A Platform for Innovation TM

HyperMorph Introduction
Methods for Morphing Finite Element Models

HyperWorks is a division of
Altair Engineering Contact Information
Web site www.altair.com

FTP site Address: ftp.altair.com or ftp2.altair.com or http://ftp.altair.com/ftp

Login: ftp
Password: <your e-mail address>

Location Telephone e-mail

North America 248.614.2425 [email protected]
China 86.21.6117.1666 [email protected]
France 33.1.4133.0992 [email protected]
Germany 49.7031.6208.22 [email protected]
India 91.80.6629.4500 [email protected]
1800.425.0234 (toll free)
Italy 39.800.905.595 [email protected]
Japan 81.3.5396.2881 [email protected]
Korea 82.31.716.4321 [email protected]
Scandinavia 46.46.286.2052 [email protected]
United Kingdom 44.1926.468.600 [email protected]
Brazil 55.11.3884.0414 [email protected]
Australia 64.9.413.7981 [email protected]
New Zealand 64.9.413.7981 [email protected]

The following countries have distributors for Altair Engineering:

Asia Pacific: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand
Europe: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey.

©2009 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.

Trademark and Registered Trademark Acknowledgments

® ® ©
Listed below are Altair HyperWorks applications. Copyright Altair Engineering Inc., All Rights Reserved for:
® ® ® ®
HyperMesh 1990-2009; HyperView 1999-2009; OptiStruct 1996-2009; RADIOSS 1986-2009; HyperCrash™
® ® ® ®
2001-2009; HyperStudy 1999-2009; HyperGraph 1995-2009; MotionView 1993-2009; MotionSolve 2002-
® ®
2009; TextView™ 1996-2009; MediaView™ 1999-2009; HyperForm 1998-2009; HyperXtrude 1999-2009;
®
HyperView Player 2001-2009; Process Manager™ 2003-2009; Data Manager™ 2005-2009; Assembler™
2005-2009; FEModel™ 2004-2009; BatchMesher™ 2003-2009; Templex™ 1990-2009; Manufacturing
Solutions™ 2005-2009; HyperDieDynamics™ 2007-2009; HyperMath™ 2007-2009; ScriptView™ 2007-2009.
In addition to HyperWorks® trademarks noted above, GridWorks™, PBS™ Gridworks®, PBS™ Professional®,
PBS™ and Portable Batch System® are trademarks of ALTAIR ENGINEERING INC., as is patent # 6,859,792.
All are protected under U.S. and international laws and treaties. All other marks are the property of their
respective owners.
 Table of Contents

HyperMorph Training
Chapter 1: Introduction to Morphing Methods ...................................................... 1
Accessing HyperMorph ..................................................................................................... 2
HyperMorph Online Help................................................................................................... 2

Chapter 2: Freehand Morphing.............................................................................. 3

Exercise 2.1: Translating Nodes to Increase the Length of a Propeller Blade .................. 5
Exercise 2.2: Confirming a seat to a dummy profile.......................................................... 7

Chapter 3: Map to Geometry ................................................................................. 11

Exercise 3.1: Change the Curvature of a Bumper to a Curved Line ............................... 13
Exercise 3.2: Change the Profile of the Roof of a Car .................................................... 15

Chapter 4: Morph Volumes ................................................................................... 17

Exercise 4.1: Change the Shape of the B-pillar with the Help of Morph Volume ............ 19

Chapter 5: Domains and Handles......................................................................... 23

Exercise 5.1: Using Domains and Handles ..................................................................... 27
Exercise 5.2: Increasing the gauge thickness of the Spring Wire ................................... 33
Exercise 5.3: Changing the Radius of the Spring Coil. ................................................... 35

Chapter 6: Introduction to Morphing Controls ................................................... 37

Chapter 7: Symmetries.......................................................................................... 39
Exercise 7.1: Using cyclical symmetry to assist in the morphing of a bottle ................... 41
Exercise 7.2: Creation of a circular bead on the bottle .................................................. 47

Chapter 8: Shapes ................................................................................................. 55

Exercise 8.1: Morphing of a yoke via morph volumes and shapes ................................. 57
Exercise 8.2: Using Shapes to interpolate loads............................................................. 63

HyperWorks 10.0 II
Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Exercise 8.3: Record Shapes.......................................................................................... 67

Chapter 9: Morph Constraints............................................................................... 71

Exercise 9.1: Using morph constraints to keep the area of a windshield constant while
changing its shape. ......................................................................................................... 73
Exercise 9.2: Using limiting constraints and freehand morphing to position a dummy
and morph the seat. ........................................................................................................ 77
Exercise 9.3: Using cluster constraints to preserve the wheel shape while lengthening
the body of a truck........................................................................................................... 81

