Hypermesh Manual

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HyperMesh Desktop Introduction Pre-processing for Finite Element Analysis
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HyperWorks 12.0 HyperMesh Introduction 3Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.

Table of Contents

HyperMesh Desktop IntroductionPre-processing for Finite Element Analysis

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh ...................................................... 7

Section 1: Getting Started With HyperMesh .................................................................... 7

Section 2: Opening and Saving Files ............................................................................. 17

Section 3: Controlling the Display .................................................................................. 19

Section 4: Working With Panels..................................................................................... 29

Section 5: Organizing a Model ....................................................................................... 34

Exercise 1a: Interacting With HyperMesh ...................................................................... 40

Chapter 2: Geometry ............................................................................................. 49

Section 1: Importing, Exporting and Repairing CAD ...................................................... 49

Exercise 2a: Importing, Exporting and Repairing CAD Geometry .................................. 59

Section 2: Simplifying Geometry .................................................................................... 66

Exercise 2b: Simplifying CAD Tools .............................................................................. 69

Section 3: Generating a Midsurface ............................................................................... 75

Exercise 2c: Midsurface ................................................................................................ 79

Section 4: Generating and Editing Surfaces ................................................................ 101

Chapter 3: 2D Meshing ....................................................................................... 107

Section 1: Automeshing ............................................................................................... 107

Section 2: Checking and Editing Mesh ........................................................................ 115

Exercise 3a: 2D Shell Meshing and Topology Refinement ........................................... 117

Exercise 3b: Refining Topology to Achieve a Quality Mesh ......................................... 124

Exercise 3c: Checking and Editing Mesh ..................................................................... 136


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Section 3: Batch Meshing ............................................................................................ 165

Chapter 4: Solids and 3D Meshing .................................................................... 171

Section 1: Creating and Editing Solid Geometry .......................................................... 171

Section 2: Solid Meshing ............................................................................................. 176

Exercise 4a: 3D Solid Meshing with Hexas and Pentas ............................................... 180

Section 3: Tetra Meshing ............................................................................................ 184

Exercise 4b: Tetra Meshing ......................................................................................... 187

Exercise 4c: Tetra Meshing Process Manager ............................................................ 195

Section 4: Shrink Wrap ................................................................................................ 206

Exercise 4d: Shrink Wrap Meshing .............................................................................. 208

Chapter 5: 1D Meshing and Connectors ........................................................... 215

Section 1: 1D meshing and Connectors ...................................................................... 215

Exercise 5a: 1D Meshing and Connectors ................................................................... 221

Chapter 6: HyperMorph ...................................................................................... 235

Section 1: Introduction to Morphing Technology using HyperMorph ............................ 235

Section 2: Free Hand .................................................................................................. 238

Exercise 6a: Using Free Hand ..................................................................................... 241

Section 3: Domains and Handles ................................................................................ 243

Exercise 6b: Using Domains and Handles ................................................................... 253

Section 4: Morph Volumes .......................................................................................... 259

Exercise 6c: Using Morph Volumes ............................................................................. 263

Section 5: Map to Geometry ........................................................................................ 267

Exercise 6d: Using Map to Geometry .......................................................................... 269

Chapter 7: Analysis Setup and Loading ............................................................ 271

Section 1: Setting up Loading Conditions .................................................................... 271

Exercise 7a: Analysis Setup and Loading .................................................................... 278

Chapter 8: Capstone Project .............................................................................. 301

Section 1: Bringing it all together ................................................................................. 301Exercise 8a: Capstone Project .................................................................................... 302

Appendix A: HyperWorks Collaboration Tools................................................. 311

Section 1: Benefits ...................................................................................................... 311

Section 2: Terminology and Concepts ......................................................................... 312

Section 3: Organize Browser ....................................................................................... 313


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Section 4: Creating and Using a Personal Library ....................................................... 314

Exercise A1: Creating and Using a Personal Library ................................................... 315


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Chapter 1: Basics HyperMesh Desktop

HyperWorks 12.0 HyperMesh Introduction 7

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.

Chapter 1

Basic Interaction with

HyperMesh DesktopSection 1: Getting Started with HyperMesh Desktop

In this section, you will explore the basic layout of the HyperMesh Desktop user interface.

Overview of Finite Element Analysis

Finite Element Analysis was first developed over 60 years ago as a method to accurately

predict the reaction of complex parts to various inputs. Prior to the development of FEA, the

only way to validate a design or test a theory was to physically test a part. This was and stillis both time consuming and expensive. While FEA will never replace the final physical

testing and validation of a design, it can drastically reduce the time and money spent on

intermediate stages and concepts.

FEA in its infancy was limited to large scale computing platforms but the development of

powerful personal computers, combined with intuitive software packages such as

HyperWorks, has brought FEA to the engineers desktop. This has broadened its use and

accuracy many fold.

Finite Element Analysis is now a vital and irreplaceable tool in many industries such as

Automotive, Aerospace, Defense, Consumer Products, Medical, Oil and Gas, Architecture

and many others.

FEA is performed in three stages; Pre-Processing, Solving and Post Processing. These

stages are outlined below.


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8 HyperMesh Introduction HyperWorks 12.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc

Step 1: Pre- Processing

Pre-Processing is the act of preparing (meshing) a model for analysis. Complex geometry is

broken down into simple shapes (elements) in the act of meshing. This allows the solver in

the next step to predict the action of these elements and analyze the reaction of a complex

part to external forces and interactions. The part is meshed and then definitions for the type

and thickness of the material(s) are added. Next, forces and constraints are applied. The

model is then prepared for the analysis with information the solver will need to perform its

calculations. The model is then written in a format that the solver can understand and is

sent to the solver for processing.

Step 2: Solving

Solving is performed by any of the many commercially available software written to perform

Finite Element Analysis. Some of these include popular packages such as Radioss,

OptiStruct, Acusolve, Nastran, LS-Dyna, Abaqus, and Ansys, as well as others. The solvertakes the information provided in the file (input deck) created in HyperMesh in Step One and

calculates the parts reactions to the inputs defined. Common outputs are Displacement,

Stress, Strain and Acceleration. These results are stored in a file that then can be read in

HyperView in the Post-Processing stage.

Step 3: Post-Processing

Post-Processing is where the results of the solver solution can be reviewed and analyzed.

HyperView can provide presentation quality color contoured plots and animations

highlighting any of the requested results. Information can be queried, displaced and evengraphed in numerous windows allowing for customization geared toward the desired

audience.


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HyperMesh Desktop Introduction

Running HyperMesh Desktop

Windows: The installation process creates a HyperWorks group under All

Programson the Startmenu. The default name of the group can be changed during

installation. Most applications can be started using the following instructions.

o From the StartMenu, select Al l Programs.

o Click Al ta i r HyperWorks (versionor the name defined during installation).

o Select the name of the program you want to run HyperMesh Desktop.

