I am interested in the weight sensitivity of the model due to changes in local thickness variables. The analysis with 50 thickness variables (SOL200_correct.bdf) results in gradients that correlate well with finite difference approximations. The same analysis with 2 additional thickness variables (SOL200_incorrect.bdf) results in incorrect gradients (orders of magnitude larger than expected). I used NASTRAN 2017.1 and previous versions - same results.
Is this a numerical problem? and how can I solve it? Thanks.
Looks like the extra additional DESIGN variables are not specified on the DVPREL. I will have to report this. I am not sure if there is a work around. For now I would try to remove the unused variables.
After a bit of compilation variables checking and some head-scratching, I may have found a temporary work-around:
>> Eliminating the variables with 0.0 factors in the DVPREL cards fixes the issue and now both runs result in the same CORRECT gradients in v2017.1. (In fact, even the previous posted 'correct' run had some error in the gradients). I have attached the updated files and a screenshot of the gradients.
If the 0.0 factors in the DVPREL cards really are the only reason for this bug, it would be very useful to have an error message or at least a warning associated with this.