You specify values for each variable, either as discrete values or as a range. You use sensors as constraints and as goals. The software runs iterations of the values and reports the optimum combination of values to meet your specified goal.
To perform an optimization, on the Design Study tab, you select the Optimization check box. If you choose to define Variables as a Range or Goals, the program automatically activates the Optimization Design Study. In most cases, use the Variable View tab to set up the parameters for the Optimization Design Study.
Use the Table View tab to manually define certain scenarios with only discrete variables, run them, and find the optimal scenario.
An optimization study is defined by goals or objective functions, as well as design variables, and constraints. For example, you can vary dimensions of a body to minimize the amount of material while constraining stresses so that they do not exceed a specified limit. In this case, the volume you are minimizing is the objective function, the dimensions you are varying are the design variables, and the stress limit is the behavior constraint.