Or

o User can create a Windows Shortcut by right clicking on the above program

and selecting Create Shortcut.

UNIX and Linux:

o At the prompt, type /scripts/hm.

o Set up an alias.


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Mac OS X: The HyperWorks Mac OS X applications can be invoked as follows.

o The icons in the Applications Menu under the default location (if defaults were

used) or the chosen install folder location.

o The install location under scripts via a terminal window. (For example, the

command /Applications/AltairHyperWorks/altair/scripts/hmunder a terminal

window would launch HyperMesh.)

The Start-In Directory

The Start-In Directory or Working Directory is the location from which the HyperWorks

Desktop application is launched. This directory defines where certain settings files are

written by default, and where customization files will be searched.

Configuration files(hmmenu.set, hmsettings.tcl, hwsettings.xml, hm.mac, etc.)

History File(command.cmf)

HyperMesh Model Files, FE Data and Geometry Files. (User can browse to different

directories for opening and saving)

The file browser will also use this directory as its default location for browsing for files. This

can be considered as the "current working directory".

This directory can be changed, thereby changing the location where these files are written to

or read from. This has the benefit of allowing different settings to be stored in differentdirectories to give control over the HyperWorks Desktop environment for different projects or

use cases.


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command.cmf

The command.cmffile is a command history file containing the commands executed in

HyperMesh whenever any operation is performed. This file can be used to rerun operations

or as a basis for determining the commands required to automate a given process. The

command.cmf file is written to the start-in directory for each session. Deleting this file simply

results in a new file being created on the next operation.

hmmenu.set

The hmmenu.setfile stores information about panel options, panel settings, user profiles,

graphics settings, element check settings, penetration check settings, and several other

settings. The hmmenu.set file is written to the start-in directory after each session is closed.

Deleting this file resets the stored settings to their default values. It is possible to customize

the location where this file is read from during start-up. HyperWorks Desktop uses the

following search order to find the hmmenu.set file. If copies exist in multiple locations, onlythe first one found in the search order is used:

1. Start-in directory

2. Home directory

3. HW_CONFIG_PATH environment variable

4. Installation directory

hmsetting.tcl

The hmsettings.tclfile stores information on the browsers, the user interface layout (tab

locations, command window, panel location, toolbars, etc...), keyboard preferences,

import/export settings, recent files, and other various settings. By default, the hmsettings.tcl

file is written to the My Documents directory on Windows and in ~/.altairon Linux after each

session is closed. Deleting this file resets the stored settings to their default values. It is

possible to customize the location where this file is read from during start-up and written to

on exit. HyperWorks Desktop always writes the hmsettings.tcl file back out to the location

where it originally read it from for that session. The following order is used to find the

hmsettings.tcl file:

1. HM_SETTINGS_DIR environment variable. If this is defined, the search stops

even if the file doesn't exist.

2. My Documents directory on Windows or ~/.altairon Linux


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Online Help

HyperMesh offers comprehensive documentation in the online help. The Help can be

accessed through the menu bar or the use of the h key on your keyboard. If the user

accesses help through the use of the h key, the help documentation is intelligent,opening in the section representing the panel that the user is actively in. Help also contains

detailed tutorials on many advanced HyperMesh functions.


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HyperMesh Desktop Graphical User Interface

Graphics areadisplays the model

Toolbarsgive access to commonly used tools via icons

Pull Down Menuplaces functionality into groups, accessible via pull downs

Menu Pagesdivides the main menu into groups based on function

Main Menucontains panels grouped in columns

Panelsmenu items / functions for interacting with HyperMesh

Sub-panelsdivides panel into similar tasks related to panels main function

Command Windowlets the user type in and execute tcl commands

o Available through the Viewdrop down menu (turned off by default)

Tab Areacontains the following tabs:o Solver, Model, Utility, Include, Import, Export, Connector, Entity State, etc.

Status Barshows status of operations being performed

o Indicates the current Include file, Component Collector, and Load Collector


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HyperMesh Desktop Clients

HyperWorks applications can be selected from the Client Selector toolbar.

The Client Selector button on the left-most end of the toolbar allows you to select

HyperMesh, HyperView, HyperGraph 2D, HyperGraph 3D, MediaView, and TextView.

The toolbars, view controls, and menu bars change based on the application you select.

HyperMesh Desktop Keyboard Shortcut and Setting

The secondary menu is a list of panels that can be accessed by using the function keys F1

through F12, or in combination with the SHIFTor CTRLkeys.


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Section 2: Opening and Saving Files

Bringing data files into HyperMesh and saving them are frequent operations every user

should understand. This section will help you become proficient with the various ways this

can be done in HyperMesh. The remaining exercises in this course will assume you know

how to open and save files in HyperMesh.

In this section, you will learn how to:

Open a HyperMesh file

Import a file into a current HyperMesh session

Save the HyperMesh session as a HyperMesh model file

Export all the geometry to an IGES file

Export all the FE data to a RADIOSS input file

Delete all data from the current HyperMesh session Import an IGES file

Import a RADIOSS file to the current HyperMesh session

File Operations

The following file operations are located in the Standardtoolbar which can be accessed by

selecting View > Toolbars > HyperWorks > Standard.

New Model(New .hm File)Creates a new session in the current window

Open Model(Open .hm File)Loads a HyperMesh model into the current window

replacing the current model

Save Model(Save .hm File)Saves the current model, opens browser window

ImportOptionsThe following icons open the Import Tab with the appropriate import type

loaded:

Import Models(.hm) Import Session(.mvw)


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Import Geometry(Unigraphics, Catia, ProE, Iges, Step, Parasolid, )

Import Solver Deck(Radioss, OptiStruct, Nadtran, Dyna, Abaqus, )

Import Connectors

ExportOptionsThe following icons open the Export Tab with the appropriate export type

loaded:

Export Models (.H3D FE)

Export Geometry (IGES, PARASOLID, STEP)

Export Solver Deck (Radioss, OptiStruct, Nastran, Dyna, Abaqus, Stl )

Export Connectors

Curves Export Text

Load User ProfileOpens the User Profiles Window.

Load ResultsLoads a result file for post processing within HyperMesh.

Within the Scriptingtoolbar (View > Toolbars > HyperWorks > Scripting) there are

additional tools which allow you to open various files:

Open TCL/Tk Scripts - Opens a browser to load a Tcl Scripts (*.tcl) file.

Can be used to learn TCL/Tk commands and create macros.

Open Current Command FileOpens a window displaying the current

command.cmf file. Can be used to learn TCL/Tk commands and create macros.


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Run TCL ScriptOpens a browser to load and run a TCL file.

Run TCL ScriptOpens a browser to load and run an HyperMesh command files

(*.cmf).

