Hm80 Intro Manual Vol1

Pre-processing Models for Finite Element Analysis - Volume I
HyperMesh Introduction
HyperWorks
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The following countries have distributors for Altair Engineering: Czech Republic, Mexico, , Romania, Russia, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, and Taiwan and Turkey. See www.altair.com for complete contact information. 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated to another language without the written permission of Altair Engineering, Inc. To obtain this permission, write to the attention Altair Engineering legal department at: 1820 E. Big Beaver, Troy, Michigan, USA, or call +1-248-614-2400. Altair HyperWorks 8.0 Application/License Installation and Operations Guide

Trademark and Registered Trademark Acknowledgments

Listed below are Altair HyperWorks applications. Copyright Altair Engineering Inc., All Rights Reserved for: HyperMesh 1990-2006; HyperView 1999-2006; OptiStruct 1996-2006; HyperStudy 1999-2006; HyperGraph 1995-2006; HyperGraph 3D 2005-2006; MotionView 1993-2006; MotionSolve 2002-2006; HyperForm 1998-2006; HyperXtrude 1999-2006; HyperOpt 1996-2006; HyperView Player 2001-2006; Process Manager 2003-2005; HyperWeb 2002-2004; Data Manager 2005-2006; Templex 19902006; Manufacturing Solutions 2005-2006 All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Portions of the FLEXnet documentation in the HyperWorks 8.0 Application/License Installation and Operations Manual reproduced with permission of Macrovision Corporation.

I
Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
HyperMesh 8.0
Table of Contents
Pre-processing for Finite Element Analysis Volume I
Chapter 1: HyperMesh Introduction ...................................................................... 1

Section 1: Getting Started with HyperMesh .....................................................................1 Section 2: Opening and Saving Files...............................................................................5 Section 3: Working with Panels .....................................................................................13 Section 4: Organizing a Model.......................................................................................27 Section 5: Controlling the Display ..................................................................................45
Chapter 2: Shell Meshing ..................................................................................... 63

Section 1: AutoMeshing.................................................................................................63 Section 2: Checking and Editing Mesh ..........................................................................81 Section 3: Batch Meshing ............................................................................................101
Chapter 3: Analysis Setup ................................................................................. 109

Section 1: Formatting Models for Analysis...................................................................109 Section 2: Setting up Loading Conditions ....................................................................131
HyperMesh 8.0
II
III
HyperMesh 8.0
Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh
Chapter 1
Section 1: Getting Started with HyperMesh
In this tutorial, you will explore the basic layout of the HyperMesh 8.0 user interface.
HyperMesh 8.0
HyperMesh Introduction 1
HyperMesh Introduction: Starting HyperMesh
On PC:
Start > Programs > Altair HyperWorks > Altair HyperMesh Shortcut icons
Go to <install directory>\hm\bin\ Right-click hmopengl.exe > create shortcut New shortcut can be renamed, drag and dropped, etc. Windows 2000, XP, etc. can create shortcuts from the Start menu icons
On UNIX:
At the prompt, type <install directory>/scripts/hm Can set up an alias
Copyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.
HyperMesh Introduction: Starting Directory
By default, HyperMesh uses the start directory for files
Reads configuration files (hm.mac, hmmenu.set, etc.) Writes history (command.cmf) Open/save HyperMesh model, FE data, and geometry data files
Start directory determined by:
On PC, specified by the programs icon

Right click the icon Go to Properties Go to the Shortcut tab A path is specified for Start In: On UNIX: Start directory is the directory where you typed the command to run HyperMesh If configuration files are not found in the start directory, HyperMesh will then look in the users home directory
2 HyperMesh Introduction
HyperMesh 8.0
HyperMesh Introduction: The User Interface
Graphics area displays the model Toolbar holds a number of tools that are used often, such as collectors, display controls, and the card editor (for analysis setup) Header Bar displays prompts, error messages, etc. Pull Down Menu places functionality into groups, accessible via pull downs Menu Pages divides the main menu into groups based on function Main Menu contains panels grouped in columns Panels menu items / functions for interacting with HyperMesh Sub-panels divide a panel into similar tasks relating to the panels main function Command Window lets the user type in and execute tcl commands
Available through the View drop down menu (turned off by default)
Tab Area contains the following tabs:
Solver, Model, Utility, Include

HyperMesh Introduction: The User Interface
Pull Down Menus Tab Area:

Utility Menu Model Browser Solver Browser Etc.
Graphics Area
Toolbar Header Bar Main Menu
panel
Menu Pages
HyperMesh 8.0
HyperMesh Introduction: Online Help
From the help pull down click HyperMesh, OptiStruct and Batch Mesher
If accessed while on main menu, help will open the contents If accessed while in a panel, help will open directly to the help
for that panel
Types of information:
How to use individual functions Notes on interfacing HyperMesh

with external data types
Tutorials Programming guides Organized by product
HyperMesh 8.0
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 tutorial, 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 mesh data to an OptiStruct input file Delete all data from the current HyperMesh session Import an IGES file Import an OptiStruct file to the current HyperMesh session
HyperMesh 8.0
File Operations: The File Pull-down Menu
Open : Loads a HyperMesh file into the current session. Replaces the model in the current HyperMesh session Save : Saves the model in the current HyperMesh session File browser will prompt for a location and file name if one doesnt exist Save As : Opens a file browser to specify a location and name to save the current session Import : Merges / combines files with the model in the current HyperMesh session Various types of files: HyperMesh, geometry (IGES, Step, etc.), finite element data (OptiStruct, Radioss, Nastran, Abaqus, Ansys, LS-Dyna, etc.) Opens a file browser Export : Writes data in the current HyperMesh session to files of types other than HyperMesh IGES, OptiStruct, Radioss, etc. Opens a file browser to specify a location and name Recent Files : A listing of HyperMesh files that have been worked on previously Loads the file and replaces the model in the current session Recent Imports : A listing of files that have been loaded into HyperMesh previously via Import
File Operations: Panels
Many panels in HyperMesh use file operations
Files panel
on the toolbar is a prime example hm file : Opens and saves HyperMesh files import : Merges files with the current HyperMesh session export : Writes out data types other than HyperMesh files
Buttons in panels for file operations
Buttons with in the name open a file browser

Most default to the start directory A field showing the path is in most Can use Ctrl + C, Crtl + X, and Ctrl + V to copy, cut, and paste into the fields
General terminology:
Retrieve : Loads a file into HyperMesh replacing the current session Save : Saves the current session contents to the file name specified Import : Loads a file into HyperMesh, merging with the current contents Export : Saves data to the file name specified Generally refers to file types other than a HyperMesh binary file
HyperMesh 8.0
Exercise: Exploring the Files Panel

This exercise uses the model files: bumper_cen_mid1.hm, bumper_mid.hm, bumper_end.igs, and bumper_end_rgd.fem. Each model file contains various sections, but the whole bumper model is shown below.
Step 1: Open the HyperMesh model file, bumper_cen_mid1.hm.

1. Access the open feature in one of the following ways: On the File menu, click Open Click the file icon and click retrieve
2. Open the model file, bumper_cen_mid1.hm. The model file, bumper_cen_mid1.hm, is now loaded. This file contains mesh and geometry data. 3. Go to the Files panel, if necessary.
HyperMesh model file, bumper_cen_mid1.hm, opened in HyperMesh
Step 2: Import the HyperMesh model file, bumper_mid.hm, into the current HyperMesh session.
1. To access the import feature, do one of the following: On the File menu, point to Import, and click HyperMesh Model Click the file icon , go to the import sub-panel, and click HM MODEL
HyperMesh 8.0
2. Open the file, bumper_mid.hm. 3. Remain in the Files panel. Or, go the File menu (if necessary).
HyperMesh model file, bumper_mid.hm, imported on top of existing data in the HyperMesh session
Step 3: Import the IGES geometry file, bumper_end.igs, into the current HyperMesh session.
1. Access the import feature in one of the following ways: On the File menu, point to Import, point to Geometry, and click Iges Click the file icon , go to the import sub-panel, select GEOM, and toggle to IGES
2. Browse to the file, bumper_end.igs. 3. Geometry data is added to the model.
HyperMesh 8.0
IGES geometry file, bumper_end.igs, import
4. Remain in the import subpanel.
Step 4: Import the OptiStruct input file, bumper_end_rgd.fem, into the current HyperMesh session.
1. Click FE. 2. Click the switch Note and select OPTISTRUCT, if necessary.
A list of the various solver input file formats supported by HyperMesh appears. OptiStruct is a finite element based structural analysis and optimization solver. HyperMesh sets the filter on the file browser to search for .fem or .parm files.
3. Import the file, bumper_end_rgd.fem. 4. Remain in the Files panel. Or, go the File menu (if necessary). This OptiStruct input file contains mesh for the bumpers end portion. The mesh is added to the existing data in the current HyperMesh session and will be located in the same area as the geometry representing the bumpers end.
HyperMesh 8.0
OptiStruct input file, bumper_end_rgd.fem, imported on top of data in the current HyperMesh session
Step 5: Save the HyperMesh session as a HyperMesh model file called practice.hm.
1. Access the save feature in one of the following ways: On the File menu, click SaveAs Click the file icon on the toolbar, go to the hm sub-panel, and click save as
The data currently loaded in HyperMesh is now saved in a HyperMesh binary data file of the name you entered. 2. Remain in the Files panel. Or, go the File menu (if necessary). Note Save (without three dots) saves the HyperMesh session to the file name specified in the file: field. Save as (with three dots) opens a file browser and prompts you for a file name to which to save the HyperMesh session.
Step 6: Export the models geometry data to an IGES file called practice.igs.
1. Access the export feature in one of the following ways: On the File menu, point to Export, and click IGES Geometry
HyperMesh 8.0
Click the file icon
, go to the export sub-panel, click iges, and then click write as
2. Remain in the Files panel.
Step 7: Export the models mesh data to an OptiStruct input file called practice.fem.
1. On the Preferences menu, click User Profiles. 2. Select OptiStruct. The OptiStruct template contains OptiStruct specific formatting instructions HyperMesh uses to create an OptiStruct input file. 3. On the toolbar, click the file icon. 4. Go to the export sub-panel. 5. Click template. 6. Click write as. and browse to the file, practice.fem. 7. Click return to go to the main menu.
Step 8 (Optional): Delete all data from the current HyperMesh session.
1. Access the delete feature in one of the following ways: Press F2 on the keyboard On the Tool page, go to the delete panel 2. Click delete model. 3. Answer Yes to the pop-up question "Do you wish to delete the current model? (y/n)". 4. Click return to go to the main menu.
Step 9 (Optional): Import the IGES geometry file you created, practice.igs.
Refer to Step 3 for detailed instructions.
Step 10 (Optional): Import the Optistruct input file you created, practice.fem, into the current HyperMesh session.
Import practice.fem into the current session. The data in the file will be added to the existing data in the current HyperMesh session. Refer to Step 4 for detailed instructions. With the completion of Steps 8, 9, and 10, your current HyperMesh session should contain all of the geometry and mesh data that existed in the HyperMesh session that was saved to a HyperMesh file in Step 5.
Step 11 (Optional): Save your work.
HyperMesh 8.0
HyperMesh 8.0
Section 3: Working with Panels

A large portion of HyperMesh functionality is organized into pages containing panels. Many panels have common attributes and controls, so once you become familiar with these shared features in one panel, it is much easier to understand other panels. This section introduces you to common panel attributes and controls as it guides you through translating nodes and elements using the translate panel and measuring distances between nodes using the distance panel. In this tutorial, you will learn how to: Use the entity selector and the extended entity selection menu to select and unselect nodes and elements from the graphics area. Use the direction selector to define vectors along which to translate nodes and elements. Switch between different entities to select, and methods to define vectors. Toggle between two options. Enter, copy and paste, and calculate numbers. Use the rapid menu functionality to execute commands with the mouse buttons rather than clicking buttons. Interrupt, but not exit, a panel to go to another panel using the keyboard function keys.
HyperMesh 8.0
Panels: General Layout
Panels often have sub-panels
Accessed by radio buttons on the left side of the panel

Panels generally work from left to right
Example: Project / to plane sub-panel

1) What to do: Pick a sub-panel for the function to be used 2) What to do it to: Select entities that will be affected 3) How to do it: Give parameters that define how the function will be executed 4) Do the action: Execute the function
Panels: General Layout
Some sub-panels are organized in columns
Each column is a different method Work from top to bottom in the relevant column Example: surface edit : trim with surfs/plane sub-panel
2) Method to use: Work in the appropriate column 3) What to do it to: Select entities that will be affected 4) How to do it: Give parameters that define how the function will be executed 5) Do the action: Execute the function
1) What to do: Pick a sub-panel for the function to be used
HyperMesh 8.0
Panels: Overview
Panels organize and control functionality
Each panel focuses on a specific type of function May have sub-panels which are related to the panels focus Contain the controls needed to operate the function
Shortcuts
Commonly used panels can be access via the keyboard function keys (F1 F12) Act in an interrupt mode if you are in a panel
Can return to the panel you were in Selections made in that panel are remembered
Help for Panels
While in a panel, accessing help provides the help for that panel
Panels: Basic Controls
Switches
Allows a choice of several options vis a pop-up menu

Toggles
Allows a choice between 2 options No pop-up; button label simply changes

Text input fields
Operate like text fields in most programs Can use Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V to copy and paste between fields Double clicking on a text field that requires numbers accesses the calculator
Uses reverse notation Example: 1 + 1 = 2 1 <Enter> 1 + instead of 1 + 1 =
HyperMesh 8.0
Panels: Selection
Entity selectors
Control what and how entities are selected for a function

Entity Type Button Shows the type of entity currently being selected Entity Type Switch Changes what type of entity is being selected Cyan border Indicates the selector is active (there can only be 1 active selector) Clicking the entity type button when it is active accesses the extended selection menu
Reset Deselects all entities for the selector
Panels: Overview
Select entities with a window using Shift + mouse
Left mouse drag select entities Right mouse drag unselect entities Left click change window shape
Rectangle Inside Rectangle Outside Polygon Inside Polygon Outside
Entities are selected when

mouse button is released
HyperMesh 8.0
Panels: Extended Selection Menu
Click an active selector to access the extended menu selection
The extended menu selection offers
Methods for selecting many entities at once Tools for modifying an existing selection Save an existing selection and retrieve it in any panel
Multiple extended selection methods can be used on a selection
Allows you to easily select exactly what you want

Panels: Direction Selection
Used for input of directions or planes for a given function
Planes can be selected from a vector (normal to the vector) Directions can be selected from a plane (normal to the plane)
Current Direction / Plane Direction Switch Options for what direction is selected Shows a selected axis or inputs for selecting entities to define a direction / plane Reset Deselects the selected nodes Base Select a node to position a selected plane Edit Double click to access and enter coordinates for N1, N2, N3 and Base.
HyperMesh 8.0
Panels: Direction Selection: N1, N2, N3
N1, N2, N3 direction option allows nodes to be selected to define either a direction or a plane
Select 2 nodes to define a direction (only N1 and N2) Select 3 nodes to define a plane (N1, N2, and N3)
Plane defined by N1, N2, N3
N3 N2 N1
Direction is normal to plane Positive direction is by right hand rule
N1
N2
Panels: Execution
Action buttons
Green button on right hand side of the panel Execute the (sub-)panels functionality
Rapid menus
Middle mouse click to execute an action button bordered in black Always the action button at the top of the list Reduces mouse travel needed to perform functions
Reject
Local undo Resets the model to the state before the action was exectuted Not available after returning out of a panel
Return
Exits the panel to the menu from which the panel was accessed
10
HyperMesh 8.0
Exercise: Using the Translate Panel

Step 1: Retrieve the HyperMesh model file, bumper.hm.
1. Access the File panel in one of the following ways: On the File menu, click Open On the toolbar, click the file icon and go to the hm file sub-panel
2. Click retrieve and browse to <install directory>/tutorials/hm/bumper.hm. 3. Click Open.
Step 2: In the translate panel, select nodes from the graphics area.
1. Access the translate panel in one of the following way: On the Tools menu, click Translate On the Tool page, click translate
2. With the nodes selector active, select a few nodes from the graphics area by left clicking on the corners of the elements.
Node selector
3. The cyan border around it indicates that it is active; HyperMesh is expecting nodes to be selected as the next action. 4. A node is positioned at each element corner. Selected nodes are highlighted with a small, white circle.
HyperMesh 8.0
5. Reset the selection of nodes by clicking the reset icon,
Step 3: Select and unselect elements from the graphics area.