Chapter 10: Miscellaneous Topics........................................................................ 87

Exercise 10.1: Remeshing domains after morphing ....................................................... 87

III HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 1: Introduction to Morphing Methods

Chapter 1

Introduction to
Morphing Methods
HyperMorph is a mesh morphing tool that allows you to alter finite element models while
keeping mesh distortions to a minimum.
HyperMorph can be used to:
• Change the profile and the dimensions of your mesh
• Map an existing mesh onto a new geometry, and
• Create shape variables that can be used for optimization
The methods available to carry out morphing are available under:
• Freehand Morphing
• Map to Geometry
• Morph Volumes, and,
• Domains and Handles
To provide greater control as well as an efficient morphing, you can use:
• Morphing constraints,
• Symmetries, and,
• Biasing factors.
Morphs can be saved as Shapes. Shapes can then be:
• Positioned to other parts of the model.
• Animated, to review the morphing.
• And also be used to transfer loads from one model to another.
After morphing has been performed, you can visualize the quality of the mesh, and can
automatically smooth it if need be. A re-mesh can also be performed, keeping the morphing
entities like handles, domains and shapes intact.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 1

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Morphing Methods

Accessing HyperMorph
HyperMorph can be accessed in one of the following ways:
• On the Main menu point to Morphing, and select the appropriate function

Figure 1: HyperMorph on the Main menu

• On the Tool page click on HyperMorph, and click on the appropriate panel

Figure 2: HyperMorph on the Tool page

HyperMorph Online Help

The on-line help for HyperMorph can be accessed as follows:
1. On the Help menu, click HyperMesh, OptiStruct, and Batch Mesher.
2. All files referenced in the HyperMorph tutorials are located in the HyperWorks installation
directory under
<install_directory>/tutorials/hm/hypermorph.>

HyperMorph Introduction 2 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 2: Freehand Morphing

Chapter 2

Freehand Morphing
Freehand morphing provides quick ways of morphing a finite element mesh. Freehand
morphing can be performed in three ways:
Move nodes Lets you morph elements by selecting fixed nodes, moving nodes,
affected elements and a moving direction.
The affected elements that are located between the moving and the fixed
nodes will be stretched uniformly.
The stretching of the elements can be biased towards either the fixed or
the moving nodes, providing a great degree of control on the resulting
mesh profile.
Record Lets you record nodal movements from panels outside HyperMorph, like
translate, rotate, quality index etc.
Sculpting Lets you enforce a selected shape onto your mesh.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 3

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 2: Freehand Morphing

HyperMorph Introduction 4 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 2: Freehand Morphing

Exercise: Translating Nodes to Increase the Length of

a Propeller Blade
In this tutorial, you will increase the length of a propeller blade by 100 units, using freehand
morphing.

Figure 1: Original blade

Figure 2: Blade after morphing

Step 1: Load the model.

Open the HyperMesh file, propeller.hm.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 5

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 2: Freehand Morphing
Step 2: Morph the blade.
1. Go to the move nodes sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Free Hand, then select the move nodes sub-
panel.
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then freehand, then move nodes.
2. Verify that the morphing method is set to translate.
3. For the translate value, key in z= -100.

4. On the toolbar, left-click User Views ( ).

5. Click restore1.
6. For moving nodes and fixed nodes select the nodes as displayed in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Node and element selections.

7. For affected elements select the elements that lie between fixed nodes and moving nodes.
8. For mv bias and fx bias keep the default value (1.00).
9. Click morph to morph the blade of the propeller.

Summary
The length of the propeller blade has increased by 100. The fixed nodes do not move. The
affected elements were stretched evenly to maintain element quality. The stretching of the
elements takes place between the moving nodes and the fixed nodes.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 6

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 2: Freehand Morphing

Exercise: Conforming a Seat to a Dummy Profile

The objective of this exercise is to take a dummy pelvis profile and imprint it onto a seat.

Figure 1: Seat before and after sculpting

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file, dummy_position_solid.hm.

Step 2: Morph the seat.

1. Access the sculpting sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Free Hand, then select the sculpting sub-
panel
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then freehand, then sculpting
2. Change the sculpting tool to mesh.
3. For the sculpting tool:, choose the elements in the collector dummy (Figure 2).
4. For affected elements: choose the elements in the collector seat (Figure 2).
5. For the base point as well as the node list, choose a node on the dummy (Figure 2).