Section 3: Controlling the Display

When performing finite element modeling and analysis setup, it is important to be able to

view the model from different vantage points and control the visibility of entities. You may

need to rotate the model to understand the shape, zoom in to view details more closely, or

hide specific parts of the model so other parts can be seen. Sometimes a shaded

visualization is best, while other times a wireframe visualization is needed to work on details

inside the model.

HyperMesh has many functions to help you control the view, visibility, and visualization of

entities. This section introduces you to these functions.


Control the points of view, mouse, and toolbar.

Control the visibility of entities using the Mask panel.

Control how entities look by using toolbars and the Model Browser.

Rename components.

Identify and delete empty components.

Delete all the geometry lines.


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View Control

View control is accomplished through the use of the StandardViewstoolbar icons, and 3D

View Controlstoolbar, and the mouse.

Standard Views Toolbar Icons

3D View Controls Toolbar Icons


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From pull down menuPreferences > Geometry Optio ns or clicko from keyboard,

you can manage the rotate angle and the zoom factor linked to the previous buttons.


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Mouse ControlsThe preferred method for Display Control is the use of the Mouse

Buttons. With the CTRL key held on the keyboard the mouse provides total control

over rotation, zoom and pan.

Model Visualization


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Geometry

From pull down menu Preferences> Geometry Options or click on o from keyboard

Transparency

Transparencyis available from the Toolbar, allows surface shading in a component

to be set to any level of transparency (Viewing the midsurface of solid geometry).


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Elements

Wireframe

Shaded Elements and Mesh Lines

Traditional Element Representation

Composite Representation

See the pull down menuPreferences > Meshing Optio ns or clicko from keyboard,to get more details.


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Mask

The masking tools allow the user to show and hide select entities that might interfere with

the desired visualization. The icons can be found on the Display toolbar and are used as

follows:

The Spherical Clippingpanel allows you to focus on specific areas of the model by

displaying only the portions of a model inside a 3D spherical volume, while masking

everything outside the sphere. If you want to work on a small section of a large model

without masking or turning off any entities, enable the clipping and pick the center and the

radius of the clipping sphere. It can be accessed using the icon and will open the

panel shown below.


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Browsers

Different browsers are customized for usage with regard to the types of parts that you want

to work with.

Most browsers have similar basic functionality for sorting entities, filtering entities, andfinding entitiesand include a context-sensitive right-click menu and sets of control buttons.

The Selector is a tool to interactively select any type of supported entity via the

browser, or by selecting within the graphics area.


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Model View

The Model View( ) resides on the Model Browser and allows you to view the model

structure while providing full find, display, and editing control of entities.

The model structure is viewed as a flat, listed tree structure within the browser. However, ifthe model has an assembly hierarchy then the Model Browser accommodates this

hierarchical structure.

The browser can list every named entity within the session and places those entities into

their respective folders; however, it does not support non-named entities such as nodes and

elements. Some of the more important entities within the model include: assemblies,

components, multibodies, properties, materials, entity sets, groups, load collectors, system

collectors, vector collectors, and beamsectcols -- all of which are placed into a tree-like

display.

To open the Model View, click the Modelitem located within the Viewmenu. The browser

displays on one of the tab area sidebars.

The Model Viewis a powerful tool for controlling the visualization of the model.

In the Model Browser the user can:

Complete Listing of all HyperMesh Entities in Model

Each Collector is expandable and lists all contained Entities

Turn on and off the display of the geometry and elements of collectors

Control the color of the collector (Right click)

Create, Card Edit, Delete and control component visualization by Right clicking on

the collector list


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Component View ( )

Lists All Components in Model

Colors Model by Component Quickly Sort by Name, ID, Color, or Property

Display State Icons (Geometry and FE: ON/OFF Single Picking)

Global Controls to Operate on all Components (All, None, Reverse)

Browser Modes (Graphics/Browser List Picking for: Select, Show/Hide, Isolate)

Mask View


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Section 4: Working with Panels

Much of the functionality in HyperMesh is centered around the use of panels. While there

are often many ways to get to a function within HyperMesh, most often the actions lead the

user to the panel area to select entities, enter values and execute functions. The panel area

is split into seven pages and on each page are panels that allow the user to utilize all of thefunctionality in HyperMesh. Even if the user accesses a function through the use of the

menu bar or the toolbars, much of the information will be entered in the panel area. While

this manual cannot explain the functionality of every panel, much of the panel functionality is

common amongst all of the panels and thus learning one panel will assist the user in the use

of all panels.

This section introduces you to common panel attributes and controls as it guides you

through translating nodes and elements using the Translatepanel and measuring distances

between nodes using the Distancepanel.


Use the entity selectorand the extended entity selection menu to select/unselectnodes and elements from the graphics area

Use the direction selector to define vectors along which to translate nodes andelements

Switch between different entities to select and methods to define vectors

Toggle between two options

Enter, copy/paste and calculate numbers

Use the rapid menu functionality to execute commands with the mouse buttonsrather than clicking buttons

Interrupt, but not exit, a panel to go to another panel using the keyboard function

keys

Panel Layout

In HyperMesh, panels have three general layouts. The Basic Panel, Panel with Sub-Panels

and Panels with Sub Panels organized in Columns. Their look and functionality will be

described below.

The Basic Panel

Translatepanel


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Panel with Sub-Panels

Project/to planepanel

Panel with Sub-Panels as icons

Surfacespanel

Panel with Sub-Panel and Columns

Surface Edit/trim with nodessubpanel

Generally panels are used in a left to right manner and those with columns are used in a left

to right and top to bottom manner using the following steps:


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Step 1: What to Do

This step only applies to panels with subpanels. The user picks the functionality within the

panel that is desired by picking the appropriate subpanel radio button. The example below

to the left is from the Projectpanel and the to plane sub functionality is chosen. The

example below to the right is from the Surfacespanel and the square sub function is

chosen.

Step 2: Method to Use

This step only applies to panels with subpanels that are organized in columns. Often,

subpanels are organized into different columns when there are more than 7 subpaneloptions. The column organization groups like functionality together in instances where the

entire panel is not needed for information entry. In this case the user picks the subpanel in

Step 1 and then chooses the method they wish to use within that sub panel and follows the

column top to bottom. The example below shows the Surface Editpanel with the t r im

with surfs/planesub functionality chosen. You can see the three columns providing

access to either the with plane, with surfs or self intersecting surfs options.

Surface Edit/trim with surfs/planessubpanel


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Step 3: What to do it to

In this step the user will select the entities they wish to perform the function on. The entity

selection is shown below.

Step 4: How to do it

In this step the user defines parameters that dictate how the function will be performed.

Step 5: Do the action

Clicking the green action button performs the desired function while the reject button will

reject the last performed function.

