Optimization, and Process Integration Software

About VisualDOC

It is a general purpose multidisciplinary design, optimization, and process integration software. It is a tool for design process definition, integration, execution, and automation. The design modules included are Optimization, Design of Experiments, Response Surface Approximation, and Probabilistic (Robust and Reliability-based) Analysis. It can be used to add these modules to almost any analysis program. It allows the user to graphically create a connected workflow of components and define each component in the flowchart appropriately. It’s features include comprehensive concurrent monitoring and visualization tools, storage and reuse of generated simulation data for post-processing, full debugging support for model execution, and the ability to interactively inspect and monitor the design process. VisualDOC also supports batch-mode execution and provides programmatic access to all the included design modules. It can integrate with Excel, Matlab, various CAE software, and user-defined libraries and executables.

Benefits Automate your design processes Reduce cost and design cycle time Improve product reliability and efficiency From concept, preliminary, and/or detailed design to manufacture Share and distribute your design process Highlights Add optimization and/or other design module to virtually any CAE analysis software Define your design process as a flowchart (natural and intuitive interface) Combine analysis and simulation data from multiple disciplines Perform various trade-off studies and identify important design parameters Share information and data for better decision making Powerful and comprehensive Simulation Data Management (SDM) capability

VisualDOC Main Window

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VisualDOC Model

VisualDOC uses visual programming approach for model creation. The new design introduces the concept of canvas on which the user graphically creates a connected workflow of components resembling a typical flowchart. The user can add any number of components and connect them to describe virtually any design process. A large number of Flow-Control, Design, and Analysis components are supported.

The list of inbuilt components is as follows. Flow-control components Start Component : Initiate the root of the execution path Stop Component : Terminate an execution path For Loop : Run a sub-flow a fixed number of times While Loop : Run a sub-flow till a user-specified condition is true (valid) If Condition : Conditional flow of execution (control the execution path) Generic Block : Isolate/encapsulate a sub-flow (define a group: a group can be cut/copy/pasted/deleted at once) Design components Optimization : Perform optimization Design of Experiments : Generate DOE points and fit an approximation Response Surface Approximate Optimization : Perform approximate optimization Probabilistic Analysis : Compute non-deterministic responses such as mean, standard deviation, probability of failure, etc. Analysis components Matlab : Direct interface with Matlab (run Matlab M file) Excel : Direct interface with MS-Excel (read/write/execute a Microsoft Excel file) Equation : Evaluate the value of analytical expressions (more powerful than a scientific calculator) Executable : Run analysis programs such as Genesis, LS-Dyna, Scripts, etc. Shared Library : Load user libraries specifically written to interface with VisualDOC Executable Wrapper : Run and communicate data with simple analysis programs File I/O : Read/Write any free/fixed formatted ASCII text file

VisualDOC Data Editor VisualDOC Data Linker

Each component in the workflow (flowchart) performs a specific task. VisualDOC provides generic data editors to define simulation data (inputs, outputs, etc.) for each component. Component specific property editors are also provided to configure their properties. VisualDOC provides a powerful and flexible data linker to define flow of information (transfer of data) between different components.

Design Modules in VisualDOC

VisualDOC can perform linear, non-linear, constrained and unconstrained, as well as integer, discrete and mixed optimization. The design modules in VisualDOC include: Gradient-based, Non-gradient-based, and Response Surface Optimization along with Design of Experiments and Probabilistic Analysis and Optimization. Multi-objective optimization is also available in VisualDOC. The details of each design module are as follows:

Optimization

Direct Gradient-based Optimization (DGO): VisualDOC calls DOT and BIGDOT to perform gradient-based optimization. The following optimization algorithms are included. Modified Method of Feasible Direction (MMFD) Sequential Linear Programming (SLP) Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) Sequential Unconstrained Optimization (BIGDOT) Broydon Fletcher Goldfarb Shanno (BFGS) Fletcher-Reeves (FR) Non-gradient based optimization (NGO): VisualDOC includes state-of-the-art non-gradient based optimization methods. These methods attempt to emulate the natural phenomenon by modeling the optimization process such that it can be mapped to the entities of the natural process in an abstract sense. The following non-gradient-based optimization methods are included. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGAII) Multi-objective Optimization: In VisualDOC, the user can easily generate a Pareto-optimal (PO) front with NSGA-II or any other optimization method. To generate a PO front with single-objective optimization algorithms, scalarization using methods such as weighted-sum, ε-constraint, or compromise programming can be performed, and VisualDOC systematically varies the weight/ε-value/targets to generate the entire PO front.

Optimization Property Editor

Design of Experiments (DOE)

With Design of Experiments module, the user can create an experimental design, construct the response surface model for this design, and analyze the characteristics of the design and the approximate model. The user can also use the generated approximate model optimization or other tasks.

The list of available DOE design methods is as follows. Factorial Design Central Composite Design Box-Behnken Design Koshal Design Standard Latin Hypercube and Optimal Latin Hypercube Design Taguchi Design Simplex Design Random Design User Defined D-Optimal Design The approximation models consist of: Linear Mixed: Linear + Interaction Mixed: Linear + Quadratic Full Quadratic Forward Stepwise Regression

A DOE Sample

Response Surface Approximate Optimization (RSA)

The RSA component combines Optimization (OPT), Design of Experiments (DOE), and Response Surface Modeling (RSM) to improve optimization efficiency. The approximation is used as a surrogate for the underlying computationally expensive analyses and is incrementally refined as the optimization proceeds. The user can choose the DOE technique, the optimization algorithm, and the approximation model to use with the RSA component.