1. Click the entity selector switch elems.)
Entity selector with its switch
and select elems. (Switch the entity selector to
2. The menu that pops-up contains a list of entities that can be translated. 3. With the elems selector active, select several elements from the graphics area. 4. Note center. To select an element, click on its element handle or the dot at the elements
5. The elements are highlighted in white when they are selected.
HyperMesh 8.0
6. Unselect an element by selecting it with the right mouse button.
Step 4: Select and unselect elements using the quick window selection method.
1. Verify that the elems selector is active. 2. Move the mouse handle into the graphics area. 3. Press and hold the Shift key + left mouse button and move the mouse to draw a rectangular window around a few elements, and then release the Shift key and left mouse button. 4. All the element handles inside the rectangular window are selected. 5. Unselect elements by pressing and holding the Shift key + right mouse button and moving the mouse to create a window around the selected elements. 6. Press the Shift key and quick click the left mouse button. 7. A pop-up window appears, which contains four icons as shown in the image below.
Quick window pop-up menu
HyperMesh 8.0
8. Select the inside polygon shape
9. Press and hold the Shift key + left mouse button and move the mouse around a few unselected elements, and then release the Shift key and mouse button. 10. You drew a polygon window rather than a rectangular window. All element handles inside this window were selected.
Step 5: Select and unselect elements by using the extended entity selection menu.
1. Click the elems selector and select reverse. (Select elems >> reverse.) 2. The selection of elements is reversed; the elements that were selected are now unselected and the elements that were not selected are now selected. 3. The menu that appears contains a list of functions for selecting elements. Once you select a function from the menu, the menu disappears. If you do not want to select a function, move the mouse handle out of the menu.
Extended entity selection menu
4. Select elems >> by adjacent. 5. Elements adjacent to the selected elements are now selected.
Step 6: Shade the elements, reset the selection, and select a few adjacent elements.
1. On the toolbar, click the Shaded Elements & Mesh Lines icon .
2. The elements are displayed in shaded mode, rather than wireframe mode. 3. In the translate panel, click the reset icon to clear the elements selection.
4. With the elems selector active, select a few elements that are adjacent to each other.
Step 7: Specify a direction vector (N1 and N2 only) along which to translate the selected elements.
1. Click the direction selector switch .
Direction selector along with the node selectors to define the direction vector
HyperMesh 8.0
2. The menu shown below appears. It contains a list of vector and plane options for defining the direction in which to translate the selected elements.
Direction selector pop-up menu
3. Select N1,N2,N3 from the pop-up menu. 4. N1 now has a cyan border indicating it is the active selector. 5. The selected elements are displayed in gray because the elems entity selector is not active. 6. In the graphics area, select any node for N1. 7. The selected node is highlighted in green. The active selector advances to N2. 8. Select a node near N1 for N2. 9. The selected node is highlighted in blue. The active selector advances to N3. Do not select a node for N3. Note Selecting the two nodes, N1 and N2, defines a vector for the direction of translation. This vector goes from N1 towards N2. Selecting a third node, N3,defines a plane. The direction of translation is the positive direction of the vector normal to the plane. The positive direction is determined by the right-hand rule.
Step 8: Specify a distance to translate the selected elements and then translate them.
1. Click the toggle 2. Click translate +. 3. The selected elements translate in the direction from N1 to N2 by N2-N1 units. 4. Notice the thick, black border around the translate button. It indicates this is a rapid menu button; you can click the middle mouse button rather than click translate +. 5. Click the middle mouse button. 6. The selected elements are translated again by N2-N1 units. 7. Click translate - twice. 8. The selected elements are translated in the negative N1-N2 vector direction and are now in their original position. to change magnitude = to magnitude = N2-N1.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 9: Measure the distance between two nodes.

1. Press the F4 function key to interrupt, but not exit, the translate panel and go to the distance panel on the Geom page. 2. The element and node you selected in the translate panel are currently not visible. However, they are still selected. They will be visible again when you return to the translate panel. 3. Verify you are in the two nodes sub-panel. 4. Notice N1 is the active selector. 5. Select any node for N1. 6. The entity selector advances to N2. 7. Select a node near N1 for N2. 8. Notice the distance = field value reflects the absolute distance between N1 and N2. 9. Click in the distance = field to highlight the value. 10. Press Ctrl + C to copy the value. 11. Return to the translate panel. 12. Notice the elements and nodes you selected in the translate panel before you went to the distance panel are once again visible.
Step 10: Specify a distance to translate the selected elements and then translate them.
1. Toggle from magnitude = N1-N2 to magnitude =. 2. Click in the magnitude = field to highlight its value. 3. Press Ctrl + V to paste the distance = value copied from the distance panel. 4. Click translate +. 5. The selected elements translate in the direction from N1 to N2 by the number of units specified for magnitude =. 6. Click translate once. 7. The selected elements are translated in the negative N1-N2 vector direction and are now in their original position.
Step 11: Calculate 5.5 * 10.5 and specify the resulting value for magnitude =.
1. Double-click magnitude =. 2. Click 5 . 5 (in that order) and then click enter. 3. Click 10 . 5 (in that order). 4. Click X. 5. The calculated value in the calculator window is 57.75. 6. Click exit.
HyperMesh 8.0
7. The calculator closes and 57.75 appears in the magnitude = field. 8. You can type a value in the magnitude = field by clicking in the field once to highlight the current value. Then type a new value.
Step 12: Specify a new vector and translate the elements again.
1. Click the reset icon .
2. Notice N1 is the active selector. 3. Select three nodes for N1, N2, N3 to define a plane. 4. Click translate + or press the middle mouse button. 5. The elements are translated 57.75 units in the positive direction normal to the defined plane. 6. Return to the main menu.

With all of the exercise complete, you can save the model if desired.
HyperMesh 8.0
HyperMesh 8.0
Section 4: 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 are discussed in this section. In this tutorial, you will learn how to: Create geometry and organize it into components. Organize elements into the 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.
HyperMesh 8.0
Model Organization: HyperMesh Entity Types
Geometry
Points Surfaces
Points Lines Lines Surfaces Solids Connectors (used for welding)
Solids Nodes Elements
FE Model
Nodes Temp Nodes (marks a node with a small circle) Elements
Temp Nodes
FE Loading
Loads (constraints, forces, pressures, etc.) Equations (mathematical link between nodes)
Forces
Constraints
Pressures
Contacts
Group (defines contact between entities) Contact Surfs (defines a list of entities that can be
used as master or slave in a group) Contact Surface
HyperMesh 8.0
Multibodies
Ellipsoids (defines a shape for rigid bodies) Mbplanes (defines a shape for rigid bodies) Mbjoints (defines the connection of 2 rigid bodies)
Safety
Sensors (defines a trigger to start an event) Control Volumes (defines airbags)
Coordinate Entities
Systems (coordinate axes) Vectors
Vectors
Systems
Reference Entities
Sets (a simple list of a particular type of

entity)
Blocks (a list of entities contained within

a box shape)
Beam Section
1D Element Cross Sections
Beam Sections (cross sectional

properties for a property collector)
HyperMesh 8.0
Plotting
Curves (X-Y data) Plots (a display of curves with axes)
Output Requests
Loadsteps (combinations of load collectors) Output Blocks (request output from an

analysis for certain entities)
Plot with a Curve
Labels
Titles (label for a displayed item) Tags (assigns a name to an entity)
Titles
Tags
Morphing
Handles controls model shape during morphing Domains divides a model into regions (for domain based morphing) Morph volume A cube shaped volume that morphs all entities that are
located inside the shape (for volume based morphing)
Morph constraints Control the motion of nodes during morphing Symmetrys forces regions to be morphed symmetrically Shapes model state during morphing saved for retrieval at a later point
Handles
Morph Volume
Symmetrys
Domains
HyperMesh 8.0
Optimization
Designvars Variables that are changed during optimization (ex: thickness) Optiresponses Values being measured (ex: von Mises stress) Objectives Responses to maximize/minimize (ex: minimize weight) Dobjrefs Objective reference response for minmax/maxmin optimization (ex: minimize maximum von Mises stress) Opticonstraints Limitations (ex: von Mises stress < Yield stress) Optidscreens Filters constraints to reduce computation time Dvprels Relationships between design variables and properties Desvarlinks Relationships between design variables Dequations A calculated value to be measured Optitableentrs Table of constants Opticontrols Parameters to control the optimization algorithms DDVals Sets a discreet range of values to be used in a Designvar
7
Model Organization: Collectors
The HyperMesh model is organized using collectors There are many types of collectors Most entities in HyperMesh must be placed in a collector Each collector type holds a specific type of entity
Collector Types Component Multibody Assembly Load Collector Material Property System Collector Vector Collector Beam Section Collector Can contain entity types: Elements, Points, Lines, Surfaces, Connectors Ellipsoids, Mbjoints, Mbplanes, Sensors Components, Multibodies, Assemblies Loads, Equations none (materials and properties dont contain other entities but are still treated as collectors) Systems Vectors Beam Sections
HyperMesh 8.0
An entity can usually only belong to 1 collector of a given type Ex: an element can only be in 1 component collector Can create many collectors of the same type All entities in a collector are the same color Organization can be however the user desires
Component 3
Component 4
Component 1 Component 2 1 component per part Component 1
Component 3 Component 2
Multiple components per part

New entities are created in the current collector
Creating a new collector automatically sets the current collector to that new
collector
Header Bar can be used to change the current collector and the current include
file
Current component and include file appear on the header bar Organize panel can be used to move entities into a different collector
Current include and component in the header bar
Set current collectors by clicking on comp: in the header bar

10
HyperMesh 8.0
Model Organization: Tools
Panels
Collectors Create new collectors Header Bar Set the current collector for various entity types Organize Move entities into a different collector than the one they are currently
contained in
Rename Change the name of an existing collector Reorder

Collectors appear in a certain order when presented in a list to pick from Reorder allows the order the collectors appear in to be changed
Delete Delete entities or collectors
11
Model Organization: Tools
Model browser
View collectors and assemblies in a hierarchical

tree format
Create, delete, and rename collectors Edit collector attributes Organize collectors into assemblies
Drag and drop
12
HyperMesh 8.0
HyperMesh 8.0
Exercise: Reorganizing a Bumper Model

Step 1: Retrieve the model file, bumper.hm.
Step 2: Create a component named geometry, to hold the models geometry.

1. Access the collectors panel in one of the following ways: 2. On the Organize menu, click Collectors 3. On the toolbar, click the collectors icon 4. Go to the create sub-panel. 5. Use the drop down arrow 6. For name= specify geometry. 7. Select color >> yellow. 8. Leave the card image= field blank. 9. Leave the material= field blank. 10. Create the component collector geometry. The message: "The collector was created", appears in the header bar. to select components.
HyperMesh 8.0
Left click once anywhere in the HyperMesh window, except on a button to dismiss the message in the header bar. comp: geometry appears in the header bar. The component geometry is now the current component. Any geometry or elements that are created will be organized into this component. 11. Return to the main menu.
Step 3: Create two geometry lines and organize them into different components.
1. Access the lines panel in one of the following ways: On the Geometry menu, slide the cursor to Lines and click Create. On the Geom page, enter the lines panel.
2. Go to the from nodes sub-panel. 3. With the node list selector active, select two nodes, opposite and diagonal to each other, on the same element as indicated in the image below.
4. Create the line. 5. Notice the line is yellow, the same color assigned to the component, geometry. This is because the line is organized into the current component, geometry.
HyperMesh 8.0
6. On the toolbar, click on comp to view current collectors. 7. Notice in the collectors pop-up current comp shows geometry. 8. Click comp and select the component, rigid, from the list of components in the model. 9. The panel now shows comp rigid. Also, the header bar shows comp: rigid. 10. Moving the cursor away from the collectors popup will return you to the lines panel. 11. Create the line. 12. With the node list selector active, select two nodes, opposite and diagonal to each other on another element. 13. Notice the line is dark pink, the same color assigned to the component, rigid. This is because the line is organized into the current component, rigid. 14. Return to the main menu.
Step 4: Move all the models geometry surfaces into the component, geometry.
1. Access the organize panel in one of the following ways: 2. On the Organize menu, click Entities. 3. On the Tool page, go to the organize panel. 4. Switch the entity selector to surfs. 5. Select surfs >> all. 6. Displayed surfaces are highlighted in white indicating they are selected. All other surfaces that are not displayed are still selected because you selected surfs >> all. 7. Click destination = and select the component, geometry, from the list of components in the model. 8. Select geometry from the list. 9. Move the selected surfaces into the component, geometry.
Step 5: Move all the models shell elements (quads and trias) into the component, center.
You should still be in the organize panel. 1. Switch the entity selector to elems. 2. Select elems >> by collector. A list of the models components appears. 3. Select the components, mid1, mid2, and end. Select a component by left clicking its name, color, or check box. A component is selected when it has a check in its check box. To unselect a component, right click on it. 4. Click select to complete the selection of components.
HyperMesh 8.0
5. Set dest = to the component, center. 6. Move the elements in the selected components to the component, center. All of the shell elements should now be a cyan blue, the same color assigned to the component, center. 7. Return to the main menu.
Step 6: Rename the component, center to shells.

1. Access the rename panel in one of the following ways: From the Organize menu, click Rename On the Tool page, go to the rename panel.
2. Go to the individually sub-panel. 3. Verify the entity type is set to comps. 4. Click original name = and select the component, center, from the list of the models components. 5. Click once in the new name = field to highlight its text. 6. Type shells. 7. Rename the component. 8. Return to the main menu.
Step 7: Identify and delete all of the empty components.