Tools within the Panels

Within the panels there are many buttons and options that will be explained below:

Switches-

These allow the choice of multiple options through a popup menu

Toggles-

The toggle will change the function between 2 options.

Reset-

This will reset the selection of any entities.

Extended Selection-

Clicking the yellow selection button will open the extended selection window. This provides

numerous tools allowing for the advanced selection of entities.


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Direction/Plane Selection

X, Y, Z Axis-

N1, N2 and N3-

o Select 2 Nodes (N1 & N2)This defines a directionfrom N1 to N2 where a

vector type direction is required. When a plane is required the plane is

defined as that which is normal to the vector N1 to N2 and its location at the

B node.

o Select 3 Nodes (N1, N2 and N3)This defines a planewhose normal

defines a direction when a vector direction is required. Positive of the normal

is defined by the Right Hand Rule. In the event a plane is required the

plane is that which is created by the 3 nodes with its location at the B node.


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Section 5: Organizing a Model

Organizing model data can be beneficial when creating a valid solver input file. Basic tasks

used to organize model data such as placing elements and loads into groups (collectors),

organizing collectors into assemblies, renaming, deleting, reordering, and renumbering arediscussed in this section.


Create geometry and organize it into components

Organize elements into components

Rename components

Identify and delete empty components

Delete all the geometry lines

Reorder the components in a specific order

Renumber all the components, starting with ID 1 and incrementing by 1

Create an assembly

Organize the constraints

Model organization is at the heart of a quality Finite Element Analysis. The model can be

organized in a multitude of different ways as desired by the user, but below are the basics

for model organization.

Collectors

The basis for model organization is the collector. HyperMesh has many different types of

collectors:


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*NOTE: Property and Material collectors do not contain any entities and are used to definematerial and physical properties in the model. They are called collectors for uniformity.

Collectors can be created in a number of ways.

HyperMesh Model Browser:

Right clicking in the ModelBrowseropens a

menu from which the selection of Create allows

for creation of any type of collector.

Right clicking in the ModelBrowserwill also

allow you to edit, rename, change ID, change

color and delete collectors as well.

Pull down Menus

Selecting the Collectors Pull-Downand then

selecting Createwill provide the ability to

create any of the non property collectors.


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Materialand PropertyCollectors can be created in a similar manner using the

Material and Property Pull-Downs.

Icon Toolbars

The Icons can be used to create collectors as well.

Current Collector

The Current Collector determines what collector new entities are placed in. The Current

Collector can be determined in two ways.

Using the ModelView

In the ModelViewthe Current collector will be in BOLD

Note the mid2 collector is in a bold font and thus is the Current collector.

Right clicking on a collector will open a menu that will allow it to be made current.


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Organize

Organizeis a tool that can be used to move/copy entities to different collectors.

It can be accessed using the icon or from pull down menu View > Organizeand will

open the panel shown below.


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Renumber

TheRenumberpanel allows you to renumber entities. You may also enter a value by which

to offset the IDs of entities.

It can be accessed using the icon or from pull down menu View > Renumberand

will open the panel shown below.

DeleteThe Deletepanel allows you to delete data from a model database; preview and delete

empty collectors; preview and delete unused collectors (property, material, curves).

You can also delete an entire model database, if you wish to start with a clean database.

It can be accessed using the icon or (F2) and will open the panel shown below.

Nodes

The Nodes panel allows you to create nodes using a wide variety of methods.It can be

accessed from pull down menu Geometry > Create > Nodesor (F8) and will open the panel

shown below.


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Temp Nodes

The Temp Nodespanel provides a way to control which nodes are on the temporary node

mark. Since all nodes not currently referenced in the model are deleted, the temporary node

mark is provided as a holding area to save the nodes you are not currently using.

It can be accessed using the icon from pull down menu Geometry > Create > Nodes >

Temp Nodesor (Shift+F2) and will open the panel shown below.

Distance

The Distancepanel allows you to determine the distance between two nodes/points or the

angle between three nodes/points, or to change distances or angles.

It can be accessed (F4) and will open the panel shown below.


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Exercise 1a: Interacting With HyperMesh

This exercise will cover many of the basic concepts that are central to many of the features

in HyperMesh. By the end of this exercise you should be familiar with the basic features of

the HyperMesh software.

Step 1: Set the User Profile and retrieve the model file, 01-GUI.hm

3. From the menu bar, select Preferences > User Profil es or select the icon .

4. Select the RADIOSSuser profile and from the drop down menu select BulkData.

5. Click OK.

6. Select File > Open > Modelfrom the menu bar or select the icon .7. Select the file 01a-GUI.hm.

8. Click Open

Step 2: Rotate, Pan and Zoom the model

1. Hold down the CTRL key

2. Click the LEFT Mouse button. (Note the small square in the center of the screen

indicating the rotational center).

3. While holding both the CTRL Key and LEFT Mouse Button, drag your mouse around to

rotate the model.

4. Click near a node (Note the small square moves to the node selected and becomes the

new center of rotation). Continue to rotate the model.

5. While holding the CTRL Key and the RIGHT Mouse Button, drag your mouse around to

pan the model.


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6. While holding the CTRL Key, click the Center Mouse Button (or clickable scroll wheel)

and draw a circle around a portion of the screen.

7. This will zoom into the region surrounded by the drawn circle.

8. While holding the CTRL Key rotate the scroll wheel forward to Zoom Out and backward

to Zoom In.

9. While holding the CTRL Key click the middle mouse button/scroll wheel to fit the model

to the screen.

Step 3: Use the Model Browser to control visualization

1. Press Fon the keyboard to fit the model to the screen. If it does not work, click in the

graphics window and then press F.

2. Make sure the ModelBrowsertab is active


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3. Expand the Componentscategory by clicking the +next to it. This will list all of the

components in the model.

4. Using the Geometry and Elements Icons, turn on and off components.

Using the Show/HideButton turn off and on components in the graphics window.

Right click to hide a component and left click in the area of a hidden component to see a

ghost image of the hidden component. Releasing the button reveals the component.

5. Using the IsolateButton , right click on a component in the graphics window to

isolate it (turn off all other components) and left click on a hidden component to see a

ghost image of the hidden component. Releasing the button isolates the selected

component.

6. Use the global controls to turn on, off and reverse all of the components.

7. Highlight components using the Left Mouse Button in the Graphics Area, and note how

the Global Controls now only affect the highlighted components.

8. Use the icon ( ) to switch the global controls between the Geometry, Elements and

Both options.

9. Review the other Model BrowserViews:

a. ComponentView

This view is highly useful when working solely with components as none of the

other collectors are shown in the view. This view contains all of the visibility

control and right click functions of the Model View. Additionally it adds fields

that show the mesh and geometry shading as well as the property and material

applied to each component.


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f. IsolateOnlya component (see if you can figure out the difference between

Isolateand IsolateOnly)

g. Right click on a color and change the color of a component.