6. Define a sculpt direction for your seat using N1 N2 (Figure 2).

7. Set your taper angle to 85 (degrees).

8. Verify that mesh compression is set to compress by factor.

9. Set mesh compr= (factor) to 0.5.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 7

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 2: Freehand Morphing

Figure 2: Setting up the model for morphing

10. Click push to complete the morphing operation.

Figure 3: Seat after sculpting

11. Review the obtained mesh quality.

HyperMorph Introduction 8 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 2: Freehand Morphing
Summary
Using just a few steps you have been able to take a fairly complicated profile and impose it
on to another mesh.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 9

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 2: Freehand Morphing

HyperMorph Introduction 10 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 3: Map to Geometry

Chapter 3

Map to Geometry
Map to Geometry provides quick ways of taking an existing mesh and conform it to a new
geometry. Domains and handles can be used to provide better control on the morphing
process. The geometry can be a line, node list, plane, surfaces, or elements using edge
domains and handles to guide the process. Geometry can also be provided in the form of
section lines, or surfaces.
Some of the types of geometry that can be mapped are shown in figure 1.

Figure 1: Types of geometry that can be mapped

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 11

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 3: Map to Geometry

HyperMorph Introduction 12 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 3: Map to Geometry

Exercise: Changing the Curvature of a Bumper to a

Curved Line
In this exercise, you will use the line difference approach to morph a bumper to conform to
a new section line.

Figure 1: Bumper before and after morphing

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file, bumper_morphing.hm.

Step 2: Morph the bumper.

1. Access the map to geom panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu select Map to Geometry
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then map to geom.
2. Change the geometry selector to line difference.
3. Select the from line and the to line as shown in figure 2.
4. Toggle the morphing entity (2nd column) from map domains to map nodes.
5. Select nodes >> displayed.
6. Use no fixed nodes (2nd column, 2nd row).
7. Use map by line axis morphing with a 1.0 mvbias and fxbias. (column 3).

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 13

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 3: Map to Geometry

Figure 2: The from line and the to line

8. Click map.

Summary
The profile of the bumper is changed to follow the new section line.

HyperMorph Introduction 14 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 3: Map to Geometry

Exercise: Changing the Profile of the Roof of a Car

In this tutorial, you will use map to sections to change the profile of the car roof.

Figure 1: Car model.

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file, car_section.hm.

Step 2: Morph the roof.

1. Access the map to geom panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu select Map to Geometry
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then map to geom.
2. Change the mapping section type to map to sections.
3. Under map to sections, toggle lines to line list.
4. Switch map domains to map elements (2nd column).
5. Toggle no fixed nodes to fixed nodes (2nd column).
6. Keep blend all option selected.
7. Keep rotate nodes checked.
8. Keep the 3rd column selector set to map by line normal.
9. Click first line list button and select Line A and Line B on the model.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 15

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 3: Map to Geometry
10. Under to: click the second line list button and select Line A’ and Line B’ on the model.
Lines should be selected in the same order.

11. Under map to elements click the elems button and select elements by collector.
12. Pick collector Roof
13. Click select.

14. From the toolbar click User Views ( ). A pop-up window will appear. Select the right
view.
15. Under fixed nodes click nodes >> by window and select all the nodes as shown in
figure 2.
16. Click select entities.
17. Click map.

Figure 2: Selection for fixed nodes

Summary
The roof of the car has been morphed while the mesh quality has been maintained.

HyperMorph Introduction 16 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.

 Chapter 4: Morph Volumes

Chapter 4

Morph Volumes
A morph volume is a six-sided hexahedron whose shape can be manipulated to morph the
mesh. The length and curvature of each edge of a morph volume can be modified
independently. Adjacent morph volumes can be linked through tangency conditions. This
allows you to update the characteristics of the morph volumes. Handles are placed at each
of the vertices of the morph volumes. Morphing involves moving these handles.
Morph volumes thus present a very simple, powerful, and intuitive way to morph.
Morph volumes will only influence the nodes that are registered to it. You can either, register
the nodes within a morph volume automatically when it is created, or you can select the
nodes or nodes on selected elements to be registered. If the morph volumes do not appear
to be morphing nodes inside them, you may need to register those nodes.

Figure 1: Morph Volumes

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 17

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 4: Morph Volumes

HyperMorph Introduction 18 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 4: Morph Volumes

Exercise: Changing the Shape of the B-pillar with

the Help of Morph Volume
This exercise shows how to smoothly change the shape of a B-pillar via morph volumes.

Figure 1: B-Pillar before and after morphing

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file, body_side.hm.

Step 2: Create morph volumes.