1. Access the delete panel in one of the following ways: From the Edit menu, click Delete On the Tool page, go to the delete panel.
2. Switch the entity selector to comps. 3. Click preview empty. The header bar displays the message: "3 entities are empty." These are the mid1, mid2, and end components that no longer have elements in them. 4. Click the entity selector comps once to see a list of the identified empty components. A complete list of the models components appears. The empty components are indicated with an activated check box. 5. Return to the delete panel. 6. Click delete entity. The header bar displays the message, "Deleted 3 comps".
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 8: Delete all the geometry lines in the model.

You should still be in the delete panel. 1. Switch the entity selector to lines. 2. Select lines >> all. 3. Click delete entity. 4. The two lines you created earlier are deleted. 5. Return to the main menu.
Step 9: Move the component, geometry, to the front in the components list.
1. Access the reorder panel in one of the following ways: From the Organize menu, click Reorder On the Tool page, go to the reorder panel
2. Click the comps selector to see a list of the models components. 3. On the right side of the panel, click the switch and select name(id). (Switch from name to name(id).) 4. Notice the IDs of the components. The ID for shells is one, the ID for rigid is five, and the ID for geometry is six. 5. Select the component, geometry. 6. Click select to complete the selection. 7. Activate the option move to: front. 8. Reorder the component, geometry. 9. The header bar displays the message, "The selected collectors have been moved." 10. Click the comps selector once to review the reordered list of components. 11. Notice the component, geometry, is at the top of the list. However, it still has the same ID, six. 12. Return to the main menu.
Step 10: Renumber the components to be the same as their position in the list.
1. Access the renumber panel in one of the following ways: From the Organize menu, click Renumber On the Tool page, go to the renumber panel
2. Go to the single sub-panel. 3. Switch the entity selector to comps. 4. Click the comps selector to see a list of the models components.
HyperMesh 8.0
5. On the panels right side, select comps >> all. 6. Click select to complete the selection of components. 7. Verify start with = is set to 1. 8. Verify increment by = is set to 1. 9. Verify offset = is set to 0. 10. Renumber the components. 11. Click the comps selector to review the models component list. 12. Notice the components are numbered according to their position in the list. 13. Return to the main menu. Having components with IDs that do not reflect their position in the models list of components will not result in errors. However, having components with IDs that do reflect their position in the models list of components can be helpful for organizational purposes.
Step 11: Create an assembly containing the components, shells and rigid.
1. The assemblies panel can be accessed in one of the following ways: From the Organize menu, click Assemblies On the Tool page, enter the assemblies panel
2. Go to the create sub-panel. 3. For name = specify elements. 4. Click the comps selector to see a list of the models components. 5. Select the components shells and rigid. 6. Click select to complete the selection of components. 7. Create the assembly. 8. Return to the main menu.
Step 12: Create a load collector named constraints.

1. Access the collectors panel in one of the following ways: On the Organize menu, click Collectors On the toolbar, click the collectors icon .
2. Go to the create sub-panel. 3. Use the drop down arrow 5. Select color >> red. 6. Leave the card image = field blank. to select load collectors.
4. For name = specify constraints.
HyperMesh 8.0
7. Create the load collector. The header bar displays the message: "The collector was created". 8. Left click anywhere in the HyperMesh window (except on a button) to dismiss the message in the header bar. 9. Click comp: in the toolbar. Notice that loadcol constraints appears in the popup. Now, the current load collector is constraints. Any loads that are created will be organized into this load collector. 10. Return to the main menu.
Step 13: Move the models one constraint into the load collector, constraints.
The existing load collector, loads, contains several forces and one constraint. The organize panel is used to move the one constraint in the load collector, constraints. 1. Access the organize panel in one of the following ways: On the Organize menu, click Entities On the Tool page, go to the organize panel.
2. Switch the entity selector to loads. 3. Select loads >> by config. 4. Click config = and select const. 5. Toggle from displayed to all. 6. Click select entities. 7. Verify that destination = is set to the load collector, constraints. 8. Move the select loads (constraints) into the load collector, constraints.
Step 14: Opening the Model Browser.

1. Click the Model tab in the macro menu if the macro menu is open. Or go to the View menu, select Model Browser.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 15: Create a component from the model browser.

1. Right-click in the white blank area below the list of components, materials, load collectors, and system collectors in the model browser. 2. From the pop-up menu, select New > Component.
3. Click on the color icon and chose the components color as pink 4. Click Create to create the component.
HyperMesh 8.0
The component, named component1 is appended to the list.
5. In the Model Browser, click the + button beside the Components entity to see that Component1 is bolded in the list to indicate it is the current component.
Step 16: Review the existing assembly elements from the model browser.
Left click the + button next to Assembly Hierarchy then click the + button next to elements to expand its tree. Notice that it contains two components, rigid and shells. Note that the assemblies panel allows you to add components, which are in one assembly to another assembly. The model browser does not allow you to do this, but you can create assemblies from it.
Step 17: Add the components, geometry and component1, to the assembly, assem_mid, using the Model Browser.
1. Left click on the component name, geometry, to select it. 2. Press the Ctrl key and left click on the component name, component1. 3. Press the Ctrl key and left click on a selected item to deselect it. 4. Left click on any one of the selected components and drag the mouse pointer over the assembly, assem_mid. When assem_mid is highlighted, release the mouse button. The selected components are added to the assembly, assem_mid. Use the Shift key and left mouse button to select multiple items in the model browser list at one time. Left click on the first item in the list. Then press the Shift key and left click on the last item in the list.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 18: Rename the assembly, assem_mid to assem_geom, from the Model Browser.
1. Right click on assem_mid and select Rename. Assem_mid is highlighted and ready for editing. 2. Type assem_geom and press Enter.
Step 19: Delete component1 from the model browser.

1. Right click on component1 and select Delete. Component1 is deleted. 2. Notice that in the list, there is no bolded component name. This indicates there is no current component specified.
Step 20: Set the current component from the model browser.
1. Right click on shells and select Make Current. The component name is bolded. 2. Notice that the header bar contains comp: shells.
HyperMesh 8.0
Section 5: 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 work on details inside the model. HyperMesh has many functions to help you control the view, visibility, and visualization of entities. This exercise introduces you to these functions. In this tutorial, you will learn how to: Control the points of view, mouse, and toolbar. Control the visibility of entities using the display panel, mask panel, and tools on the utility menu. Control how entities look by using the toolbar, and the model browser. Rename components. Identify and delete empty components. Delete all the geometry lines.
HyperMesh 8.0
Display Control: General Topics
Viewing Where you view the model from (point of view)
Using the mouse Viewing tools on the toolbar menu

Visualization What entities look like
Wireframe vs. Shaded graphics Visualization tools on the toolbar

Visibility What you see on the screen
Disp panel Mask panel Find panel Utility Menu
Display Control: Viewing: Mouse Buttons
Left mouse button
+CTRL & drag for rotate +CTRL & click on entity to change center of rotation +CTRL & click in graphics area, off entities to reset
center to middle of screen
Middle mouse button
+CTRL & drag for zoom +CTRL & click for fit
Right mouse button
+CTRL & drag for pan
HyperMesh 8.0
Display Control: Viewing: Toolbar
Plot, Refresh (P)
Redraw / refresh the graphics area
Previous View (B) Fit View (F) Circle Zoom (Z) Dynamic Zoom (S) Zoom In (+) Zoom Out (-)
Go back to the previous view
Fit the model to your screen Draw a circle (freeform) around the area to be magnified Zoom in or out by dragging the mouse vertically Zoom into the center of the screen Zoom out
3
Dynamic Rotate (A) Dynamic Spin (R)
Manually rotate by grabbing a point and dragging Rotate relative to the mouse cursor and screen center Pan the model Select and click on the screen to re-center the model
Pan Center (C) Rotate Left Rotate Right Rotate Up Rotate Down
Incremental Rotation
HyperMesh 8.0
Spherical Clipping
Focus on specific areas by displaying only portions inside a three-dimensional spherical volume
User Views (V) True View (T)
User Views
Set pre-defined views Save and restore user-defined views Rotate around the axis normal to the screen (clockwise & counterclockwise)
True View
Define a view based on a vector of angles

Display Control: Visualization: Elements
Wireframe vs. shaded mode
For visualization of elements Wireframe mode is default Shaded graphics

Elements can be shaded during rotation Has many options for visualization Wireframe or shaded mode can be set using icons on the toolbar Wireframe Shaded
HyperMesh 8.0
Display Control: Visualization: Elements
FE Styles available from the View pull down Visual Attributes: Element Visualization Modes
Wireframe
Hidden Line
Transparent
Hidden w/ Mesh Lines
Hidden w/ Feature Lines
Display Control: Visualization: Surfaces
Various surface shading options are available on the Toolbar:
Wireframe
Shaded with Surface edges
Wireframe with Surf lines
Shaded
HyperMesh 8.0
Display Control: Visualization: Surfaces
transparency is available from the View
Display pull down
Allows surface shading in a component to be set to any level of transparency
Viewing the midsurface of solid geometry
Display Control: Visualization: Misc.
Color panel
Changes the color of components
Options : graphics sub-panel
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HyperMesh 8.0
Display Control: Model browser
Displays collectors in a tree format Display control at the collectors level:
Visibility of all entities within the collector

Toggle for geometry vs. elements
Color of the collector Visualization mode of all entities in the

collector
Note: Does not allow for display control of

individual entities in a collector.
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Display Control: Visibility: Utility Menu
Disp page Control of visibility by entity type
All / On : Displays / unmasks all of the selected entity

type Added to whatever is already displayed
Off / None : Switches off display or masks all of the

selected entity type
Only : Displays only the selected entity type and

switches off display of all other entity types.
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HyperMesh 8.0
Display Control: Visibility: Mask and Find
Mask panel
Makes individual entities invisible (masked) Can unmask entities that are masked
Entities in selected collectors will be unmasked An entitys collector must be displayed for the entity to be visible Turning a collector off then on will unmask all of its entities
Mask Find / Unmask
Find panel
Selects individual entities and makes them visible Found entities will have their collector automatically
turned on in disp panel The non-displayed entities in the collector are now masked
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Display Control: Visibility: Disp Panel
Controls what collectors are displayed on the screen
Displays / hides entities within selected collector

Some collectors have a toggle for displaying FE entities & geometry
Display of a components FE entities (elements, loads, etc.) or geometry are

independent of each other
Can display only elements, only geometry, both, or neither
Collector Types
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HyperMesh 8.0
Exercise: Viewing a Model

Step 1: Retrieve the HyperMesh model file, bumper.hm. Step 2: Manipulate the model view using the mouse controls.
The Ctrl + mouse keys are used to rotate the model, change the center of rotation, zoom, fit, and pan. 1. Move the mouse pointer into the graphics area. 2. Press the Ctrl key + left mouse button and move the mouse around. The model rotates with the movement of the mouse. A small white square appears in the middle of the graphics area, indicating the center of the rotation. Release the left mouse button and press it again to rotate the model in a different direction. 3. Press the Ctrl key and quick click the left mouse button anywhere on the model. The center of rotation square appears near where you clicked. HyperMesh searches for one of the following conditions in the listed order and relocates the center of rotation at or near the first condition identified. If none of the conditions are met, the center of rotation is relocated to the center of the screen. A nearby node or surface vertex A nearby surface edge to project onto A nearby geometry surface or shaded element
4. Press the Ctrl key + left mouse button to rotate the model and see the change in rotation behavior. 5. Press the Ctrl key and quick click the left mouse button anywhere in the graphics area, except for on the model. The center of rotation square is relocated to the center of the screen. 6. Press the Ctrl key + left mouse button to rotate the model and observe the change in rotation behavior. 7. Press the Ctrl key + middle mouse button, move the mouse around, and then release the mouse button. A white line is drawn along the path of the mouse movement. When the mouse button is released, HyperMesh zooms in on the portion of the model where the line was drawn. You can also simply draw a linear line to zoom in on a portion of the model. 8. Press the Ctrl key + quick click the middle mouse button. The model is fitted to the graphics area. 9. Press the Ctrl key and spin the mouse wheel.
HyperMesh 8.0
The model zooms in or out depending on which direction you spin the mouse wheel. 10. Move the mouse pointer to a different location in the graphics area and repeat #9. Notice the model zooms in or out from where the mouse handle is located. 11. Press the Ctrl key + quick click the middle mouse button to fit the model to the graphics area. 12. Press the Ctrl key + right mouse button and move the mouse around. The model is panned (translated) according to the mouse movement.
Step 3: Manipulate the view of the model using the rotate functions on the toolbar.
1. On the toolbar, left click the dynamic rotate / spin icon 2. Move the mouse pointer into the graphics area. The center of rotation square appears. 3. Press and hold the left mouse button, and then move the mouse around. The model rotates with the movement of the mouse, similar to the way the model rotates when you press the Ctrl key + left mouse button and move the mouse. 4. Click the middle mouse button on the model. The center of rotation square appears near where you clicked. 5. Move the mouse pointer out of the graphics area or right click to exit the rotation mode. 6. On the toolbar, right click on the dynamic rotate / spin icon pointer into the graphics area. and move the mouse .
The header bar displays the message "Move the mouse into the graphics region".
Again, the center of rotation square appears. You can click the middle mouse button on the model to change the center of rotation. 7. Press the right mouse button near the center of rotation square. The model rotates continuously in the direction of your mouse pointer, relative to the center of rotation. 8. With the right mouse button still pressed, move the mouse around slowly. The direction and speed of the rotating model changes. The farther the mouse pointer is from the center of rotation, the quicker the model rotates. You can release the right mouse button, and then press it again to rotate the model in a different direction. 9. Middle mouse click anywhere in the graphics area, except on the model. The center of rotation square is relocated to the screens center. 10. Move the mouse pointer out of the graphics area or left click to exit the rotation mode.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 4: Manipulate the view of the model by using the zoom in and out functions on the toolbar.
1. On the toolbar, left click the circle / dynamic zoom icon 2. Move the mouse pointer into the graphics area. 3. Press the left mouse button, move the mouse around, and then release the left mouse button. A white line is drawn along the path of the mouse movement. When the mouse button is released, HyperMesh zooms in on the portion of the model where the line was drawn. You can also simply draw a linear line to zoom in on a portion of the model. This function is similar to pressing the Ctrl key + middle mouse button to zoom into a portion of the model. 4. On the toolbar, click the fit button . .
The header bar displays the message, "Circle the data to be zoomed in on".
The model is fitted to the graphics area. 5. On the toolbar, left click the zoom in / out icon .
The model is zoomed in by the factor specified in the options panel. 6. On the toolbar, right click the zoom in / out icon The model is zoomed out by the same factor. 7. On the Preferences, menu click Options. 8. Go to the modeling sub-panel. 9. For zoom factor =, specify 4. 10. Return to the main menu. 11. On the toolbar, left click the zoom in / out icon . .
The model is zoomed in by the larger, specified factor. 12. On the toolbar, right click the circle / dynamic zoom icon .
The header bar displays the message "Move the mouse into the graphics region". 13. Move the mouse pointer into the graphics area, press the right mouse button, and then move the mouse pointer up and down. The model is zoomed in and out according to how far you move the mouse up or down. 14. Move the mouse pointer out of the graphics area or left click to exit the dynamic zoom mode.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 5: Manipulate the model view using the arrows and view panel on the toolbar.
1. On the toolbar, right click or left click any of the rotate icons .
The model rotates in the direction of the arrow by the rotation angle specified in the options panel. 2. On the toolbar, left click the view icon The view panel pops-up. 3. Click top to view the model along the Z axis. 4. Exit the view panel by moving the mouse pointer out of the pop-up window. 5. On the Preferences menu, click Options. 6. Go to the modeling sub-panel. 7. For rotate angle =, specify a value of 90. 8. Return to the main menu. 9. Click on either rotate icons . .
10. Notice the model rotates by the new specified rotation angle, 90. 11. Change the view of the model to any view. 12. Use Ctrl + left mouse button, or the rotate icons on the toolbar to rotate the model. 13. Use Ctrl + middle mouse button, or the zoom icons on the toolbar to zoom into or out on the model. 14. On the toolbar, left click the view icon. 15. For save1 = , enter my view. 16. Click save1 = to save the view. 17. Click top to see a different view of the model. 18. Click restore1 to retrieve the view stored for save1 =. Both the view angle of the model and level of zoom are saved. 19. Exit the view panel.
Step 6: Control the display of components using the toolbar.