Step 4: Working with Collectors

1. Right click in the ModelBrowserand select Create >Component. The component

creation dialog will open.

2. Name it Bucket and select a color.

3. Click Create.

The new collector has been created and now we will move the elements for the bucket

into this new collector.


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4. From the menu bar select Mesh >Organize > Elements > To Com ponentor select

the icon .

5. In the ModelBrowserclick the SelectorIcon . This allows you to pick components

from the graphics window.6. Click the bucket in the graphics window

7. Click the AddToPanelCollectoricon . This will add the selected components to

the selection.

8. Click the dest component=button and select the newly created Bucketcomponent.

9. Click moveand the elements in the collector will be moved to the new component.

Step 5: Use of Panels and Directional Functions

This step will introduce the user to commonly used functions in panels as well as the use

of the directional definition tools found in many HyperMesh panels.

1. Locate the item in the menu bar that allows you to Translate Elements (Mesh >

Translate > Elements).

2. Select the component Support.

3. From the direction definition switch select N1, N2, N3.

X,Y and Z axis will translate along those cardinal axis, while N1,N2,N3 allows the user to

define a direction as a vector (N1->N2) or as a normal to a plane defined by the points

N1,N2 and N3 following the right hand rule.


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4. Pick a node on the flat face of the Supportcomponent shown below. A green dot will

appear at the selected node showing that N1 has been defined there. The blue focus

square will automatically move to N2.

5. Continue in a Clockwise direction picking two more nodes on the face defining the blue

N2 and red N3 nodes. Your model should look similar to the picture to the right. NOTE:

It is not necessary that your nodes be identical to the image, just similar.

6. Enter 30 in the magnitude=field

7. Click transl ate -.

The entire component will move 30 model units in the negative direction defined by the

normal of the plane N1, N2 and N3.

8. Click reject.

9. Try moving the component in other directions using both cardinal axis and the N1,N2

and N3 options.

10. Try moving the component using only N1 and N2 and then change the magnitude=field

to N2-N1and see what that option does.

11. Use the rejectbutton and the opposite direction translation to bring your component

back to the previous location.


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Step 6: Using the Mask Function and Selecting Entities

1. Using the Mask Icon enter the Maskpanel.

2. Change the entity selection to elems.

3. Pick a number of elements on the screen.

4. Click mask.

This will hide the elements from view but they still can be affected through other panels

5. Click the Reverse Icon .

This will Unmask the hidden elements and will mask all the elements previously shown.

6. Click the Unmask Adjacent Icon .

This will Unmask elements immediately adjacent to those on the screen. This can bedone repeatedly

7. Click the Unmask All Icon to bring everything into view.

8. Click the Mask Icon again

9. Hold the Shift Key downand holding the Left Mouse Button, drag a box in the graphics

window to box select elements.

10. Hold the Shift Keydown and holding the Right Mouse Button, drag a box in the

graphics window to de-select elements.

11. Click the yellow elems button to open the extended selection window.

12. Experiment with options, including the following;

displayedSelects entities currently displayed on the screen

allSelects ALL entities in the model, displayed or not.

reverseAfter selecting a few elements this will reverse the selection.

by collectorDisplays a list of collectors and entities can be selected by the

collector they are in.


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by geomsBy choosing either surfs or solids, elements can be selected by

picking the geometry that they were created from. Useful in that a single

geometry selection can select many elements.

save/retrieveSaving a selection places those entities into a 1 slot user mark

that can be retrieved again and again in selections until it is overwritten.


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Chapter 2

Geometry

Section 1: Importing, Exporting and Repairing CAD

HyperMesh is capable of importing geometry from many CAD sources. Most of the popularCAD packages are read directly, and for those that are not, HyperMesh supports thepopular intermediate languages. HyperMesh attempts to properly clean up surfaces duringimport and offers a wide variety of tools to remedy these geometric issues.

The benefits of importing and repairing CAD are:

Restore the surface data of the part (unconnected, missing and duplicate surfaces)

Create the simplified part needed for the analysis

Mesh a part all at once

Ensure proper mesh connectivity

Obtain a desirable mesh pattern & quality

In this section, you will:

Delete untrimmed surfaces

Close missing surfaces

Set the cleanup tolerance

Equivalence free edges

Delete duplicate surfaces


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50 HyperMesh Introduction HyperWorks 12.0Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc

Geometry Import

Importing geometry occurs in the Importtab, which is accessible through the Import

GeometryIcon or from File> Import >Geometry(drop down menu).

Using this tab the user can import data from popular CAD packages such as:

Unigraphics (NX6,NX7,NX7.5,NX8)

o UG Part Browser

o Supports import of *.prt, *.asm files

o Provides a UG part browser

o Requires an installation of UG to beaccessible, either locally or on anetwork

CATIA (V4, V5 R21 & V5-6R2012)

o CATIA V4 (*.model and *.exp)

o CATIA V5 Altair license featurerequired to import V5 files(*.CatProduct, *.CatPart and *.cgr)

Pro/Engineer (Wildfire 5.0, Creo 1)

o

Supports import of .prt and .asmfiles.

Additionally HyperMesh supports the import of the following intermediate translationallanguages:

STEP (AP203, AP214)

o Supports import of *.stp files

IGES (v6, JAMA-IS)o Supports Import of *.igs, *.iges files

Parasolid

JT

SolidWorks

DXF, ACIS, FiberSim, PDGS, Tribon,VDAFS


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Geometry Export

Exporting geometry occurs in the export tab which is accessible through the Export

Geometry Icon or from File> Export > Geometry(drop down menu).

Using this tab the user can export data in the following format:

Parasolid (V9)

IGES (v6, & JAMA-IS)

STEP (AP214)


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Chapter 2: Geometry


Topology Repair

Surface Definition

What is Topology

Topology is how surfaces are connected to adjacent surfaces of a part.

Surface connectivity is controlled by the associated surface edges

If a surface edge is associated with more than 1 surface, those surfaces areconsidered to be connected (equivalenced)

Surface edges are categorized, named, and colored according to the number ofassociated surfaces

Connectivity is really important, and critical at the same time, when you need to create acontiguous mesh over connected faces thus guaranteeing stresses, strains anddeformations that will propagate over the part in a realistic manner. HyperMesh uses atolerance calculation to determine when two or more edges should be connected andprovide tools to fix connectivity issues before meshing.

HyperMesh allows easy visualization of surface connectivity through the use of an edgecolor scheme shown below:


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Topology Visualization

In the HyperMesh Visualizationtoolbar, the Topology OptionsIcon will open the

Visualizationtab > Topologyicon .

This tab will allow the user to:

display or hide 2D and 3D topology based on its type

control the transparency

change the shading colors of mappable solid regions.

