TOSCA is a software program for non-parametric structural optimization (topology and shape) and consists of the modules TOSCA.toplogy, TOSCA.shape and TOSCA.pre. TOSCA does not have its own post-processor, but can output the results to various formats such as MSC.Patran, FEMAP, ABAQUS, and more.
FE-Design has implemented GLview Express Writer into TOSCA, and TOSCA customers use the GLview Express viewer for model checking and results verification.GLview Express is free of charge and can be freely distributed.
With the implementation of GLview Express Writer into TOSCA, FE-Design customers get access to the easy-to-use GLview Express visualization solution. When the optimization cycles have finished, the results can be exported to the VTFx file format, examined in GLview Express and distributed to external clients, management or colleagues. The receiver of the VTFx file is then able to verify the results with the free viewer, which runs on Windows and all major Unix platforms.
FE-Design has incorporated export to the GLview Express viewer format by using the GLview Express Writer. This easy-to-use library can be accessed from C++, C and FORTRAN, and enables the application to export both model data and visualization settings to a compact VTFx file. This VTFx file can either be visualized in the standalone viewer GLview Express, or in PowerPoint or Internet Explorer by using the GLview 3D Plug-In. The implementation work has been done by FE-Design engineers, with support from Ceetron.
from www.fe-design.com:
“TOSCA is a modular system for non-parametric structural optimization. Topology and shape optimization of FE models with an arbitrary number of load cases and boundary conditions can be performed with TOSCA. A parametrization of the model is not needed, which reduces the modeling effort and allows greater flexibility in the optimized structure. The optimization algorithms are based upon mechanical optimality criteria, which makes the optimization fast and robust.”