1. On the toolbar, click the Shaded Elements & Mesh Lines icon 2. Notice the shell element now have been shaded. 3. Right-click the Shaded Elements & Mesh Lines icon Elements & Feature Lines icon . to access the Shaded .
HyperMesh 8.0
4. Notice now the elements shading does not show any mesh lines. Only feature lines are displayed. 5. Right-click the Shaded Elements & Feature Lines icon Elements icon . to access the Shaded
6. Notice now the feature lines are also removed from the display. 7. Click the Wireframe Elements (Skin Only) icon mode. to return to the wireframe shading
Step 7: Control the display of components using the Visual Attributes panel.
1. On the View menu, click FE Styles to go to the Visual Attributes panel. 2. Click the hidden line option .
3. Select a component in the list of components. The components elements are displayed in hidden line (shaded) mode. 4. Click all to select all components and set their display mode to hidden line (shaded) mode. 5. Experiment with the other display modes. Icon Display Mode Wireframe Element edges are displayed with lines. Hidden Line The element is displayed as a filled polygon. Hidden Line with Mesh Lines The element is displayed as a filled polygon with the feature edges drawn in mesh line color. Hidden Line with Feature Lines The element as a filled polygon with the feature edges in mesh line color. Transparent The element is displayed as a filled transparent polygon. 6. Return to the main menu.
Step 8: Control the visibility of various model entities using tools on the Utility menu.
1. On the Disp page of the Utility menu, click Everything: All. All the entities in the model will be displayed. 2. Click Elements Only. Only elements are displayed, everything else is switched off.
HyperMesh 8.0
3. Click Loads: On. All the loads in the model are added onto the elements already present. 4. Click Loads: Off.
Step 9: Control the visibility of component collectors using the Display panel on the toolbar.
1. On the toolbar, click the Display icon to enter the Display panel.
2. On the panels right side, switch the entity type to comps. 3. Toggle the components entity type to elems. (It may currently be set to geom.) 4. Clear all check boxes except, center and mid1. 5. The elements in the components, center and mid1, are now displayed. 6. Press f on the keyboard. The displayed components are fitted to the graphics area. 7. Toggle elems to geoms. In the components list, none of the components are displayed for geometry. A component collector has two compartments, one for elements and the other for geometry. 8. Activate the components, mid2 and end. 9. Fit the displayed components to the graphics area. The geometry in the components, mid2 and end, and the elements in the components, center and mid1, are displayed. 10. Return to the main menu.
Step 10: Control the display of entities using the mask panel.
1. Access the mask panel in one of the following ways: On the Edit menu, click Mask. On the Tool page, enter the mask panel.
2. Go to the mask sub-panel. 3. With the elems selector active, select elems >> by collector. 4. Select the component, mid1. 5. Click select to complete the selection of components. 6. From the graphics area, select a few elements in the center (blue) component. 7. Mask the elements. The elements in the mid1 component and the elements you selected from the graphics area are no longer displayed.
HyperMesh 8.0
8. On the toolbar, click the Display icon 9. Verify the entity type is set to comps.
to enter the Display panel.
10. Toggle the components entity type from geoms to elems. 11. Notice that the components, center and mid1, are still displayed; their check boxes are activated even though some or all of the elements in these components are masked (hidden). 12. Return to the mask panel. 13. Click unmask all. All the elements in the components, center and mid1, are visible again. Notice the elements in the other components are not displayed. This is because these components are not active in the Display panel on the toolbar. 14. Return to the main menu.
Step 11: Control the display of entities using the find panel.
1. Access the find panel in one of the following ways: On the Edit menu, click Find. On the Tool page, enter the find panel.
2. Go to the find entities sub-panel. 3. Select elems >> by collector, and select the component, end, from the components list. 4. Find the elements. The elements in the component, end, are displayed. 5. On the toolbar, click the Display icon to enter the Display panel.
6. Notice that the component, end, is now active (displayed). This is because the collector containing the entities that are to be displayed (found) must be active. 7. Return to the find panel. 8. Go to the find attached sub-panel. 9. For attached to:, select elems >> displayed. 10. Find the elements. Some of the elements in the components, mid2 and rigid, are now displayed. These elements are immediately adjacent and connected to the selected elements. 11. Return to the main menu. 12. Enter the mask panel. 13. Click unmask all.
HyperMesh 8.0
All of the models elements are now displayed. This is because the find panel finds the entities it is supposed to find, activates (displays) the corresponding collectors, and masks the other entities in the collectors it activated. In this case, the last find command displayed on the components, mid2 and rigid, in the disp panel. 14. Return to the main menu.
Step 12: Control the visibility of assemblies using the Display panel.
1. On the toolbar, click the Display icon to enter the Display panel.
2. On the panels right side, switch the entity type to ASSEMS. 3. Right-click the assem_mid check box to deactivate (hide) the assembly. The assembly, assem_mid, contains the components, mid1 and mid2. The elements in these components are now hidden. 4. Return to the main menu.
Step 13: Customizing the Model Browser.

1. Click the Model tab in the macro menu if the macro menu is open. Or go to the View menu, select Model Browser. 2. Click the Show icon (at the top of the model browser).
Show is used to filter the entities types displayed on the model browser. 3. Click the down arrow next to Show: All 4. Switch off Assembly, System, and Material Collector. 5. Notice how these items no longer show up in the Model Browser. 6. Click OK at the top of the entity filter dialog.
Step 14: Turn on/off the display of collectors using the Model Browser.
1. Left click the + next to Loadcols to expand its tree. 2. Left click on loads to turn on the display of this load collector. 3. Left click on the components, mid1 and mid2, to turn on their display. 4. At the top of the model browser, click the Geoms icon and deselect the Elems icon by clicking on it. 5. Click the Display None button .
All the displayed geometry is turned off.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 15: Change the visualization of components using the Model Browser.
1. Right click the visual mode icon next to mid2. 2. From the pop-up select a shading mode.
3. Observe the change in shading of mid2. 4. Cycle through the shading modes.
Step 16: Change the color of components using the Model Browser.
1. Right click the color icon next to mid2. 2. From the color pop-up select a different color.
3. Observe the change in color of the elements in mid2.
HyperMesh 8.0
HyperMesh 8.0
Chapter 2: Shell Meshing
Chapter 2
Shell Meshing
Section 1: AutoMeshing
The optimal starting point for creating a shell mesh for a part is to have surface geometry defining the part. The most efficient method for creating a mesh representing the part includes using the automesh panel and creating a mesh directly on the parts surfaces. The automesh panel is a key meshing tool in HyperMesh. Its meshing module allows you to specify and control element size, density, type, and node spacing, and perform quality checks before accepting the final mesh. A part can be meshed all at once or in portions. To mesh a part all at once, it may be advantageous to first perform geometry cleanup of the surfaces, which can be done in HyperMesh. The purpose for this section is to help you become proficient with using the automesh panels meshing module. In this tutorial, you will learn how to: Mesh all the surfaces at once specifying different element sizes and element types. Practice changing the element density along surface edges. Practice checking element quality and changing the mesh pattern by changing the mesh algorithm. Preview the mesh on all the unmeshed surfaces. Practice changing the element type and node spacing (biasing) along surface edges. Re-mesh surfaces.
The optimal starting point for creating a shell mesh for a part is to have geometry surfaces defining the part. The most efficient method for creating a mesh representing the part includes using the automesh panel and creating a mesh directly on the parts surfaces.
HyperMesh 8.0
Automeshing: What is it?
The automesh panel creates shell mesh on existing surfaces Allows rapid generation of mesh
Most parts from CAD software come in as surfaces Automeshing allows all surfaces of a part to be meshed at the same time Mesh on properly connected geometry assures proper connectivity of mesh
Automeshing: What is topology?
Topology is how surfaces connect 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 are
considered to be connected (equivalenced)
Surface edges are categorized, named, and colored according to the number of
associated surfaces: Free edge (red)
Associated with only 1 surface Surfaces with a free edge between them are NOT equivalenced at that edge
T-junction edge (yellow)

Associated with 3 or more surfaces Example: surfaces forming a T-connection Surfaces are equivalenced
Shared edge (green)

Associated with 2 surfaces Surfaces are equivalenced
Suppressed edge (blue)

Surfaces are treated as though combined into 1 surface
HyperMesh 8.0
Automeshing: How topology affects the mesh
Surface edges control how mesh created on adjacent surfaces interact: Free edges (red)
Free edge between 2 surfaces
Shared edges (green)

Shared edge between 2 surfaces
5 3 5 2 3 5 2
Nodes are placed along edge for meshing
5 3 5 5 2 3 5 2
Mesh is discontinuous; nodes along the free edge are not equivalenced (Nodes only separated for illustration)
Mesh has proper connectivity; nodes along the edge are equivalenced
Automeshing: How topology affects the mesh
Surface edges control how mesh created on adjacent surfaces interact: Suppressed edges (blue)
Suppressed edge between 2 surfaces
T-junction edges (yellow)

Non-manifold edge between 3 surfaces
Edge is ignored; nodes are not placed along the edge Area is treated just like 1 surface; there is no line of nodes along the edge
5 5

3
5 5 4 3 3 5
4 3 5
Mesh has proper connectivity; nodes along the edge are equivalenced
HyperMesh 8.0
Automeshing: The Automesh panel
Select surfaces to be meshed Destination component:

surface(s) being meshed Identify and Select:
- Elements will be created in the current component - Elements will be created in the component of the

operation
- Click to select surfaces that have not been meshed - Click to select surfaces that failed to mesh in a previous
Automeshing: The Automesh Panel
Meshing Mode:
Creates mesh per the settings in the automesh panel As automatic; also opens the meshing module to interactively edit the mesh
Action buttons: Deletes old & creates a new mesh on the selected surfaces
Deletes mesh that was just created on the selected surfaces
HyperMesh 8.0
Automeshing: The Automesh Panel
Mesh Parameters:
Target size of elements to create Type of elements to be created - To keep elements roughly the same size - To prevent the mesh from producing skewed elements - Separates the re-meshed selection from the adjoining mesh so that they are no longer connected - If checked, activates all manual adjustments and options previously used to mesh - Forces opposite surface edges to use consistent edge densities
Automeshing: The Meshing Module
Allows interactive modifications of a mesh during mesh creation Useful for creating desirable mesh patterns Creates and modifies a preview of the mesh Used by: Interactive meshing mode in automesh panel Ruled, spline, skin, drag, spin, line drag, & elem offset panels Definitions: Density number of nodes or elements created along a surface edge Node Seeding Placement of nodes along a surface edge
HyperMesh 8.0
General Controls
Creates and updates the mesh preview using the current settings User updates some mesh parameters on a surface, then clicks mesh to view the results Accepting and Canceling Cancels out of the meshing module; no mesh is created Creates the mesh as per the mesh preview and returns to the automesh panel Offers Fit and controls from the View panel Only applies to surfaces that are currently being meshed
Density Control element density along edges Mesh Style Set method and type that determines mesh pattern and smoothing
mesh method:
Autodecide Automatically selects one of the below methods map as rectangle For rectangular shaped areas; can sometimes be used for other shapes as well map as triangle Triangular shaped areas map as pentagon Pentagonal shaped areas free (unmapped) For areas of any shape
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HyperMesh 8.0
Mesh Style, continued
Type Determine the type of elements to be used in the mesh

Quad dominant mesh; will use trias if necessary Equilateral (60-60-60) tria mesh Quad mesh with use of trias to create as rectilinear a mesh as possible Isosceles (45-45-90) tria mesh
Quads
Mixed
Trias
R-trias
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Mesh Style, continued
Element type and method combine to determine the overall style of your mesh This style can be viewed by mesh that transitions between different density
values:
Mesh Types Quad Mesh Methods Map as Rectangle Mixed Trias R-trias
Free (Unmapped)
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HyperMesh 8.0
Biasing Controls the distribution of nodes during node seeding

Biasing
Checks Evaluates element quality of the generated mesh
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Automeshing: Process and Strategy
Use geometry cleanup tools to address surface connectivity Automesh the surfaces
Set the approximate element size you want Use type and algorithm to set the overall mesh style Alter individual densities to find better mesh patterns Change some biasing on problem surfaces (this can change mesh pattern as well)
Goal: get the mesh to be approximately 80-90% good quality Use HyperMeshs mesh editing tools to fix the 10-20% elements that have
poor quality or bad mesh pattern
Dont delete a mesh that is 90% good. Keep it and fix the 10% that is bad
Experience is key: EXPERIMENT!
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HyperMesh 8.0
Exercise: Meshing a Channel Bracket

This exercise uses the model file, channel.hm.
Step 1: Retrieve and view the model file, channel.hm.

Take a few moments to observe the model using the different visual options available in HyperMesh (rotation, zooming, etc.).
Step 2: Mesh all the parts surfaces at once using an element size of 5 and the mixed element type (quads and trias).
1. Access the automesh panel in one of the following ways: On the Mesh menu, click AutoMesh From the 2D page, click automesh
2. Go to size and bias sub-panel. 3. Select surfs >> displayed. 4. For element size, specify 5. 5. Leave the mesh type: set to mixed. 6. On the menu panels bottom left side, leave interactive as the active mesh mode. 7. Check the header bar and verify that the current component collector is Middle Surface. 8. Ensure that the elements to surf comp/elements to current comp toggle is set to elems to current comp.
HyperMesh 8.0
9. Click mesh to enter the meshing module. 10. Notice that you are in the density sub-panel of the meshing module. There is node seeding and a number on each surface edge. The number is the number of elements that were created along the edge. 11. Click return to accept the mesh as the final mesh. At this point, you could be done using the automesh panel to mesh the part. The mesh quality is very good. However, you will remain in the meshing module to perform the next steps, which demonstrate how to use various sub-panels to interactively control the creation of the mesh.
Step 3: Delete the mesh.