1. Access the morph volumes > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu point to Create and select Morph Volumes
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph volumes
2. Switch the creation method to pick on screen.
3. For handle placement, select corners only.
4. Keep the auto-tangent check box selected.
5. Draw a window by clicking at the four places shown in Figure 2.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 19

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 4: Morph Volumes

Figure 2: Points for creating the morph volume

Note: A morph volume is created, enclosing the area.

Step 3: Split the morph volumes.

1. Access the Morph volumes > split/combine sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu point to create and select Morph Volumes, then
select split/combine
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph volumes, then select
split/combine
2. Verify the split toggle is set to split mvols : by edges
3. Select an edge of the morph volume close to location 1 (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Locations to split the morph volume

The green colored cross moves to the location of the black dot.

HyperMorph Introduction 20 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 4: Morph Volumes
4. Click split.
The morph volume is split into two. Follow the same steps to create another split at
location2.

Step 4: Change the profile of the b-pillar.

1. Access the morph > move handles sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu point to Morph and select move handles
• On the Tool page, go to HyperMorph, then morph, then select move handles
2. Set the morphing method to translate.
3. For direction use along X, Y, Z.
4. Key in the following values:
X=0

Y = 100.00

Z=0

5. Select the eight handles by window as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Select handles for morphing

6. Click morph.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 21

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 4: Morph Volumes
Rotate the model to observe that the b-pillar is morphed.

Summary
The b-pillar is morphed in a smooth fashion with minimum distortion to the elements.

HyperMorph Introduction 22 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 5: Domains and Handles

Chapter 5

Domains and Handles

The domains and handles approach consists of dividing the mesh into regions called
domains with associated handles.

What are domains and handles?

Domains consist of selected nodes and elements.

Domains and handles are divided into two basic groups, global and local.

The global group consists of global domains, each of which is associated with a number of
global handles. Global handles will only influence the nodes in the global domain to which
they are associated. Global handles and domains are best for making large scale shape
changes to the model.

The local group consists of five types of local domains: 1D domains, 2D domains, 3D
domains, edge domains, and general domains. Local handles/edge domains can only
influence nodes contained in the domains they are associated with. Local handles/edge
domains are intended to be used to make small scale, parametric changes to the model.

While a model can contain both global and local handles and domains, it is not necessary to
have both types of domains and handles in a model.
The following table describes the various domains and their symbols when they are created.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 23

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 5: Domains and Handles

Figure 1: Domains types and symbols

When global domain and handles are generated using autogenerate or created with the
create handles option turned on, HyperMorph generates eight global handles, one at each
of the eight corners of a box laid out along the global axes surrounding the model. These
global handles are named “corner” followed by a number from one to eight. HyperMorph will
also place at least one global handle within the box in areas of the model’s peak nodal
density. These handles are named “handle,” followed by a number.
The automatic global handle generation works particularly well for space-frame models such
as full car models. However, for small models such as a control arm or bracket, the
recommendation is for you to build your own local domains and handles since you are more
likely interested in changing the local area rather than the entire model.
If the autogenerate process does not create handles in the positions where you want them
to be, you can always delete them, reposition them, or create additional handles. Handles
can be further classified as independent or dependent. An independent handle creates
displacements to the model only when it is moved. A dependent handle creates
displacements influenced from its own movements plus that of other handles it is linked to.
A handle can be made dependent on one or more handles. This allows you to create as
many layers of dependencies between your handles as you desire. For example, you can
make all the handles at one cross section of a beam (modeling using 2D shell elements)
dependent on a single handle allowing you to move an entire cross section while only
having to select one independent handle.

HyperMorph Introduction 24 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 5: Domains and Handles

What is a partition?
The most important factor in local morphing is partitioning. It is logically dividing a 2D
domain into smaller 2D domains, such as where the angle between elements exceeds a
certain value or where the domain changes from flat to curved, is called partitioning.
Proper partitioning makes morphing faster and easier. By activating partition domains
user can invoke partitioning when auto-generating or when creating a domain. If the user is
unsatisfied with the results of the partitioning he/she can change the partitioning parameters
namely domains angle and curve tolerance.
Figure below shows an example of partitioning. For the model on the left, the 2D domain
was created without partitioning. For the model on the right, partitioning was used. Note
how the 2D domains divide along angle and curvature change boundaries.

Figure 2: Partitioning domains

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 25

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 5: Domains and Handles

HyperMorph Introduction 26 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 5: Domains and Handles

Exercise: Using Domains and Handles

In this exercise you will create domains and handles, and morph the model.