Other functionality in this tab:

Connector

Constraints

Equations

Loads

Morphing

Systems

Vectors


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Topology display mode is a defaultfor some panels (surface edit, quick edit, point edit,edge edit, autocleanup,and automesh).

Display of the topology can be controlled with the Geometry Color Modeicon

included in the HyperMesh Visualizationtoolbar.


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Topology Repair: General Process

HyperMesh will in most cases create proper and connected geometry accuratelyrepresenting the initial CAD geometry.

In some cases you need to work with topology to repair geometry.

The general process is the following: Figure out what the ideal surface connectivity of the part should be.

Observe the current display of topology colors (free, shared, t-junction). Figure outwhat is causing the topology to be displayed this way.

Use the tools in HyperMesh that get the connectivity from what it is to what it shouldbe as quickly and efficiently as possible.


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Edge Edit Panel (Geometry > Edit > Surface Edges)

o Toggle > (2 edges pair at a time) toggles edges from one state to another(free > shared > suppressed, by clicking with the left mouse button) based onthe cleanup tolerance setting.

o (Un)Suppress Selects multiple edges to suppress, all of them at once

o Replace > (1 edge pair at a time) combines two edges into a shared edge atthe location of one of the original edges, controlling which edge to retain andwhich to move.

o Equiv alence > (multiple edges at a time) searches for free edges and

combine them with a matching edge within the cleanup tolerance.

o Unspli t > removes previously created split-lines

o Edge fi l lets > removes fillets from surface edges.

o By feature > combines surfaces based on geometric features (angle surfsand offset surfs )

Point Edit Panel (Geometry > Edit > Fixed Points)

o Add > Adds new points to the model geometry to help control mesh pattern(especially helpful along edges to control node seeding)

o Suppress > "Turn off" points in the model geometry. The points are notdeleted, they are ignored when meshing.

o Replace > Combines 2 fixed points together at a single location; moves onepoint to another, combining them into a single point.

o Release >Use this panel to "release" vertices so that they become free(unattached points) and any shared (green) edges that they were attached tothe point become free (red) edges.

o Project > Projects fixed points onto a nearby edge (Useful for aligning meshbetween 2 edges).


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SurfacePanel (Geometry > Create > Surfaces > Splin e/Fil ler)

o Spline/Fil ler( ): Creates surfaces by filling in gaps, such as a hole inan existing surface.

The Keep tangency option is valid for surface edge line selection only. Itconsiders curvature of any surfaces attached to the selected edges and triesto create a surface tangent to them. This helps to form a smooth transition tothe surrounding surfaces.

The Au to create (free edges on ly) option is valid for free surface edge lineselection only. It simplifies the selection of the lines bounding the missing

surface. Once a line is selected, HyperMesh automatically selects theremaining free edges that form a closed loop, and then create the fillersurface.


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Exercise 2a: Importing and Repairing CAD Geometry

This exercise uses the model file, 02a-TOPOLOGY-REPAIR.hm.

Step 1: Open the model file, 02-TOPOLOGY-REPAIR.hm.

Step 2: View the model in topology display toolbar to evaluate its integrity.

1. Observe where the model has incorrect connectivity and missing or duplicate surfaces.

2. Click Geometry > Quick Editto open the Quick Geometry Editpanel.

Note that the surface edges are now colored according to their topology status. This

occurs because Geometry Coloris set to Auto( ).

3. Click Wireframe Geometry( ) to display the model in Wireframe mode.

The toolbar contains icons that control the display of the surfaces and surface edges.Surfaces can be shaded with or without edges or wireframe. Right-click the icons toaccess the drop-down menu for additional options. Place your mouse over the cursor toview a description of the buttons functionality.

4. Click Visualization( ) and navigate to the Topologytab.

Visualization controls the display of the surfaces and surface edges. Surfaces can beshaded or wireframe. The check boxes within this menu turn the display of the differentedge types and fixed points (surface vertices) on or off.

5. Clear all the check boxes except the Freecheck box.

Only the free edges should be displayed at this point.

6. Observe the free edges and make note of where they are.

The free (red) edges show where there is incorrect connectivity or gaps.

7. Note the locations where there are closed loops of free edges. These are locations thatprobably have missing surfaces.


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Free edges indicating surface discontinuities of the clip geometry

8. Select only the Non-manifoldcheck box.

9. Observe the non-manifold edges and make note of where they are.

The non-manifold edges show where there are more than two surfaces sharing an edge,which might indicate incorrect connectivity or correct T-Connections. For this part, there

are no yellow edges. This indicates that there are not duplicate surfaces.

10. Select all the check boxes.

11. Click the Closebutton to close the Visualization tab.

12. Click return to exit the panel.

13. Click Shaded Geometry and Surface Edges( )

The surfaces should now appear solid rather than having only their edges displayed.

14. Rotate, zoom, and pan to locate any errors in the geometry.

15. Make note of the areas to be worked on:

A surface that overhangs a round corner

A missing surface


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Surface overhanging an edge and a missing surface

Step 3: Delete the surface that overhangs the round corner.

1. Enter the Deletepanel in one of the following ways:

From the menu bar click Geometry >Delete >Surfaces

Press F2

2. In the graphics area, select the overhanging surface shown in the picture below.

3. Click delete entity to delete the selected entities.

4. Click returnto exit the panel.

Step 4: Create surfaces to fill large gaps in the model.

1. Click Geometry > Create > Surfaces >Splin e/Fil lerto create the surface.

2. Clear the Keep tangencycheck box.

The Keep tangencyoption is valid for surface edge line selection only. It considerscurvature of any surfaces attached to the selected edges and tries to create a surfacetangent to them. This helps to form a smooth transition to the surrounding surfaces.


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3. Verify the entity type is set to l ines.

4. Verify the Auto create (free edges only)check box is selected.

The Auto createoption is valid for free surface edge line selection only. It simplifies theselection of the lines bounding the missing surface. Once a line is selected, HyperMeshautomatically selects the remaining free edges that form a closed loop, and then create

the filler surface.

5. Zoom into the area indicated in the following image.

Pick one of the red lines bounding one of the gaps (missing surfaces).

HyperMesh automatically creates a filler surface to close the hole.

Repeat this step to create a filler surface in the other gap.

Area of missing surfaces


Step 5: Set the global geometry cleanup tolerance to 0.01 .

1. Press Oto go to the optionspanel.

2. Go to the geometrysub-panel.

3. In the cleanup tol = field, type 0.01to stitch the surfaces with a gap less than 0.01.


Step 6: Combine multiple free edge pairs at one time with the equivalencetool.

1. From the menu bar, click Geometry > Edit > Surface Edges > Equivalence

2. Activate the equiv free edges onlycheck box.


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3. Selectsurf s >> all.