1. Press the F2 key to access the delete panel. 2. Switch the entity selector to elems. 3. Select elems >> all. 4. Click delete entity. 5. Return to the automesh panel.
Step 4: Mesh the surface having three fixed points interior to its surface.
You should still be in the automesh panel, size and bias sub-panel. 1. Leave all options in the menu panel as they are. 2. Click mesh to enter the meshing module. 3. Preview the mesh generated.
Step 5: Fill only the surface being meshed to the graphics area.
1. File the surface to the graphics area in one of the following ways. On the density sub-panel, click f. Click local view to fill.
Step 6: From the graphics area, specify a new element density along surface edges.
1. From the density sub-panel, click the selector, adjust : edge to make it active. 2. From the graphics area, left-click on an edges element density number to increase it by one. 3. Right-click on an edges number to decrease it by one. 4. Click and hold the mouse pointer on an edges number and drag the mouse up or down to increase or decrease the number. 5. Click mesh to update the preview mesh based on the change.
HyperMesh 8.0
Rather than click mesh, you can middle mouse click in the graphics area to update the preview mesh.
Step 7: From the menu panel, specify a new element density along surface edges.
1. From the density sub-panel, for element density specify 10. 2. Activate the selector set : edge . 3. Click on an edges number to change its value to 10. 4. Update the mesh to preview the change. 5. Change all edge densities to 10 by clicking set all to. 6. Click mesh to preview the change.
Step 8: From the menu panel, specify a new element size to adjust element densities along surface edges.
You should still be in the density sub-panel. 1. For elem size, specify 7. 2. Make active the selector calculate: edge. 3. Click on an edges number to calculate it based on an element size of 7. The new number is rounded up. 4. Click mesh to preview the change. 5. Click recalc all to base all edge densities on an element size of 7. 6. Click mesh to preview the change.
Step 9: Change all edge element densities to reflect the initial element size of 5.
1. For element size, specify 5. 2. Click recalc all. 3. Click mesh to preview the change. 4. Return to accept the mesh and go back to the size and bias sub-panel.
Step 10: Preview a mesh of the channels rib.

You should still be in the automesh panel, size and bias sub-panel. 1. With the surfs selector active, select the rib surface. 2. Leave all options in the menu panel set they are. 3. Click mesh to enter the meshing module. 4. Preview the mesh generated.
HyperMesh 8.0
5. Click local view and select the rear view to display the ribs surface in this position, filled to the graphics area.
Step 11: Check the quality of the ribs preview mesh.

1. Go to the checks sub-panel. 2. Click aspect to identify all elements having an aspect ratio greater than 5. 3. Notice that no elements fail this check. In the header bar, the highest aspect ratio value reported is 1.72. 4. For jacobian specify 0.8. 5. Click jacobian to identify all elements having a jacobian less than 0.8. 6. Notice that several elements fail this check and are outlined red. The header bar reports the smallest jacobian value to be 0.71. 7. Change jacobian back to 0.7. 8. Verify that no elements have a jacobian less than 0.7. (Click jacobian.) 9. Check for quad elements having a min angle less than 45. 10. Smallest angle is _____. 11. Check for quad elements having a max angle greater than 135. 12. Largest angle is _____.
Step 12: Change the ribs mesh pattern by changing the mesh algorithm used for its surface.
1. Go to the mesh style sub-panel. 2. Notice that the edges element density numbers disappear. Interior to the ribs surface is a blue icon. It indicates the free (unmapped) mesh method is currently being used to mesh the surface.
HyperMesh 8.0
Mesh on rib using the free (unmapped) mesh algorithm
3. Under mesh method: set the menu to map as rectangle. 4. Click set all found under mesh method. 5. Notice that the blue icon changes to reflect the new mesh algorithm. 6. Click mesh to preview the change.
Mesh on rib using the map as rectangle mesh algorithm
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 13: Check the quality of the ribs preview mesh again.
1. Go the checks sub-panel. 2. Check for elements having an aspect ratio greater than 5. Highest value reported is _____. 3. Check for elements having a jacobian less than 0.7. Lowest value reported is _____. 4. Check for quad elements having a min angle less than 45. Smallest value reported is _____. 5. Check for quad elements having a max angle greater than 135. Highest value reported is _____. 6. Notice that the free (unmapped) mesh has better jacobian than the map as rectangle mesh.
Step 14: Change the ribs mesh algorithm back to free (unmapped).
1. Go to the mesh style sub-panel. 2. Under mesh method: select free (unmapped). 3. Click set all found under mesh method. 4. Click mesh to preview the change. 5. Click return to accept the mesh as final and go back to the automesh panel.
Step 15: Preview a mesh of all displayed, unmeshed surfaces.

You should still be in the automesh panel, size and bias sub-panel. 1. Press V on the keyboard, and select iso 1. 2. Accept all the default values. 3. On the menu panels bottom right side, click failed surfs. 4. Identify all displayed surfaces that failed to mesh. The header bar displays the following message: "There are no surfaces with meshing errors". This is correct; all surfaces you selected to mesh so far have a mesh on them. 5. Click unmeshed surfs to identify and select all displayed unmeshed surfaces. 6. Click mesh to enter the meshing module. 7. Preview the mesh generated.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 16: Change the element type for some surfaces to trias.
1. Go to the mesh style sub-panel. 2. Click on toggle surf found under elem type and notice that interior to each surface is a blue icon. It indicates the mixed element type (quads and trias) is currently being used to mesh the surface. 3. Under element type: select the menu trias. 4. Under element type: activate the selector set surf. (Click set surf.) 5. Left click on the blue icon in each of the channels bottom two surfaces to set their element type to trias. 6. Click mesh to preview the change.
Preview of mesh with trias element type for the bottom two surfaces
Step 17: Adjust the node spacing on surface edge (biasing).

1. Go to the biasing sub-panel. 2. Notice the bias intensity number (default 0.000) on each surface edge. 3. Leave the bias style set to linear. This style corresponds to the positive slope of a straight line over the interval [0,1] of the real line. For a positive bias intensity, smaller elements are at the start of the edge. 4. Verify that the selector adjust: edge is active. 5. Left or right click on the edge biasing intensity number as indicated in the image below to increase or decrease its value by 0.1.
HyperMesh 8.0
Preview mesh in the biasing sub-panel
6. Click and hold the mouse pointer on the same edge biasing intensity number and drag the mouse up to increase its value to 3.0. 7. Click mesh to preview the change. 8. For intensity= specify 10. 9. Activate the selector, calculate: edge. 10. Click on the same edge bias intensity to change it to 10. 11. Click mesh to preview the change. 12. Switch bias style: bellcurve. This style distributes nodes along the edge in a pattern that is symmetric across the midpoint of the edge. For a positive biasing intensity, the smaller elements are at the start and end of the edge. 13. Activate the selector set: edge, to make it active. 14. Click on the same edges blue icon to change it from linear bias style to the bellcurve bias style. 15. Click mesh to preview the change. 16. Click return to accept the final mesh and go back to the automesh panel.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 18: Re-mesh the channels bottom two surfaces.

You should still be in the automesh panel, size and bias sub-panel. 1. On the panels bottom left side, switch the mesh mode from interactive to automatic. This mode is not interactive; it does not take you to the meshing module. Rather, it meshes surfaces using only the basic parameters of the automesh panel. 2. With the surfs selector active, select the channels bottom two surfaces (having the tria mesh). 3. Click Mesh to delete the existing mesh on the surfaces and create a new mesh 4. Observe the resulting quad mesh on the re-meshed surfaces. 5. Click return to go to the main menu.
Re-meshed surfaces with element edge densities

Meshing of the channel part is complete. Now is a good time to save the model.
HyperMesh 8.0
HyperMesh 8.0
Section 2: Checking and Editing Mesh

Once a mesh is created, HyperMesh has many tools for checking element quality and modifying the mesh to make it more desirable. These tools can be used at almost any point in the meshing process. This section is separated from sections on creating mesh so that the focus can be on checking and editing tools. In this tutorial, you will learn how to: Identify shell element connectivity problems Correct shell element connectivity problems Review the models shell elements to ensure connectivity problems were corrected Re-mesh the elements along the rib
HyperMesh 8.0
Checking & Editing Mesh: 1D, 2D, & 3D pages
Edit element Combine merge 2 or more elements into 1single element Split draw a line to cut elements Cleanup interactively drag nodes to improve element quality Split divide selected elements in a selected manner Replace merge 2 nodes into 1 node (elements are now connected) Detach disconnect selected elements from other elements
Checking & Editing Mesh: 2D page
Automesh set the entity selector to elems to remesh patches of elements
VERY useful for improving local element quality and mesh pattern
Smooth improves quality of selected elements Quality index
Set criteria for all standard quality checks Simultaneously evaluate element quality Combine all checks into a single value called composite quality index value Edit nodes and elements interactively or by automatically maximizing element quality
HyperMesh 8.0
Checking & Editing Mesh: Tool page
Check Elems evaluate elements against various element quality criteria
Jacobian, warpage, angle, min. length, aspect ratio, skew

Edges
Display free edges in the model by creating 1D elements on each one Equivalence (merge) nodes within a specified tolerance
Normals display and correct element normals Penetration display and correct element penetration
Checking & Editing Mesh: Utility Menu
Geom / Mesh page
Add washer add a ring of quad elements around a

hole in existing mesh
Trim Hole add a hole to existing mesh Fill Hole remove a hole from existing mesh Box Trim cut elements passing through a box
shape
Bead add a bead shaped mesh to an existing mesh
HyperMesh 8.0
Checking & Editing Mesh: Utility Menu
QA / Model page
Entire page has useful tools for checking and editing mesh Special mention:
Quality Report check all standard quality checks at once and write out a text report Model Tour tours the model, component by component, checking edges and finding attached elements Elems>>Loads Comps>>Loads Loads>>Comps Elems>>Connectors Find & displays entities attached to the displayed entities of the latter type
HyperMesh 8.0
Exercise: Mesh Clean-up of a Plastic Cover

This exercise uses the model file, cover.hm.
Step 1: Retrieve and view the HyperMesh model file, cover.hm. Step 2: Review the models free edges to identify shell element connectivity problems.
1. Go to the edges panel. 2. With the comps selector active, select any element from the graphics area. The component containing the element is selected. 3. Click find edges. Red, 1-D elements are displayed. They are organized into the new component named ^edges. A red 1-D element is created along each shell element edge that is free; one or more of the element edges nodes is not shared by the adjacent elements.
HyperMesh 8.0
Note
For a component name whose first character is ^, the component and its contents is not written to the input file when the model is exported.
4. On the View menu, click Utility Menu. 5. Click the Shaded Elements and Mesh Lines icon 6. Observe the red, 1-D elements (free edges). 7. Try to identify gaps in the continuity of the mesh. Hint Look closely at free edges interior to the model. 8. In the Model Browser, turn the display on and off for the component, shells, to continue to identify which red, free edges do not belong. .
All red, free edges Red, free edges which belong
9. Turn on the display for the component, shells.
Step 3: Correct the shell element connectivity problems using the edges panel.
1. In the tolerance= field, type 0.01. 2. Click preview equiv. The header bar displays the following message, "81 nodes were found". A sphere, is created on nodes having a distance between each other equal to or less than the specified tolerance. 3. Notice that for this exercises model, a sphere is not created on every node along all of the red, free edges, which do not belong. A larger tolerance must be specified to identify the rest of the nodes. 4. For tolerance =, increase its value until all 96 nodes are identified as shown in the image below. Be careful not to increase the tolerance value to too much. Although the 96 nodes will be identified, an excessively large tolerance value may collapse elements when the identified nodes are equivalenced.
HyperMesh 8.0
The nodes identified with preview equivalence
5. Click equivalence. The 96 coincident nodes are equivalenced. 6. Rotate and observe the model to see that the mesh still looks as it should and no elements are collapsed. 7. Click delete edges. The red, free edges and their component ^edges are deleted. 8. Remain in the edges panel.
Step 4: Review the models free edges again to confirm that all of the shell element connectivity problems have been corrected.
1. Click find edges. Observe the red, 1-D elements (free edges). Are there any red, free edges that should not belong if the mesh were continuous or if all of the elements were connected? Hint Only red, free edges should exist on the perimeter of the part.
HyperMesh 8.0
2. Use the Model Browser, to turn the display off and on for the component shells to observe that all of the free, red edges belong.
Red, free edges which belong
Step 5: Display the element normals and adjust them to point in the same direction.
1. Go to the normals panel. 2. With the comps selector active, select one element from the graphics area. The element is highlighted briefly to indicate that the component to which it belongs is selected. 3. Click display normals. Arrows (vectors) are drawn from the element centroids and show the direction of the element normals. Notice the arrows do not all point from the same side of the part. For some analyses, the element normals should point from the same side. 4. Click size = and type the size which the normal should be in model units and select display normals again. When size = is set to zero, the vector will be 10% of the screen. 5. Toggle vector display normals to color display normals.
HyperMesh 8.0
6. Click display normals. The element normals are displayed using colors. The red side of the elements is the positive normal direction, while the blue side is the negative normal direction. 7. Notice each side of the part shows red and blue. 8. Click the orientation: elem selector to make it active. 9. Select an element from the graphics area. 10. Click adjust normals. All elements on either side of the part are the same color, red or blue. The header bar displays the following message, "[X] elements have been adjusted." 11. Click return.
Step 6: Review the quality of the elements using the check elems panel.
1. Go to the check elems panel. 2. Go to the 2-d sub-panel. 3. Verify that jacobian < field is set to 0.7. 4. Click jacobian to determine if any elements have a jacobian of less than 0.7. Elements having a jacobian of less than 0.7 are highlighted. 5. Notice that several elements on the triangular rib and around the smaller of the two holes have a jacobian of less than 0.7. The header bar displays a message indicating how many elements failed this check. 6. In the graphics area, click on an element. A window displays that lists each quality check result for the element. 7. Click any mouse button to close the pop-up window. 8. On the right side of the panel menu, switch from standard to assign plot. 9. Click jacobian to review again. A legend for jacobian values appears and each element is colored accordingly. The red elements have a jacobian less than the threshold, 0.7. 10. Verify that quads: min angle < is set to 45. 11. Click min angle to determine if any quad elements have an angle of less than 45. 12. Notice that a couple of elements on the rib have an angle of less than 45. 13. Verify that the max angle >field is set to 135. 14. Click max angle to determine if any quad elements have an angle greater than 135. 15. Notice that several elements on the rib have an angle greater than 135. 16. Click return.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 7: Re-mesh the elements on the rib using the automesh panel.
1. Go to the automesh panel. 2. Ensure that you are in the size and bias sub-panel. 3. Switch the entity selector to elems. 4. Toggle to interactive. 5. For element size=, type 3.5. 6. Select one rib element from the graphics area. 7. Select one element on the plane of elements perpendicular to the rib and in the same plane as the ribs shortest edge as shown in the image below.
Example of elements to select
8. Select elems >> by face to complete the selection of elements as shown below.
HyperMesh 8.0
Elements selected using by face
9. Click mesh. The meshing module appears. 10. In the density sub-panel, change the element density on the ribs hypotenuse edge to 9. 11. Change the element density on the ribs shortest edge to 5. 12. Keep all other element edge densities the same.
HyperMesh 8.0
Adjusting element edge densities
13. Go to the mesh style sub-panel. 14. Under mesh method, set the last option to free (unmapped). 15. Under mesh method, select set all. 16. Click mesh to preview the mesh. 17. Go to the checks sub-panel, and check the jacobian, quads: min angle, and quads: max angle. 18. Notice that no elements fail the minimum and maximum angle checks. Only a couple of elements have a jacobian of less than 0.7. The smallest jacobian is 0.68, which can still be considered good quality. 19. Click return to accept the mesh and go back to the main menu.
Step 8: Remove the tria elements from the rectangular plane of re-meshed elements by first deleting the row of elements containing the trias.
1. On the Tool page go to the delete panel. 2. Ensure that elems is the active selector. 3. Select the elements as shown in the image below. 4. Click delete entity. 5. Click return.
HyperMesh 8.0
Elements to delete
Step 9: Stitch the gap that resulted from deleting the row of elements using the replace panel.
1. On the 2D page, enter the replace panel. 2. With the replace: node selector active, select node A as indicated in the image below. 3. With the with: node selector active, select node B as indicated in the image below. Node A is replaced with node B.
Select nodes A and B
HyperMesh 8.0
4. Repeat #2 and #3 for the other nodes along the gap. The resulting mesh should look like the mesh in the image below.
The mesh after replacing nodes on the bottom face
5. Click return.
Step 10: Use the smooth panel to adjust the node placement on the rectangular plane of re-meshed elements.
1. On the 2D page, enter the smooth panel. 2. Go to the plates sub-panel. 3. With the smooth: elems selector active, select an element on the rectangular plane of re-meshed elements. 4. Select elems >> by face. 5. For iterations = specify 10. 6. Switch the smoothing algorithm from autodecide to shape corrected. 7. Click smooth. 8. Click return.
Step 11: Remove tria elements from another area of the model using the edit element panel, split and combine sub-panels.
1. On the 2D page, enter the edit element panel. 2. Go to the split sub-panel.
HyperMesh 8.0
3. With the splitting line: points selector active, click on four screen points as shown the image below. Temporary line segments are drawn to connect the points. 4. You can right click to undo the last line segment drawn or you can click delete line to start over with selecting points.
5. Click split. Elements that have the line pass through them are split. The resulting mesh should look like the mesh below. There are two pairs of adjacent tria elements.
6. Go to the combine sub-panel. 7. Select two adjacent tria elements as indicated in the image below.
HyperMesh 8.0
8. Click combine. 9. Repeat # 6 and # 7 for the other two adjacent tria elements. 10. Remain in the Edit Element sub-panel.
Trias to select
Combining trias into quads
Step 12: Dynamically move nodes on the mesh area modified in the last step to improve element quality.
1. Go to the cleanup sub-panel. 2. Click cleanup. The element cleanup menu appears. It allows you to select various combinations of quality checks, specify a warning/unacceptable range for each check, and dynamically move nodes around to place them where you desire. Elements are colored as follows: No color; appear blank: element passes quality checks Yellow: one or more quality check results falls into warning/unacceptable range Red: one or more quality check results are beyond unacceptable
Among the group of elements you modified in the last step, Step 11, two quad elements are red and one quad element is yellow. 3. Clear the warpage and jacobian check boxes. 4. With the node selector active, click on an interior node of a red element and drag the node around until the element is no longer red. 5. Repeat # 4 for the other red element. 6. Click return.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 13: For the same area of elements you focused on in the last step, optimize element quality by simply clicking on nodes and elements.
1. On the 2D page, go to the qualityindex panel. 2. On the panel menus right side, switch view to optimize. 3. With the node optimize selector active, click on a few nodes of the mesh area you modified. When a node is clicked on, it is reposition so that the elements attached to it have the best possible quality based on the criteria specified in the qualityindex panel. 4. Click on the selector element optimize to make it active. 5. Click on yellow and red elements in the same mesh area. When an element is clicked on, it is adjusted to have the best quality possible based on the criteria specified in the qualityindex panel. When you click on a red element, it may become yellow or black (no color assigned). When you click on a yellow element, it may become black. 6. Click return.
Step 14: Add a ring of radial elements around the smaller of the two holes.
7. Click the Utility tab. 8. On the Geom/Mesh page, click Add Washer. 9. With the nodes selector active, select one node on the edge of the smallest hole as indicated in the image below.
Example node to select
HyperMesh 8.0
10. Click proceed. A pop-up window appears as shown in the image below.
Add Washer macro dialog
11. Toggle to Width, and specify 3. 12. Select the Minimum number of nodes around the hole check box. 13. In the Density: field, enter 12. 14. Click Add. 15. Click Close. The mesh around the hole should look like the mesh in the image below.
HyperMesh 8.0
Resulting mesh around the smallest hole