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open and review the HyperMesh model morphing_1.hm.

Step 2: Auto generate 2-D domains and handles.

1. Access the domains > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu point to Create and select Domains
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then domains
2. Change the create method to auto functions.
3. Click generate.
Based on the model’s geometric features, all of the model’s elements are organized into
various domains and local handles are created and associated with the domains.

Step 3: Move elements into a new 2-D domain.

1. Go to the domains > create sub-panel.
2. Set the selector to 2D domains.

3. Click to clear the elements that were automatically selected.

4. Using elems >> by window, select the elements indicated in figure 1.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 27

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 5: Domains and Handles

Figure 1: Elements to select to move into a new domain

5. Verify that partition 2D domains is active.

6. Click create to create the domain.
Local handles are created for the new domain. You should now have two local domains.
Elements can only belong to one domain at a time. Thus, the elements you selected
were moved into the new domain. This functionality makes it very easy to group
elements into different domains.

Step 4: Split the edge domain of the radius to have more control when
morphing.
1. Go to the domains > edit edges sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu point to Create and select domains, then select edit
edges
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then domains, then select edit edges
2. Verify that the split option is selected.
3. With the domain selector active, select the edge domain of the part’s radius as indicated
in the Figure 2.
The node selector automatically becomes active once the edge domain is selected.
Click the domain selector to make it active and see that you selected the desired edge
domain.

HyperMorph Introduction 28 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 5: Domains and Handles

Figure 2: Edge domain to select

4. Click the node selector to make it active.

5. Select the node on the positive Y-axis end of the radius, as indicated in the image Figure
3.

Figure 3: Node selection to split the edge domain of the radius

6. Click split to split the edge domain at the node.

7. Repeat the above process to further split the edge domain of the radius, this time at the
node indicated in the Figure 4.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 29

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 5: Domains and Handles

Figure 4: Node selection to further split the edge domain of the radius

8. When complete, click return to exit the panel.

Step 5: Add local handles to the 2-D domain on the part’s left side.
1. Go to the handles > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu, and click Create, then select Handles
• On the Tool page go to HyperMorph, then select handles
2. For name=, enter local.
3. Click the attached to: domain selector to make it active.
4. Select the 2-D domain on the part’s left side by selecting its red icon, as indicated in the
following image.

Figure 5: Adding handles to a 2-D domain

HyperMorph Introduction 30 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 5: Domains and Handles
5. Click the by nodes: nodes selector to make it active.
6. Select the two nodes as indicated in the previous image.
7. Click create to create the handles and add them to the 2-D domain.
8. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 6: Perform basic morphing to understand how domains and handles

interact with each other and the mesh.
1. Go to morph > move handles sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu, select Morph, then select move handles
• On the Tool page select HyperMorph, then select morph, then select move
handles
2. (Optional) With the handles selector active, select the two handles that are on the most
positive X-axis end of the part, as indicated in figure 6.
If you select one or more handle, those handles follow the handle you drag (in Step 6.6,
following).

3. Be sure the morphing method is set to interactive.

4. Switch from on domains to on plane.
5. Click the N1 selector to make it active.
6. For N1, N2, and N3, select any three nodes on the model to define a plane.
7. Click morph.
8. The message, “pick handles and move to new location” appears in the message bar.
9. Click on and drag one of the selected handles to morph the part.
10. As you drag the handle, the mesh’s size and shape is adjusted.
Notice that the following occurs as the selected local handle is moved:

• The handles selected in Step 6.2 follow the handle you are dragging.
• All of the elements belonging to the selected local handle’s 2-D domain are
affected by moving that local handle.
• The 2-D domain’s non-selected local handles act like anchors (they do not
move).
• The nodes on the edge domains and between any two non-selected local
domains do not move.
• None of the elements in the other 2-D domain are affected.
11. Release the mouse button to complete the morphing operation.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 31

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 5: Domains and Handles

Figure 6: Example result of morphing the model

12. Click undo.

The HyperMorph module allows for multiple levels of undo and redo for all morphing
operations. This functionality is available for any particular HyperMesh session and its
current model as long as the session and its model remain open.

13. Click to clear the selected handles.

14. (Optional) With the handles selector active, select one or more global handles.
15. Click morph.
16. Click on and drag any global handle to morph the part.

Summary
The following occurs as the selected global handle is moved:
• The handles selected in Step 6.2 follow the handle you are dragging.
• The non-selected global handles act like anchors (they do not move).
• All of the elements, local handles and edge domains are affected.