4. Verify that the cleanup tol =is set to 0.01, which is the global cleanup tolerancespecified in the optionspanel.

5. Click the green equivalencebutton to combine any free edge pairs within the specifiedcleanup tolerance.

Most of the red free edges are combined into green shared edges. The few remainingare caused by gaps larger than the cleanup tolerance.

Step 7: Combine free edge pairs, one pair at a time, using the toggle.

1. Go to the togg lesub-panel.

2. In the cleanup to l =field, type 0.1.

3. In the graphics area, click one of the free edges shown in the following image.

Use toggle to equivalence the other edges shown in the image


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Area where free edges need to be toggled

4. Rotate and zoom into the area if needed. When the edge is selected, it will change fromred to green, indicating that the free edge pair has been equivalenced.

Step 8: Combine the remaining free edge pair using replace.

1. Go to the replacesub-panel.

2. With the selector under mo ved edge:active, click the leftmost free edge in the graphicsarea.

Verify that the selector under retained edge:is now active.

4. Select the rightmost red edge.

5. In the cleanup tol =field, enter 0.1.

6. Click replace.

Once the line is selected, HyperMesh posts a message similar to:

7. Click Yesto close the gap.


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Edges to retain and move for replacement


Step 9 (Optional): Save your work.

With the cleanup operations completed, save the model.


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Section 2: Simplifying GeometryThis section looks at changing the shape of a part in order to simplify the geometry. Certaindetails of the shape, such as small holes or blends, may simply not be necessary for theanalysis being performed. When these details are removed, the analysis can run moreefficiently. Additionally, mesh quality is often improved as well. Changing the geometry to

match the desired shape can also allow a mesh to be created more quickly.

In this section, you will learn:

Mesh the part, review the mesh quality and determine the features to be simplified

Remove pinholes, surface and edge fillets

Find and delete duplicated surfaces

Identify part symmetry

Remove pinholes

Create surfaces by filling in gaps

Defeaturing

There are many features on a part that are not critical to the structure of the part and havelittle or no effect on the analysis.

These features can include:

Lightening HolesFor part weight reduction

Edge FiletsFor reduction of sharp corners allowing safer part handling

Surface FilletsTo meet manufacturing requirements

These features often are process driven and are not function critical.

While our goal is to mesh a part that as closely as possible accurately represents thegeometry, these features often degrade the quality of the mesh.

As such they can be defeatured out of the design allowing for a substantially improved meshwith little impact on the results.


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Simplifying CAD Tools

DefeaturePanel (Geometry > Defeature)

Pinholes: Searches for holes within a surface. Fills them in and leaves a fixed point

at their previous center.

Surf Fillets: Searched for surfaces that act as a fillet between other surfaces andtangentially extends them to achieve a sharp corner.

Edge Fillets: Searches for rounded edge corner and squares them off.


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Duplicates: Finds and deletes duplicate surfaces.

Symmetry: Identifies part symmetry and deletes or organizes the results.


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Exercise 2b: Symplifying CAD Tools

Step 1: Load the model 02b-SYMPLIFYING-CAD.hm

1. View the model in topology display toolbar to evaluate its integrity.

Step 2: View the model in topology display toolbar to evaluate its integrity.

1. Observe where the model has incorrect connectivity and missing or duplicate surfaces.

Step 3: Find and delete all duplicate surfaces.

1. From the Menu Bar, click Geometry > Defeature >Duplicates

2. Click surfs >> displayed.

3. In the cleanup t ol =field, type 0.01.


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4. Click f ind.

The statusbar displays the following message, "1 duplicated surface was found."

5. Click deleteto remove any duplicate surfaces.

Step 4: Observe the model again to identify any remaining free edges, or

missing or duplicate surfaces.

1. Use the topology display and shaded modes to perform this task. All of the edges in themodel should be displayed as green shared edges, indicating that we have a completelyenclosed thin solid part.


Step 5: Removing Edge Fillets

2. Enter the Geometry > Defeaturepanel.

3. Enter the edge filletssub panel.

4. Pick the displayed surfaces.

5. Enter 1for the min radius.

6. Enter 20for the max radius.

This will guarantee all edge fillets are selected.

7. Click f ind.

All of the edge fillets will be highlighted.

If there were fillets that you did not wish to be removed they could be right clicked at theF and they would be deselected and not removed.


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The radius around the hole will be selected but the larger fillet will not be. This isbecause the larger fillet has a radius of 7 and thus was not found.

6. Click the two surfaces that make the larger fillet to highlight them.

7. Click remove.

The fillets will be removed once again providing for a better mesh quality.

Step 7: Removing Holes

1. Select the pinholessub panel.

2. Select the displayed surfaces.

3. Set the diameter


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The small holes will be selected.

Once again if there is a hole that you do not wish to take out simply right click on it to de-select it.

5. Click delete

The holes are removed and a fixed point is placed at their former center. This willguarantee a node is in that location but the points can be removed if no node is needed.

Step 8 (Optional): Save your work.

With the cleanup operations completed, save the model.


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Topology Repair: Strategy

Understand model size & scale to determine an appropriate global element size

Set a cleanup tolerance based upon the previously determined global element size.

o Set appropriate value in Preferences > Geometry Option s >geometry

o Cleanup tolerance specifies the largest gap size to be closed by topologyfunctions

o Tolerances > 15-20% of global element size can cause mesh distortions

o Can change value multiple times for work on various areas of the model

Use topology Visual izat ion Option s tools to determine what needs to be repaired.

Use Edge Edit > equivalenceto combine as many free edge pairs as possible

o Make sure surfaces are not collapsed in undesirable manner

Use Edge Edit > toggleto combine any remaining free edge pairs, 1 by 1

o use Edge Edit > replacefunction if more control is needed Find Defeature > dup licatesto check for any duplicate surfaces and delete them

Use Geometry > Create > Surfaces > Spline/Fil ler to fill in any missing surfaces.


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AutoMidsurfaceThis subpanel allows you to extract, in one step, the midsurfaceof a more complicated group of surfaces that represent a solid part

SurfacePairThe surface pairsubpanel offers a simplified function that allowsyou to extract a midsurface from two faces that represent the two sides. This functioncreates one surface that forms the midsurface.

Quick edit-- The quick editsubpanel allows you to quickly repair a midsurface bycorrecting its targets. It should be used after you have created (or attempted tocreate) a midsurface using the auto midsurfacesubpanel. You first select a surfacethat you want to edit/repair; this surface can either be a midsurface that was created

earlier, or a surface that is part of the solid. You will notice the appearance of newtemporary entities displayed in three colors (yellow, cyan and red).


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Assig n target-- The assign targetsubpanel allows you to repair a midsurface bycorrecting its targets. It has similar but advanced features respect to the quick editsubpanel. It should be used after you created a midsurface. You should first select asurface to edit/repair. This surface can either be a midsurface that was createdearlier, or a surface that is part of the solid. You will notice the appearance of newtemporary entities displayed in different colors (yellow, cyan and red).