With this exercise completed, you can save the model if desired.
HyperMesh 8.0

HyperMesh 8.0
Section 3: Batch Meshing

Geometry cleanup and meshing are often cited as time consuming aspects of finite element modeling. In HyperMesh, these tasks can be performed in batch mode with the Batch Mesher, requiring a minimum of input and user interaction. This section walks the user through the basic process of meshing a part using the batch mesher. In this tutorial, you will learn how to: Define a configuration for the batch mesh Edit the criteria and parameter files Run the batch mesh job Monitor and review the batch mesh job
HyperMesh 8.0
Batch Meshing: Introduction
Performs geometry cleanup and automeshing in a batch mode
Can dramatically improve productivity since there is minimal user interaction

(especially for large assemblies)
Uses criteria and parameter files to determine how the parts should be meshed Can mesh multiple files in the same run
Batch Meshing: Process & Required Input
1. Create / specify Configurations

Combination of element criteria and
geometric parameters Element criteria are element quality requirements Geometric parameters are other requirements (element type, removal of pinholes, removal of fillets, etc.)
Criteria and parameters can be

edited with the Criteria and Parameters Files Editor

HyperMesh 8.0
2. Register and specify User Procedures (optional)

Custom TCL scripts (macros) created by the user Performs additional operations on models during the batch run Pre Run and Post Run options can specify procedures performed before or after
the run
Can specify when the procedure should be performed during the run
Pre-geometry load as soon as batch mesher is invoked Pre-batch mesh just before loaded geometry is meshed Post-batch mesh after meshing is finished
3. Set up the Batch Mesh job

Specify a directory where geometry files are located Select geometry files from the directory Select a configuration to use for the mesh type for each file Specify any user procedures to be performed on each part Specify a directory where the meshed files will be located Run the batch mesh job
4. Monitor the Run Status of the job

Use the Run Status tab to keep track of all your submitted jobs Use Load Mesh to open a selected file in a new HyperMesh session to view the
resulting mesh
HyperMesh 8.0

HyperMesh 8.0
Exercise: Batch Meshing a Shell Bracket

Step 1: Open Batch Mesher.
1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Altair HyperWorks 8.0, and click Batch Mesher. 2. In the Input Model Directory field, click the folder icon to browse to the appropriate directory. 3. In the Output Directory, click the folder icon to browse to the appropriate directory if different from the input model directory. 4. Click the select files icon, .
5. For Type of Geometry, select the appropriate type. 6. A filter will help select applicable models for Batch Meshing to HyperMesh. 7. Highlight the model files, part1.hm and part2.hm and click select.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 2 (Optional): Define a configuration for the batch mesh run.

1. Click the Configurations tab. 2. Click the Add Entry icon, .
3. In the Mesh Type field, type a name for the mesh type. 4. Select the Criteria File field, and click the Find Criteria Param File icon, 5. Select a file. 6. Select the Parameter File field, and click the Find Criteria Param File icon, 7. Select a file. 8. A new mesh type is now available for selection on the Batch Mesh tab. . .
Step 3: On the Batch Mesh tab, begin defining a configuration for the batch mesh run.
1. In the Mesh Type field, select a mesh type. 2. Right-click and select the file(s) that will be meshed with the same criteria. 3. In the Pre-Geom Load, Pre-Mesh, or Post-Mesh drop down lists, select any tcl files necessary in the batch run. 4. Click Submit to initiate the run. 5. -OR6. Click Submit At to submit the job at a specified time 7. The application automatically switches to the Run Status tab. 8. As the parts run, the status changes from Working to Pending to Done. 9. Once the part is at the Working state, select the part and select Details. 10. A detailed summary appears with the status of the model through its Batch Mesher steps, the overall failed elements, and quality index. 11. Once the part is at the Done state, click Load Mesh to load the mesh into HyperMesh for model interrogation. 12. Once all parts have been meshed, select Run Details to obtain an overall run status. Any file can be paused or cancelled. If the file is paused, it can be resumed now or at a specific time. Once the Batch Mesher session has been setup with File directories and mesh types, it can be saved as a Config that can be loaded at a future time. It is also possible to load an entire set of models that has already been batchmeshed in order to take advantage of the Load Mesh option in the Run Status tab.

HyperMesh 8.0
Step 4: Edit the Criteria and Parameter Files.

1. Go to the Configurations tab. 2. Click Mesh Type. 3. Click Edit File. 4. The Criteria and Parameter Editor window appears.
On the Criteria tab, you can set the target element size, element criteria, and the method that is used to calculate the values. An advanced criteria option can be enabled to give more control over the intermediate QI values, but is usually unnecessary to obtain a good quality mesh. A timestep calculator is also available. If this option is selected, the overall minimum element size will be set by this option and will gray out at the top of the element checks section.
HyperMesh 8.0
The Parameters tab sets all of the meshing control over various geometric features.

HyperMesh 8.0
Chapter 3: Preparing Models for Analysis
Chapter 3
Analysis Setup
Section 1: Formatting Models for Analysis
The purpose for using a finite element (FE) pre-processor is to create a model that can be run by a solver. HyperMesh interfaces with many FE solvers and all of them have unique input file formats. HyperMesh has a unique template(s) for each solver it supports. A template contains solver specific formatting instructions, which HyperMesh uses to create an input file for that solver. This exercise gives you an understanding of the basic concepts for creating a solver input file by using a template. More specifically, you will learn how to review entities in HyperMesh to see how they will appear in the solver input file, define materials and properties and select solver element types for HyperMesh element configurations. In this tutorial, you will learn how to: Create a solver input file by using a template Review entities in HyperMesh to see how they will appear in the solver input file Define materials and properties Select solver element types for HyperMesh element configurations
HyperMesh 8.0
Analysis Setup: What is it?
Definition of all information for an analysis besides the mesh
Specification of solver to be used Creation materials, properties, etc. Assignment of a solver specific format to HyperMesh entities Creation boundary conditions (constraints, loads, contacts, etc.) Definition of other required information (solution requests, general run parameters, etc.)
Analysis Setup: HyperMesh Capabilities
HM is asolver neutral pre-processor
Works with many different solvers Can convert between supported solvers Capable of assembly from input files of different solvers Can be customized to support other solver codes
Can set up many types of analysis
Structural (Stress, NVH, Durability, Non-Linear Structural)

OptiStruct, Abaqus, Nastran, Ansys, Marc, nSOFT
Manufacturing (Flow / Mold-Filling, Extrusion)

Moldflow, CMold, HyperExtrude
Safety (Impact / Crash, Occupant Safety)

Dyna, Pamcrash, Radioss, Madymo
Optimization (Topology, Topography, Shape, Size / Gauge)

OptiStruct, Nastran

HyperMesh 8.0
Solver Formats: Interacting with Solvers
HyperMesh interacts with many solvers
Each solver has its own unique formats, terminology, etc. Example: compare nodes and elements in Abaqus and OptiStruct / Nastran
3 nodes 2 quad elements Format / structure is obviously different
OptiStruct / Nastran
GRID GRID GRID 1 2 3 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 *NODE 1, 0.0 2, 0.0 3, 1.0
Abaqus
, 1.0 , 0.0 , 0.0 , 0.0 , 0.0 , 0.0
CQUAD4 CQUAD4
1 2
1 1
1 3
2 4
3 5
4 6
*ELEMENT,TYPE=S4,ELSET=part_1 1, 1, 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Solver Formats: HyperMesh Templates
HyperMesh can interact with different solvers by using templates
The selected template tells HyperMesh what solver the model is for The template also tells HyperMesh how entities are formatted for that solver
Each entity may have several available formats for that solver Each format has fields that make up its definition These fields may need to have values entered by the user Example: a component for OptiStruct can be a PSHELL or PSOLID format PSHELL: holds shell elements, ID = 1, material = 1, thickness 5.0
PSHELL
15.0
0.0
PSOLID: holds solid elements, ID = 2, material = 1
PSOLID
HyperMesh 8.0
Solver Formats: Solver Formats for Collectors
Collectors format is specified by loading a card image
Drop down menu > Setup > collectors Toolbar > collectors panel
HyperMesh Collector Type: Component Example solver keywords available as element types: Nastran PSHELL, PSHEAR, SOLID, PCOMP PBAR, PBEAM, PGAP, PELAS, etc. MAT1, MAT2, MAT4, MAT8, MAT9, MAT10 LS-Dyna *PART Abaqus *SHELL SECTION, *SOLID SECTION, *RIGID BODY, etc. *SURFACE INTERACTION, *FRICTION, etc. *MATERIAL, *GASKET BEHAVIOR, etc.
Property
*SECTION_SHELL, *SECTION_SOLID, *SECTION_BEAM, etc. *MATL1, *MATL2, *MATL3, etc.
Material
Solver Formats: Solver Formats for Elements
Elements format is specified by setting an element type
Drop down menu > Mesh > Element Types 1D, 2D, or 3D page > elem types panel
HyperMesh Element Configuration: Bar Example solver keywords available as element types: Nastran CBEAM, CBAR, CBEND CQUAD, CQUADR, CSHEAR LS-Dyna *ELEMENT_BEAM Abaqus *ELEMENT, TYPE= B31, B31H, B33, B33H, etc. *ELEMENT, TYPE= S4, S4R5, M3D4, M3D4R, R3D4, DS4, etc. *ELEMENT, TYPE= C3D4, C3D4H, DC3D4, C3D4E, DC3D4E
4
*ELEMENT_SHELL
Quad4
CTETRA Tetra4
*ELEMENT_SOLID

HyperMesh 8.0
Solver Formats: Solver Formats for Loads
Loads format is specified by setting a load type
Drop down menu > BCs > Load Types Analysis page > load types panel
HyperMesh Load Configuration: Example solver keywords available as element types: Nastran SPC, SPCD, ASET, ASET1, SUPPORT, QSET1, etc. FORCE PLOAD, PLOAD2, PLOAD4, QBDY1 LS-Dyna *BOUNDARY_SPC_NODE, *BOUNDARY_ PRESCRIBED_MOTION_ NODE *LOAD_NODE_POINT *LOAD_SHELL_ELEMENT, *LOAD_SEGMENT Abaqus *BOUNDARY, *BOUNDARY, TYPE= ACCELERATION, VELOCITY, etc. *CLOAD *DLOAD, *DFLUX, *FILM, *DECHARGE
Constraint
Force
Pressure
Solver Formats: Tools
Preferences > Global Parameters & files panel
/ template sub-panel
Set the template to be used for the model