HyperMorph Introduction 32 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 5: Domains and Handles

Exercise: Increasing the Gauge Thickness of the

Spring Wire
In this tutorial, you will use domains and handles to increase the gauge thickness.

Figure 1: Before and after morphing

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file, spring.hm.

Step 2: Change the gauge thickness.

1. Access the domains > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu, select Create, then select Domains
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then domains
2. Switch domain type to 2D domains.
3. Verify elements toggle is set to all elements.
4. Verify that only the partition 2D domains option is active.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 33

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 5: Domains and Handles
5. Click create.
6. Access the morph > alter dimensions sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu, select Morph, then alter dimensions
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph, then alter dimensions
7. Change the morphing method to radius.
8. Change the center calculation to by normals.
9. Keep all the other settings.
10. For domains (under edge and 2D) select the 2D domain and the two edge domains
as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Domains to select for altering the gauge radius

When the circular edge domain is selected, the radius box populates with the current radius
value.
11. In the radius field, type 12.
12. Click morph.

Summary
The gauge thickness of the spring wire is changed from 7.5 to 12.0.

HyperMorph Introduction 34 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 5: Domains and Handles

Exercise: Changing the Radius of the Spring Coil

In this exercise, you will increase the radius of the spring coil.

Figure 1: Before and after morphing

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file, spring.hm.

Step 2: Change the coil radius.

1. Access the domains > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu, select Create, then select Domains
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then domains
2. Switch domain type to 2D domains.
3. Verify that the elements toggle is set to all elements.
4. Verify that only the partition 2D domains option is active.
5. Click create.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 35

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 5: Domains and Handles
6. Go to the morph > alter dimensions sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Morph, then the alter dimensions sub-panel.
• On the Tool page go to HyperMorph, then select morph, then alter
dimensions
7. Change the morphing method to radius.
8. Change the center calculation to by axis.
9. Change the axis to the z-axis.

Figure 2: Domains and base node to select for altering the coil radius

10. For domains (under edge and 2D) select the 2-D domain and the two edge domains.
11. For the base node for the z-axis select the node as shown in Figure 2.
12. Keep the default settings for the remaining options.
13. Activate add to current.
14. In the radius field, type 20.
15. Click morph.

Summary
Twenty units are added to the coil radius.

HyperMorph Introduction 36 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 6: Introduction to Morphing Controls

Chapter 6

Introduction to
Morphing Controls
Symmetries, shapes, and morphing constraints are some of the useful tools that you can
use to enhance and optimize the time spent on morphing your mesh.
Symmetries allow you to influence handles, nodes, morph volumes, and domains.
Shapes lets you create, save, animate, and apply morphing shapes as nodal or handle
perturbations.
Morph constraints allow you to create constraints that restrict the movements of nodes or
force compliance with dimensional requirements during morphing.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 37

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 6: Introduction to Morphing Controls

HyperMorph Introduction 38 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 7: Symmetries

Chapter 7

Symmetries
There are two types of symmetries, reflective and non-reflective.
• Reflective symmetries are 1-plane, 2-plane, 3-plane, and cyclical. They allow you to
link handles so that the movements of one handle will be symmetrically applied to
the linked handles.
• Non-reflective symmetries are linear, circular, planar, radial 2D, cylindrical, radial +
linear, radial 3D, and spherical. These change the way that handles influence nodes
as well as link the symmetric handles.

Reflective symmetries can be turned off by either checking/un-checking symlinks, or by

making the symmetries active/inactive in the morph options panel. Non-reflective
symmetries can only be turned off by making the symmetry inactive (morph options).

Symmetries can be combined, but you must be careful not to create confusing symmetrical
arrangements. Symmetries can also be applied to unconnected domains. However, the
influences between handles and nodes for non-reflective symmetries do not extend across
all domains.

Reflective symmetries can be defined as either unilateral or multilateral.

• Unilateral symmetries have only one side that governs the others, but not vice versa.
For example, handles created and morphs applied to handles on the positive side of
the symmetry are reflected onto the other side or sides of the symmetry, but handles
created or morphs applied to handles on the other side or sides of the symmetry are
not reflected.
• For multilateral symmetries, all sides govern all other sides. For example, a handle
created or a morph applied to any handle on any side is reflected to all the other
sides.

Reflective symmetries can also be defined as and either approximate or enforced.

• Approximate symmetries may contain handles that are not symmetric to other
handles.
• Enforced symmetries cannot contain handles that are not symmetric on all other
sides. When a reflective symmetry is created with the enforced option, additional
handles may also be created to meet the enforcement requirements. Note that
handles created due to the enforced option may not be located on any mesh;
however, they will always be assigned to the nearest domain and will affect nodes in
that domain.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 39

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 7: Symmetries

HyperMorph Introduction 40 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 7: Symmetries

Exercise: Using Cyclical Symmetry to Assist in the

Morphing of a Bottle
In this exercise you will create a dome shape at the bottom of the bottle using morph
volumes.