The following approximation models are available: Linear Mixed: Linear + Interaction Mixed: Linear + Quadratic Full Quadratic Forward Stepwise Regression

An Approximate Surface

Probabilistic Analysis and Optimization

This component can be used to perform probabilistic analysis and optimization. A deterministic analysis (or any subflow) can be easily converted to probabilistic analysis by wrapping it inside a probabilistic component. This component adds uncertainties to the selected inputs and all the responses. The user can perform various kinds of non-deterministic analyses such as reliability-based optimization, robust optimization, n-sigma design, etc.

The following sampling techniques are available: Direct Monte Carlo Sampling Latin Hypercube Sampling Mean Value Approximation Method Approximate Direct Monte Carlo Sampling Approximate Latin Hypercube Sampling

Probabilistic Modeling

Process Integration

Virtually any analysis program/software can be coupled to VisualDOC. VisualDOC provides several components to facilitate such coupling. The following process integration capabilities are available:

Import/Export components in/out of VisualDOC Direct communication with MS-Excel and Matlab Read/Write almost any fixed or free formatted ASCII text file Launch external analysis programs (e.g. Genesis, LS-Dyna, etc.) Link with user-defined exectuables and libraries Import/Reuse/Export simulation data

Read/Write ASCII Text File

Model Execution

VisualDOC provides real-time visual feedback for model execution. It provides a large number of options and facilities to define, control, automate, and inspect model execution. A partial list of model execution facilities is as follows.

Real-time visual feedback: Highlights the component that is currently running All the simulation data shown anywhere updated in real-time Cyclic/conditional execution of the VisualDOC model Execute individual components or only a part of a sub-flow Batch-mode execution: run a simulation unattended Extremely powerful debugging support Add/remove/enable/disable breakpoints Start/Stop/Pause/Continue a simulation Step-by-step execution (interactive) Remote Run: VisualDOC allows the user to run itself on the local host computer, and perform the expensive analysis on another remote computer. Running the analysis on a remote computer is accomplished via ssh protocal. The local computer where the VisualDOC GUI runs must have a ssh client, while the remote computer where the analysis runs, must run a ssh server.

Breakpoints

Red Octagon: Enabled breakpoint Green Circle: Disabled breakpoint Large Red Octagon with Cross: Active breakpoint

Simulation Monitors and Post-processing

VisualDOC provides comprehensive simultion monitoring capability that is completely independent of model execution. The simulation monitors do not in any way affect the progress of a simulation. The simulation monitors and post processors can be used to display, analyze, and explore the simulation results. Any number of simulation monitors can be added before, during, or after a simulation. The monitors primarily consist of textual reports, tabular data, and graphical visualization. A large number of plot types are supported (e.g. 2D, 3D, line, scatter, surface, frequency, correlation, matrix, etc.). The post-processors are run only after a simulation has finished. The post-processors primarily consist of summary reports, design point tables, and interactive viewers (2D and 3D approximation viewer, parallel coordinates chart, etc.).

2D Plots	3D Approximation Viewer
Scatter Chart	Parallel Plot

VisualDOC API

The VisualDOC API is a set of function calls (in C++) that allow the user to embed all the included design drivers into their own software. These capabilities include gradient-based and non-gradient-based Optimization, Response Surface Approximate Optimization, Design Of Experiments, and Probabilistic Analysis. The API is available as part of VisualDOC and can be installed from the VisualDOC CD-ROM or the downloadable installer. The API is straightforward to use and provides direct access (direct method calls) to all the design algorithms included in VisualDOC. With the API, the user does not need to setup a database or a VisualDOC project.

Documentation and Manuals

The VisualDOC installation includes a complete set of manuals and examples. It also includes a large number of step-by-step self-guided tutorials that help the user familiarize themselves with the software. The list of manuals include:

• Getting Started Examples Manual
• Advanced Examples Manual
• Theory Manual
• Users Manual
• Installation Guide
• List of New/Changed Features
• VisualDOC C++ API Manual

Application Examples

VisualDOC/LS-DYNA Optimization with Crash Analysis (130.3 KB)

VisualDOC/MOLDFLOW Polymer Injector Location Optimization (369.6 KB)

VisualDOC/FLUENT Geometric Fluid Hole Location Optimization (276.3 KB)

VisualDOC/FLUX2D Magnetic Flux Gap Density Optimization (323.4 KB)

VisualDOC/CFDRC Geometry Optimization of a Chemical Vapor Deposition Reactor (302.8 KB)

Probabilistic Design of a Spring (489.8 KB)

New Features List

New Features in VisualDOC Version 7.0 (December 2011)

New Features in VisualDOC Version 6.2.2 (March 2010)

New Features in VisualDOC Version 6.2.1 (January 2010)

New Features in VisualDOC Version 6.2 (August 2009)

New Features in VisualDOC Version 6.1.1 (December 2008)

New Features in VisualDOC Version 6.1 (April 2008)

New Features in VisualDOC Version 6.0 (October 2006)

Software Evaluation

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