Preferences > User Profiles ( user profile )
Loads the appropriate template for that solver Sets the files / import / fe sub-panel to the appropriate file type Loads a macro menu with tools specific to working with that solver Customizes the HyperMesh menu Removes panels that are not used with that solver Removes controls inside a panel that are not used with that solver Renames some panels & controls in panels to match solver terminology
HyperMesh 8.0
Preferences > User Profiles
Loads the appropriate template for that solver

Template can also be set manually Preferences > Global Files panel > template
Sets the files > import > fe sub-panel to the

appropriate file type
Loads a macro menu with tools specific to

working with that solver
Customizes the HyperMesh menu

Removes panels that are not used with that solver Removes controls inside a panel that are not used with that solver Renames some panels & controls in panels to match solver terminology
Setup > Collectors and collectors panel
Create
Assign a card image to the collector being created Edit the card image fields if desired Assign a material to the collector being created Update Assign a material to an existing collector collector Assign and/or edit a card image of an existing collector
Elem types > load types panels
Set a current element / load type for an element / load configuration

Any new elements / loads of that configuration created will have that element / load type Change the element / load type of existing elements / loads

HyperMesh 8.0
Setup > Card Editor or toolbar >
View / edit the card image of any entity in the model Includes entities that are not collectors (nodes, elements, loads, etc.)
Model Browser
Right click a collector and select edit card View / edit the card image of the selected collector
Preferences > Options > modeling sub-panel
template labels type

Activate the graphic displayed names of entities in solver (template) terminology rather than HyperMesh (solver neutral) terminology Helps keep track of what is in the model
Solver Browser
Displays solver-based cards in a tree format Uses organization & structure of the represented
solver
Performs basic actions involving cards

Create new cards Delete existing cards Edit attributes of existing cards Solver Browser can be found in the View pull-down menu
10
HyperMesh 8.0
Summary panel
Displays a text window with various types of information about the model Helps to review the model and make sure all information has been entered
properly
Summary Type Components Center of Gravity Elements Error Checks Loads Moment of Inertia
Included Information Component Name, ID, Material Name, Thickness, Mass, #Elements Component Name, ID, Mass, X, Y, Z Type of Elements, Element Configurations Load Collector, Load Steps, Components Load Collector, ID, FX, FY, FZ, Magnitude Moment of Inertia
11
Solver Formats: Process
1. Create the entities needed for your model

Keep in mind what is needed for the solver and analysis being used Entities need to be properly organized in collectors
All entities in a collector share the same attributes
2. Load the proper card image or type where needed

Generally use the Setup/collectors, elem type, or load type panel Elements and loads will always have a type Sometimes collectors may not need a card image
12

HyperMesh 8.0
Solver Formats: Process
3. Enter values in the card images as required

Use or Setup > Card Editor panels to check card images of all collectors Some card images require other entities to be selected as a reference
Example: Dyna requires a components card image to point to a property collector for thickness information, etc.
The goal in formatting for analysis is:
All entities have the proper formats (card image / type) Card images of all entities have necessary information entered
Understand the details of how HyperMesh interacts with your solver Refer to the External Interfacing portion of online help for details Altair has training classes for interfacing with some solvers Contact Altair support for additional questions
13
HyperMesh 8.0

HyperMesh 8.0
Exercise: OptiStruct Linear Statics Setup for a Shell Assembly

This exercise uses the file channel_brkt_assem.hm. It contains the bracket and channel assembly pictured below.
Step 1: Retrieve and view the file, channel_brkt_assem.hm. Step 2: Load the OptiStruct template by loading the OptiStruct user profile.
1. From the Preferences menu, click User Profiles 2. Select OptiStruct and click OK to close the dialog.
Step 3: Review a channel element to identify what type of OptiStruct element it is and to see how it will be formatted in the OptiStruct input file.
1. Go to the card editor panel. 2. Switch the entity selector to elems. 3. In the graphics area, select an element of the (orange) channel. 4. Click edit. The card image for the element appears above the panel menu area. It indicates the element is an OptiStruct CQUAD4 or CTRIA3, depending on whether you selected a quad or tria element. EID is the elements ID. PID is the ID of the elements property. In
HyperMesh 8.0
this case, the property is defined as a component collector with ID 1. G(X) is the grid (node) ID that makes up the element. Options specific to the CQUAD4 or CTRIA3 appear in the menu panel area. 5. Return to the card panel.
Step 4: Review the card image of the channel and bracket using the card panel.
You should still be in the card panel. 1. Switch the entity selector to comps. 2. Select comps >> channel. 3. Click select to complete the component selection. 4. Click edit. The card image for the component appears. It indicates it is an OptiStruct PSHELL property. Its thickness is 3 and its material has the ID 1. In this case, the material is an existing material collector with ID 1. 5. Return to the card panel. 6. Under the comps selector, click the reset icon 7. to clear the component selection. 8. Select comps >> bracket. 9. Click select to complete the component selection. 10. Click edit. The header bar displays the following message "Could not find section in template for entity, aborting." This indicates there is no card image assigned to the bracket component. Later in this exercise, you will use the collectors panel to assign the PSHELL card image to the component to define the property for the shell elements organized into it. 11. Return to the main menu.
Step 5: Review and edit the existing steel materials card image by accessing the card editor from the model browser.
This material is defined for the channel. 1. On the View menu, click Model Browser. 2. Open the materials branch of the model tree to show the material steel. 3. Right click on steel and select Edit Card. The card image for the material appears. It indicates the material is of OptiStruct type MAT1. 4. Under Poissons Ratio [NU], change the value from 0.3 to 0.28.

HyperMesh 8.0
5. Return to the main menu to accept the change.
Step 6: Define a material collector named aluminum for the bracket using the model browser.
1. On the Model tab, right-click anywhere in the browser except on an existing entity. 2. Select New >> Material. The Create Material popup dialog appears. 3. For Name: enter aluminum. 4. For Card image: set to Select type: and choose MAT1. 5. Click Create/Edit to create the material and edit it. The card image for the new material appears. 6. Click [E] and enter 7.0e4 in the field that appears. This is the Youngs Modulus. 7. Click [NU] and enter 0.33 in the field that appears. This is the Poisson Ratio. 8. Return to the main menu.
Step 7: Update the bracket component to have a PSHELL card image, a thickness of 2.0, and the aluminum material.
1. Access the collectors panel in one of the following ways:
On the Organize menu, click Collectors Click the Collectors icon on the toolbar.
2. Go to the update sub-panel. 3. Switch the entity selector to comps. 4. Select comps >> bracket. (Click comps to select from the component list.) 5. For card image = select PSHELL. 6. For material = select aluminum. (Click the text field to select from the material list.) 7. Click update/edit to load and edit the card image and assign the material. 8. Notice the material ID MID is 2, which is the ID of the aluminum material you created earlier and assigned to the bracket component. 9. For the thickness [T] enter 2.0. 10. Return to the collectors panel. 11. Notice the thickness= field now has a value of 2.0 instead of <blank>. You can also edit the thickness directly from this field.
HyperMesh 8.0
12. Return to the main menu.
Step 8: Create a component for the 1-D rigid link elements (OptiStruct RBE2 or rigid body) to be created.
1. Create a new component collector by: Using the collectors panel Right clicking in the model browser
2. Enter the name rigids. 3. Verify that: If using the collectors panel, the card image is set to no card image. If using the Create Component dialog, the Card Image: is set to Select type: none. This is because an OptiStruct RBE2 does not require any OptiStruct properties to be defined. 4. Optionally, select a color. 5. Create the rigids component. 6. Return to the main menu.
Step 9: Create a 1-D rigid link element (OptiStruct RBE2) at each of the brackets three holes.
1. On the 1D page, enter the rigids panel. 2. In the create sub-panel, switch dependent: node to multiple nodes. 3. Verify that all degrees of freedom (dof) are active. 4. In the header bar, verify that the current component is rigids. 5. With the independent: node selector active, select the temporary node at the center of one of the three holes. 6. With the dependent: nodes selector active, select all the nodes on the perimeter of that hole. 7. Create the rigid link element. Since the OptiStruct template is loaded, the rigid link has the label RBE2 in the graphics area. You can change the label to RL by toggling from template labels (type) to HM labels (config) in the options panel, modeling sub-panel.

HyperMesh 8.0
An RBE2 (rigid body element) at the center of one of the brackets holes
8. Create a rigid link element at the other brackets two holes by repeating #5 through #7. 9. Return to the main menu.
Step 10: Create a component for the bar elements (OptiStruct CBEAM or beam element) to be created.
1. Create a new component collector by: Using the collectors panel Right clicking in the model browser
2. Type bars. 3. Verify that: If using the collectors panel, the card image is set to no card image. If using the Create Component dialog, the Card Image: is set to Select type: none. This is because the OptiStruct CBEAM property is defined by creating a property collector and loading the PBEAM card image for it. (You will do this later in the exercise.) 4. Optionally, select a color. 5. Create the bars component. 6. Return to the main menu.
Step 11: Create a beam section collector for the beam section properties to be calculated.
1. Create a new beam section collector by: Using the collectors panel Right clicking in the model browser
2. If you use the collectors panel, switch the collector type: to beamsection collectors.
HyperMesh 8.0
3. Enter the name Beam_Section_Col. 4. Verify that: If using the collectors panel, the card image is set to no card image. If using the Create Beamsectioncollector dialog, the Card Image: is set to Select type: none. With the OptiStruct template loaded, there are no card images to select from for beam section collectors. 5. Optionally, select a color. 6. Create the Beam_Section_Col collector. 7. Return to the main menu.
Step 12: Calculate the section properties for the bar elements (OptiStruct CBEAM) by using HyperBeam.
1. On the 1D page, enter the HyperBeam panel. 2. Go to the standard section sub-panel. 3. Switch the standard section type: to solid circle. 4. Click create to invoke the HyperBeam module. The HyperBeam module appears and the HyperMesh session is not visible. (HyperMesh is visible again upon exiting HyperBeam.) The solid, red circle represents the cross section. Under the local coordinate system you should see the number, 10.0000, which is the circles diameter.
HyperBeam module with the standard solid circle section

HyperMesh 8.0
5. Click on the number 10.0000 to activate a number entry field, enter 6, and then press Enter. In the section property display area, the values are automatically updated to reflect the circles new diameter. 6. In the model tree area, click on the sections name, auto_standardsection_1. After a brief moment, the name becomes an editable text entry field. 7. Rename the section to 6mm_Beam_Sect. 8. From the File pull-down menu, select Exit. 9. Answer Yes to the question "save data?". 10. Return to the main menu.
Step 13: Create a property collector named bars_prop for the bar elements (OptiStruct CBEAM).
1. Create a new property collector by: Using the collectors panel Right clicking in the model browser
2. If you use the collectors panel, switch the collector type: to properties. 3. Enter the name bars_prop. 4. Specify the card image. For the collectors panel, switch the card image to card image = and select PBEAM. For the Create Properties dialog, set Card Image: to Select type: PBEAM.
5. Click create/edit to create the property and edit it. 6. At the top of the card image, select beamsec >> 6mm_Beam_Sect. The parameter fields in the PBEAM card are automatically populated by the data in the beam section 6mm_Beam_Sect. 7. Return to the main menu.
Step 14: Select CBEAM to be the type for the bar2 element configuration.
1. On the 1D page, go to the elem types panel. 2. In the 1D sub-panel, click bar2 and select CBEAM. All elements created from the bars panel, bars2 sub-panel will be of type CBEAM. Notice rigid = is set to RBE2 by default. This is why you did not need to go to this panel to select the RBE2 type before creating the rigid body elements. 3. Return to the main menu.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 15: Create a bar element (OptiStruct CBEAM) at each of the brackets three holes.
1. On the 1D page, enter the bars panel. 2. In the bar2 sub-panel, switch the vector selector from N1N2N3 to x-axis. This defines the orientation of the beams section. In OptiStruct, CBEAM elements have a local coordinate system as part of the elements definition. The X axis of the elements coordinate system lies along the CBEAM element. The cross section therefore lies in the Y-Z plane of the elements coordinate system. The Y axis of this system must be defined by the user. This sets the orientation of the systems Y-Z plane around the X axis. By setting the vector selector in the bars panel to x-axis, we defined the Y axis of the elements coordinate system to be oriented along the X axis of the global coordinate system. 3. For property = select the property collector bars_prop. 4. Click the node A selector to make it active. 5. Select the node at the center of one of the three rigid body elements. The selector advances to node B. 6. On the channel, in the area directly under the rigid bodys center node, is a fixed point. Select the node at this fixed point. The bar element (OptiStruct CBEAM) is created and the combination of the rigid link and bar elements simulates a bolt.
A CBEAM and an RBE2 connects the bracket to the channel
7. Create a bar element at the other two holes by repeating #8 through #10. 8. Return to the main menu.

HyperMesh 8.0
Step 16: Export the model to an OptiStruct input file named channel_brkt_assem.fem.
1. On the File menu, point to Export, and click Finite Element Model . 2. For File name:, type channel_brkt_assem.fem. Note that the extension for an OptiStruct input file is .fem. 3. Click Save to export the model as an Optistruct .fem input file. This exports the model as an input file for the solver specified by the current user profile.
Step 17: Review the contents of the file, channel_brkt_assem.fem.

1. Using any text editor (Notepad, Wordpad, Vi, etc.), open the file channel_brkt_assem.fem. The information at the top of the file as shown in the image below.
2. Search for the HyperMesh component collector rigids and notice the following as shown in the image below. The IDs and colors of the component collectors rigids, bars, channel, and bracket. The PSHELL cards defined for the components channel and bracket. The HMNAME COMP and HMCOLOR COMP lines are read when this file is imported into HyperMesh. They are used to create the component collectors and assign their color.
Component collector color Component collector ID
HyperMesh 8.0
3. Search for RBE2 (HyperMesh 1-D rigid element) Notice the line HMMOVE. When this file is imported into HyperMesh, the RBE2 entities will be organized into the component collector with ID 3, which is the component rigids.
4. Search for CBEAM (HyperMesh 1-D bar element). Notice the line HMMOVE. When this file is imported into HyperMesh, the CBEAM entities will be organized into the component collector with ID 4 which is the component bars.
5. Search for the HyperMesh property collector bars_prop and notice the following as shown in the image below. The property collector bars_prop has the PBEAM card, which you defined in HyperMesh. The HyperMesh material collectors steel and aluminum have their respective MAT1 card on the next line. You defined the MAT1 card for the material aluminum in HyperMesh. The HMNAME PROP and HMNAME MAT lines are read when this file is imported into HyperMesh. They are used to create the property and material collectors.

HyperMesh 8.0
6. Close the file, channel_brkt_assem.fem.