Replace edg e-- Allows you to close gaps and slivers by replacing one edge withanother. This function is the same as the one in the Edge Edit Panel and is availablehere for convenience.

Extend surface-- This subpanel extends or retracts the edges of selected surfacesto meet other selected surfaces, or to close gaps between surfaces or holes within aselected surface. Several options affect how surfaces extension behaves, includingenabling or disabling the ability to shorten edges as well as extend them, or to forcethe extended edges to attempt to maintain the overall shape of the surface.


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View / assign thickness-- This subpanel Allows you to review the thickness ofsurfaces (including midsurfaces), or change them. Surfaces that have thickness datastored are drawn with lines (probes) extending from each vertex of the surface. Thelength of these probes represents the thickness at those locations. Only surfaces

created in the Midsurfacepanel have thickness information defined by default, butyou can use this subpanel to define/set a fixed, uniform thickness for any surface.

Midsurfacing: Process & Strategy

1. Obtain a closed volume of surfaces or solids

Midsurface : auto midsurfacerequires an enclosed volume

Use topology repair techniques if needed

2. For complex parts, try defeaturing the surface defining the volume

This simplifies the part and may give better results with create : solid

3. Generate the midsurface using Midsurface > auto m idsurface

Use surface pairfor areas that need more control

Use midsurface : editing toolsfor midsurfaces that need fine tuning

4. View the midsurface and correct errors using the midsurface editingfunctionalities

Can generally use quick edit


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Exercise 2c: Midsurface

This exercise will cover the basic aspects of geometry repair and preparation formeshing. It will cover repairing problems with the geometry, midsurfacing anddefeaturing.

Step 1: Open the file 02c-MIDSURFACE.hm

Step 2: Review the model

1. Zoom, Rotate and Pan the model to find the issues with it.

HINT: Use the VisualizationOptionsIcon to find edges to fix.

2. You can play with Geometry Cleanup Tolerance value to fix issues.

[HINT] The cleanup tolerance is used to determine if two surface edges are the sameand if two surface vertices are the same. The default cleanup tolerance toggle controls iftwo surface edges are close enough to be automatically combined to shared edges

(green edges).If you want you can specify a different value, greater than the default value. Increasingthe tolerance can cause serious problems. When this value is set, any features equal toor less than the tolerance are eliminated.

If there are edges present that are important to the surface, that surface will be distorted,or will fail to trim properly.

The tolerance value should not be set to a value greater than the node tolerance set inthe options panel to be used for your element mesh.


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o Free Edges to equivalence with Quick Edit > Toggle Edge

Step 3: Create and Edit the Midsurface

1. From the menu bar select Geometry> Create> Midsurfaces> Auto.

This brings you to the automidsurfacesub-panel in the midsurfacepanel.

2. Set the switch to surfs.

3. Toggle to closed solid.

4. With the surfsbutton selected pick one displayed surface, the closed solid option willselect all surfaces attached.


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5. Click extract.

A new component will be created called Middle Surfacesand the new mid planesurfaces will be placed in it. Additionally the original component will be set to be partiallytransparent so the Middle Surfaces can be seen.

6. Turn off the display of the original component so that only the Middle Surfaces are

displayed.

7. There are multiple problems with the model. They need to be repaired. Zoom into thearea shown above. Rotate the model to the view shown below.

8. Zooming in reveals some serious problems with the midsurface in this area. These canbe fixed with the quick editsub-panel.

9. If you have exited the Midsurfacepanel enter it again.

10. Select the quick editsub-panel

11. Set the target typeto point to poin t.

12. Set the target locationto as selected.

13. Leave the remaining settings and pick the surface shown by the blue arrow.


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The display will now show the way in which HyperMesh decided to create the middlesurface. That needs to be corrected.

14. Pick the point in the green circle (circle labeled 1) to indicate the point whose offset youwish to fix (see image below).

15. Pick the point in the blue circle (circle labeled 2) to indicate which point it should have

been offset to (see image below). You will need to hold down the left mouse button tohighlight the line, and then click on the line to select a node.

16. HyperMesh then shows what the new surface offset will look like. This is now correct.

17. Select update.

18. Rotate the model slightly; a green line is left where the problem area was previously.Use the toggle subpanel in the Quick Edit panel> Toggle Edge subpanel to toggle theedge from a shared edge to a suppressed edge.


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19. Fit the model to the screen and zoom in on the highlighted areas below.


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24. Pick the point in the green circle (circle labeled 1) to indicate the point whose offset youwish to fix (see image below).

25. Pick the point in the blue circle (circle labeled 2) to indicate which point it should havebeen offset to (see image below). You will need to hold down the left mouse button tohighlight the line, and then click on the line to select a node.


Select update.

27. Repeat step 24-25-26 using Point 3 and 4.

[HINT] Use Visualization Mode: Wireframe Geometrywhile youre working with point 3,4.


Select update.


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29. Rotate the model slightly; a green line is left where the problem area was previously (seepictures below).

30. Use the toggle subpanel in the Quick Edit panel> Toggle Edge subpanel to toggle theedge from a shared edge to a suppressed edge (highlighted in violet).

31. Use the add/remove point subpanel in the Quick Edit panelto remove the fixed point(highlighted in orange).

32. There are still edges (see picture below, red edges at the bottom) that need to beconnected.

Go to the Midsurfaces panel and select extend surfacesub-panel.


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37. Select Yeswhen this dialog box will appear. The gap will close


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Midsurfacing: Extraction Options

The following options are available by clicking on the extract ion op tions...button:

keep sides geometry / insert planes When you choose keep sides geometry,midsurfacing will find the middle points between surfaces and project one of thesurfaces to those middle points. This is the traditional approach for midsurfacing inHyperMesh. When activating the insert planesmethod, HyperMesh will pair solidsurfaces and insert planes between them. Surface pairing is automatic and pairs canbe further organized using the Plate Editpanel.

align steps/ keep jump steps This is available only when you select keep sidesgeometry. In the case of a part that has different "steps" of thickness, such as a flat

sheet that is twice as thick at one end as the other but uses an abrupt step-likechange in thickness instead of a constant slope or curve. The align stepsoption willalign midsurfaces whereas keep jump stepwill produce steps between the variousmidsurfaces as in the original model.

auto mid pos i t ion / user mid pos i t ion This is available only when you selectkeep sides geometryand align steps. If you select auto mid position, HyperMeshwill create a midsurface parallel to the largest side of the volume. This midsurfaceincludes "offset" data to represent the changes in distance between the midsurfaceand the smaller faces at each "step". If you select user mid position, you have todefine the offset of the midsurface, using a value from 0 to 1, to specify the offsetfrom the largest side of the volume.

8/11/2019 Hypermesh