With the exercise completed, you can save the model as a HyperMesh file, if desired.
HyperMesh 8.0

HyperMesh 8.0
Section 2: Setting up Loading Conditions

A finite element solver can solve for responses of parts to loading conditions placed on them. The loads can be in the form of any combination of boundary constraints, forces, pressures, temperatures, etc. This section focuses on defining the loading conditions on a model, specifying solver specific controls, and submitting an input file to a solver from HyperMesh. In this tutorial, you will learn how to: Create constraints (OptiStruct SPC) on the channels geometry lines Create two forces (OptiStruct FORCE) on the bracket to simulate a pressing and twisting load on it Define two load steps (OptiStruct SUBCASE) Export the model to an OptiStruct input file Submit the OptiStruct input file to OptiStruct Review the resulting HTML report file
HyperMesh 8.0
Boundary Conditions: Supported Entity Types
FE Loading Loads (constraint, force, pressure, moment, temperature, flux, velocity, acceleration) Equations (mathematical link between nodes)
Constraints
Forces
Contacts Pressures Group (defines contact between entities) Contact Surfs (defines a list of entities that can be used as master or slave in a group) Reference Entities Sets (a simple list of a particular type of entity) Blocks (a list of entities contained within a box shape) Contact Surface
Coordinate Entities Systems (coordinate axes) Vectors Plotting Curves (X-Y data) Plots (a display of curves with axes) Output Requests Loadsteps (combinations of load collectors) Output Blocks (request output from an analysis for certain entities) Control cards (job-level, global parameters for the analysis) Plot with a Curve
Vectors Systems

HyperMesh 8.0
Optimization
Designvars Variables that are changed during optimization (ex: thickness) Optiresponses Values being measured (ex: von Mises stress) Objectives Responses to maximize/minimize (ex: minimize weight) Dobjrefs Objective reference response for minmax/maxmin optimization (ex: minimize maximum von Mises stress) Opticonstraints Limitations (ex: von Mises stress < Yield stress) Optidscreens Filters constraints to reduce computation time Dvprels Relationships between design variables and properties Desvarlinks Relationships between design variables Dequations A calculated value to be measured Optitableentrs Table of constants Opticontrols Parameters to control the optimization algorithms DDVals Sets a discreet range of values to be used in a Designvar
3
Boundary Conditions: Tools
Analysis page
Analysis page is devoted to setting up analyses
User profile macro menus
User profiles add macro menu pages with tools specific to that solver
Abaqus Step Manager, Contact Manager, Component Browser Ansys Contact Wizard, Component Manager, etc. LS-Dyna Name Mapping, Constrained Rigid Body, Content Table, etc. Nastran Subcase Manager, Part Info, 1D Property Table, etc. OptiStruct Subcase Manager, Component Table, etc. Radioss D01 Tool, Sections, Component List, Material table, etc. etc.
HyperMesh 8.0
Boundary Conditions: Loads on Geometry
Loads can be created on geometry as well as FE entities
Set the entity selector to a geometry entity Create the load Create the mesh Use the load on geom panel to map the loads from the geometry to the elements
Create load on geometry
Create the mesh
Map the load to the mesh

Boundary Conditions: Display Controls
Display of loads is handled exactly like elements & geometry
Will set the selector to appropriate collector type
Mask and find panels

Loads and other entities for analysis can be masked or found Use find attached to find elements and loads attached to each other
Model Browser
Displays loads, groups, systcols, etc.
Preferences > options > graphics sub-panel

Deactivate load handle to keep the graphics area from getting cluttered Activate or deactivate template labels(type) to view loads in solver or solver neutral format

HyperMesh 8.0
Exercise: Loading an Assembly

This exercise uses the model file, channel_brkt_assem_2.hm. It contains the bracket and channel assembly pictured below.
Step 1: Retrieve and view the HyperMesh model file channel_brkt_assem_2.hm. Step 2: Create three load collectors named pressing_load, twisting_load and constraints.
1. Access the collectors panel in one of the following ways: On the Organize main menu, click Collectors. Click the collectors icon on the toolbar.
2. Go to the create sub-panel. 3. Set the type of collector to be created to load collectors. 4. For name = enter pressing_load. 5. Switch the creation method to no card image. 6. Create the load collector pressing_load. 7. For name = enter twisting_load. 8. Create the load collector twisting_load.
HyperMesh 8.0
9. For name = enter constraints. 10. Create the load collector constraints. 11. Return to the main menu.
Step 3: Prepare to create constraints (OptiStruct SPC) on the channel.

1. Use the model browser to display the geom 2. On the toolbar, click the User Views 4. For constraint =, select SPC. All constraints that are created from this point forward will be of the OptiStruct type SPC. 5. Return to the main menu. for the component channel.
icon, and click iso1.
3. On the Analysis page, go to the load types panel.
Step 4: Apply constraints (OptiStruct SPC) to the channels line geometry.

1. On the Analysis page, go to the constraints panel. 2. Go to the create sub-panel. 3. Switch the entity selector to lines. 4. Select the six lines on the perimeter of the channels bottom surface as shown in the image below.
Apply constraints to lines
5. Activate degrees of freedom (dof) 1 through 6.

HyperMesh 8.0
For an OptiStruct linear static analysis, dof 1, 2, and 3 represent translations in the global x, y, and z directions respectively. Dof 4, 5, and 6 represent rotations about the global x, y and z axis, respectively. 6. Create the constraints on the lines. 7. For size = specify 5. The display size of the constraints is reduced. 8. Activate the option label constraints. A label is displayed for each constraint. The labels identify what dofs are assigned to the constraints. 9. Return to the main menu.
Step 5: Map the constraints (OptiStruct SPC) on the geometry lines to the channel nodes associated to the lines.
1. On the Analysis page, go to the load on geom panel. 2. Select loadcols >> constraints. 3. Click select to complete the selection of load collectors. 4. Click Map loads. A constraint is at each node associated to the geometry lines. 5. Return to the main menu. 6. On the model browser, turn off the display of geometry for all component collectors.
Step 6: Prepare to create forces (OptiStruct FORCE) on the bracket for the pressing load case.
1. On the toolbar, click the User Views icon and click restore1.
2. On the model browser, right click on the pressing_load load collector and select Make Current. 3. The pressing_load load collector is now the current load collector, and any loads created will be placed in this collector. 4. On the Analysis page, go to the load types panel. 5. For force =, select FORCE. All forces that are created from this point forward will be of the OptiStruct type FORCE. 6. Return to the main menu.
HyperMesh 8.0
Step 7: Create two forces (OptiStruct FORCE) on the bracket for the pressing load case.
1. On the Analysis page, go to the forces panel. 2. Go to the create sub-panel. 3. With the nodes selector active, select the two nodes as indicated in the image below.
4. For magnitude = specify 5. 5. Switch the direction selector from N1, N2, N3 to y-axis. 6. Create the forces. 7. For magnitude % = specify 200.0. The display size of the force is increased. 8. Activate the option label loads. 9. Each force displays the label FORCE = 5.00e+00.

HyperMesh 8.0
The two forces created for the pressing load case
Step 8: Prepare to create forces (OptiStruct FORCE) on the bracket for the twisting load case.
1. On the model browser, right click on the twisting_load load collector and select Make Current. 2. Use the model browser to turn off the display of the Elems for the load collector pressing_load.
Step 9: Create two forces (OptiStruct FORCE) on the bracket for the twisting load case.
You should still be in the forces panel. 1. With the nodes selector active, select one of the two nodes on which you created a force for the pressing load case. 2. Keep magnitude = set to 5. 3. Keep the direction selector set to y-axis. 4. Create the force. 5. Select the other node on which you created a force for the pressing load case. 6. For magnitude = specify -5.0 (note the negative sign). 7. Create the force. 8. Return to the main menu.
HyperMesh 8.0
The two forces created for the twisting load case
Step 10: Define the load step (OptiStruct SUBCASE) for the pressing load case.
1. On the Analysis page, go to the subcase panel. The OptiStruct user profile name for this panel is "subcase". In the HyperMesh profile (default), this panel is called "load steps". 2. For name = enter pressing_step. 3. Activate the SPC and LOAD options. 4. Click the = next to SPC. 5. Switch name to name(id). 6. This shows the names of the load collectors with their ID numbers in parenthesis. 7. Select the constraints load collector. 8. Note that the field next to the = now has a value of 3, which is the ID of the constraints load collector. 9. Click the = next to LOAD and select the pressing_load load collector. 10. Set the type: to linear static. 11. Create the load step pressing_step. 12. In the header message bar appears the message "The load step has been created". Nothing new is displayed in the graphics area. 13. Return to the main menu.

HyperMesh 8.0
Step 11: Display on and off the load step (the load collectors defined in the load step) by using the disp panel.
1. On the model browser, turn the display of the load step pressing_step off. 2. Notice the load collectors constraints and pressing_load are no longer displayed. 3. Turn the display of the load step pressing_step back on. 4. Return to the main menu.
Step 12: Define the load step (OptiStruct SUBCASE) for the twisting load case.
1. On the Analysis page, go to the load steps panel. 2. For name = enter twisting_step. 3. For the SPC option, verify that it is set to 3 (the ID of the constraints load collector). 4. For the LOAD option, select the twisting_load load collector. 5. Create the load step twisting_step. 6. Return to the main menu.
Step 13: Define a HyperH3D file to be output from OptiStruct by using the control cards panel.
1. On the Analysis page, go to the control cards panel. 2. Select the control card FORMAT. Notice in the card image the one FORMAT line is set to H3D. This specifies OptiStruct to output results to a Hyper3D (H3D) file, which can be viewed in HyperView Player. Also, an HTML report file will be output and the H3D file will be embedded in it. 3. For number_of_formats = specify 2. A second FORMAT line appears in the card image. 4. Click H3D in the second line of the card image and select HM. This specifies OptiStruct to output the results to a HyperMesh binary results file, allowing the results to be post-processed within HyperMesh. 5. Return to the control cards panel. Notice the FORMAT button is green. This indicates the card will be exported to the OptiStruct input file. 6. Return to the main menu.
Step 14: Export the model to an OptiStruct input file.

1. On the File menu, point to Export, and click Finite Element Model . 2. In the File name: field, type channel_brkt_assem2.fem.
HyperMesh 8.0
3. Note that the extension for an OptiStruct input file is .fem. 4. Click Save to export the model as an Optistruct .fem input file. 5. This exports the model as an input file for the solver specified by the current user profile.
Step 15: Review the contents of the file channel_brkt_assem.fem.

1. Using any text editor (Notepad, Wordpad, Vi, etc.), open the file channel_brkt_assem2.fem. Near the top of the file, notice the following as shown in the image below. The line FORMAT HM which you specified in HyperMesh The load steps (OptiStruct SUBCASE) named pressing_step and twisting_step which you defined in HyperMesh Under each load step, the load collector ids (OptiStruct load and constraint set identification numbers)
2. Search for "FORCE". Notice the load set identification number for each force (OptiStruct FORCE). It is either 1 or 2 as shown in the image below. These numbers correspond to the numbers under the load steps in the file.
3. Search for "SPC" (HyperMesh constraint).

HyperMesh 8.0
Notice the constraint set identification number for each constraint (OptiStruct SPC). It is 3 as shown in the image below, which lists a few of the constraints. This number corresponds to the number under the load steps in the file.
4. Search for the load collector name "pressing_load". Notice the load collectors pressing_load, twisting_load and constraints. Also, notice their collector id and color id. When the model is imported into HyperMesh, the loads are organized into these load collectors and have these ids and colors.
5. Close the file channel_brkt_assem.fem.
Step 16: Submit the FEM file to OptiStruct using the OptiStruct panel.
1. On the Analysis page, go to the OptiStruct panel. 2. Set run options: to analysis. 3. For input file:, click save as and browse for the file channel_brkt_assem2.fem. 4. Click OptiStruct to invoke OptiStruct and run the analysis. A command window appears. When the analysis is complete, the message "Processing complete" appears in the command window. The output files are located in the same folder containing the input file. 5. Return to the main menu.
Step 17: View the results using the contour panel in HyperMesh.
1. On the toolbar, go to the Files panel. 2. Go to the results sub-panel. 3. Note that file: currently specifies channel_brkt_assem_2.res.
HyperMesh 8.0
4. This is the HyperMesh results file that was created because of the FORMAT HM card that was added using the control cards panel. 5. Return to the main menu. 6. On the Post page, go to the contour panel. 7. For simulation = select SUB1 pressing_step. 8. For data type = select Von Mises stress. 9. Click contour to view the results. 10. Return to the main menu.
Step 18: Review the HTML report file and animate its embedded H3D file by using HyperView Player.
1. From Windows Explorer, open the file channel_brkt_assem2.html. (Double-click on the filename to open it.) The report contains summary information for the model and results. 2. In the Results summary section, click the link Click here. HyperView Player opens and the channel and bracket assembly model is loaded. 3. For Subcases and simulations, select Subcase 1 pressing_step. The results for this subcase are loaded. 4. Click play icon to animate the displacements.
5. Take a moment to view the models animation. Use the CTRL + mouse buttons to rotate, pan, and zoom into the model just as you do in HyperMesh. 6. Click play icon again to stop the animation. 7. For Subcases and simulations, select Subcase 2 twisting_step and review its displacement result.

HyperMesh 8.0

Hm80 Intro Manual Vol1

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Pre-processing Models for Finite Element Analysis - Volume I

Altair Engineering Contact Information

support@altairtorino.it support@altairjp.co.jp support@altair.co.kr support@altair.se support@uk.altair.com support@altair.com.br anzsupport@altair.com anzsupport@altair.com

Trademark and Registered Trademark Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: HyperMesh Introduction ...................................................................... 1

Chapter 2: Shell Meshing ..................................................................................... 63

Chapter 3: Analysis Setup ................................................................................. 109

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

HyperMesh Introduction: Starting HyperMesh

At the prompt, type <install directory>/scripts/hm Can set up an alias

Copyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

HyperMesh Introduction: Starting Directory

By default, HyperMesh uses the start directory for files

On PC, specified by the programs icon

Copyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

HyperMesh Introduction: The User Interface

Solver, Model, Utility, Include

HyperMesh Introduction: The User Interface

Pull Down Menus Tab Area:

Toolbar Header Bar Main Menu

Copyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

HyperMesh Introduction: Online Help

How to use individual functions Notes on interfacing HyperMesh

Tutorials Programming guides Organized by product

Copyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

Section 2: Opening and Saving Files

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

File Operations: The File Pull-down Menu

File Operations: Panels

Many panels in HyperMesh use file operations

Buttons in panels for file operations

Buttons with in the name open a file browser

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

Exercise: Exploring the Files Panel

Step 1: Open the HyperMesh model file, bumper_cen_mid1.hm.

HyperMesh model file, bumper_cen_mid1.hm, opened in HyperMesh

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

2. Browse to the file, bumper_end.igs. 3. Geometry data is added to the model.

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

IGES geometry file, bumper_end.igs, import

4. Remain in the import subpanel.

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

Click the file icon

, go to the export sub-panel, click iges, and then click write as

2. Remain in the Files panel.

Step 11 (Optional): Save your work.

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

Section 3: Working with Panels

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

Panels: General Layout

Panels often have sub-panels

Accessed by radio buttons on the left side of the panel

Example: Project / to plane sub-panel

Copyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.

Panels: General Layout

Some sub-panels are organized in columns

1) What to do: Pick a sub-panel for the function to be used

Copyright 2006 Altair Engineering, Inc. All rights reserved.