Figure 1: Before and after morphing

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file bottle.hm

Step 2: Create morph volumes.

1. Go to morph volumes > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Create, then Morph Volumes
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph volumes, and then select
the create sub-panel.
2. Be sure create matrix is set.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 41

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 7: Symmetries
3. Set:

• x density = 3

• y density = 8

• z density = 5

• buffer % = 5
4. Toggle global system to local system.
5. Select elems >> displayed.
6. For syst, select the system located at the top of the bottle.
7. Use the default values for the remaining settings.
8. Click create to create the morph volumes.
9. Note that morph volumes are created, encompassing the bottle, with red colored
handles created at the corners of each morph volume.
10. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 3: Create symmetry.

1. Access the symmetry > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Create, then Symmetries
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then symmetry, then select the create
sub-panel.
2. Under domain, activate morph volumes.
Symmetries can either be linked to domains or to morph volumes. Here you are
associating the symmetries to the morph volumes.

3. Change 1 plane to cyclical.

4. Change 180 degrees to set freq.
5. Set # of cycles, to 8.
6. For syst select the cylindrical coordinate system located at the top of the bottle.
7. Click create.
Note that a cyclical symmetry is created.

8. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 4: Create the dome.

1. Access morph volumes > update edges in one of the following ways:

HyperMorph Introduction 42 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 7: Symmetries
• From the Morphing menu, select Create, then Morph Volumes, then select the
update edges sub-panel
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph volumes, then select the
update edges sub-panel
2. Toggle update nodes to update ends.
3. Rotate the bottle such that you are looking at its bottom.
4. Update the tangencies on the inner ring of the bottom from continuous to free (Figure 2).
Be sure the switch is set free.

5. When finished, click return to exit the panel.

Figure 2: Updating tangencies

6. Access the morph > move handles sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Morph, then move handles
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph, then move handles
7. Select the handles at the bottom of the bottle, as shown in Figure 3.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 43

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 7: Symmetries

Figure 3: Handles to translate

8. Switch the morphing method to translate.

9. Switch to along xyz
10. Set z val = 10
11. Click morph.
Since you have symmetries defined, translating a single handle on the inner ring at the
bottom, ensures that a similar behavior is imparted on all the handles symmetrically
associated to it.

12. To reduce the number of domains and handles shown on the screen, click the Mask By
Config tab.
13. Right-click Morphing and pick Morph operates on all elements, if not already
selected.
14. Click the - in the Hide column to turn off the display of all morphing entities.

Summary
Using morph volumes with appropriate tangencies, and by creating symmetries you are able
to create a dome-shaped feature at the bottom of the bottle.

Remarks
There are four different methods to define the continuity between the morph volumes.
• Free makes morph volume edges independent of other edges.
• Fixed connectivity allows you to prescribe the angle at the end of an edge.

HyperMorph Introduction 44 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 7: Symmetries
• Master-slave maintains tangency between two morph volume edges while
keeping the master edge independent of the slave edge. (When the master edge
moves, the slave edge follows, but when the slave edge moves, the master edge
does not have to follow.)
• Continuous maintains tangency between two morph volume edges while
allowing both edges to affect each other.
The default setting in morph volume is always set to tangent which is continuous edge
connectivity. This definition can always be changed in the update edges sub-panel, based
upon the morphing needs.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 45

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 7: Symmetries

HyperMorph Introduction 46 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 7: Symmetries

Exercise: Creating a Circular Bead on the Bottle

Figure 1: Adding beads to the bottle

In this exercise you will first create a bead using the default continuous edge connectivity. You
will then update the edges to free and see how it affects the bead creation.

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file bottle.hm

Step 2: Create morph volumes.

1. Go to morph volumes > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Create, then Morph Volumes
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph volumes, then select the create
sub-panel
2. Switch create morphvol to create matrix.
3. Set:

• x density = 3

• y density = 8

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 47

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 7: Symmetries

• z density = 5

• buffer % = 5
4. Toggle global system to local system.
5. Select elems >> displayed.
6. For syst, select the system located at the top of the bottle.
7. Use the default values for the remaining settings.
8. Click create to create the morph volumes.
Note that morph volumes are created encompassing the bottle, with red colored handles
created at the corners of each morph volume.

9. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 3: Create symmetry.

1. Access the symmetry > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Create, then Symmetries
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then symmetry, then select the create sub-
panel
2. Under domain, activate morph volumes.
Symmetries can either be linked to domains or to morph volumes. In this case, you are
associating the symmetries to the morph volumes.

3. Change 1 plane to cyclical.

4. Change 180 degrees to set freq.
5. Set # of cycles to 8.
6. For syst, select the cylindrical coordinate system located at the top of the bottle.
7. Click create.
Note that a cyclical symmetry is created.

8. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 4: Split the morph volumes.

1. On the toolbar, click User Views ( ) and then click left.

2. Access the morph volumes panel, split/combine sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu, select Create, then select Morph Volumes, then select the
split/combine sub-panel

HyperMorph Introduction 48 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 7: Symmetries

• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph volumes, then select the
split/combine sub-panel
3. Set the toggles to split mvols > by edges.
4. Set single split to 0.8.
5. Select an edge of Morph Volume 1 (Figure 2).
6. Click split.
7. Set single split to 0.2.
8. Select an edge of Morph Volume 2 (Figure 2).
9. Click split.
10. Click return to exit the panel.

Figure 2: Splitting morph volumes

Step 5: Morph the part.

1. Go to the morph > move handles sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu, select Morph, then select the move handles sub-panel
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph, then select the move handles
sub-panel
2. Switch the morphing method to translate.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 49

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 7: Symmetries

3. Switch the translate option to along xyz.

4. Set x val = -5.0.
5. Select cylindrical coordinate system located at the top of the bottle.
6. Select a handle as shown in figure 3.
7. Click morph.

Figure 3: Selecting a handle for morphing

As the bead is created, the upper and lower portions of the bottle deform too (figure 4). This is
not the intension, as you want to create a bead without affecting the other parts of the bottle.

HyperMorph Introduction 50 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 7: Symmetries

Figure 4: Morphing using continuous morph volumes

8. Click undo to undo the morphing operation.

Step 6: Update the morph volume edges.

To stop this bulging effect of the upper and the lower portions of the bottle, you will use the free
edge connectivity between these morph volumes.
1. Access the morph volumes > update edges sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu, select Create, then Morph Volumes, then select the
update edges sub-panel

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 51

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 7: Symmetries

• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph volumes, then select the
update edges sub-panel
2. Toggle update nodes to update ends.
3. Switch edge tangency to free.
4. Update the edges, working your way around the bottle.
5. Click return to exit the panel.

Figure 5: Selecting edges to update the tangencies

Figure 6: Changing the tangencies from continuous to free

Step 7: Morph the part.

1. Go to the morph > move handles sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu, select Morph, then select the move handles sub-panel.
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph, then move handles
2. Switch the morphing method to translate.

HyperMorph Introduction 52 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 7: Symmetries

3. Switch the translate option to along xyz.

4. Set x-val = -5.0.
5. Select cylindrical coordinate system located at the top of the bottle.
6. Select the handle as shown in figure 3.
7. Click morph.

Figure 7: Bead created with free edge connectivity

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 53

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 7: Symmetries

Summary
Using morph volumes with appropriate tangencies and symmetries you were able to create a
bead on the given bottle.

HyperMorph Introduction 54 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 8: Shapes

Chapter 8

Shapes
Shapes are collections of handle and/or node perturbations.

When you morph your model, HyperMorph stores the morph internally as a collection of
perturbations. When you save a shape, the handle and/or node perturbations are stored in
the new shape entity along with biasing factors for the handle perturbations and details such
as the biasing style.

Creating shapes allows you to generate shape variables for optimization and store model
changes for parametric studies.

When you are saving a shape, you can select whether to save it as handle perturbations or
node perturbations. Shapes saved as node perturbations are not affected by changes to
domains and handles. Shapes saved as handle perturbations are affected by changes to the
domains and handles. Whenever you make a change to your model, HyperMorph will ask
you if you want to preserve any existing shapes saved as handle perturbations by
converting them to node perturbations.

If you plan to make changes to domains and handles, you should save shapes as node
perturbations. If not, save shapes as handle perturbations and they will require less
memory and disk space.

If you later decide that you want to change a shape from node perturbations to handle
perturbations or vice versa you can do so in the convert sub-panel of the shapes panel.

Once a shape is saved, you can apply it to your model with any given scaling factor.
Applying a shape in this way is like any other morphing operation and can be undone,
redone, or saved as part of another shape.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 55

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 8: Shapes

HyperMorph Introduction 56 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 8: Shapes

Exercise: Morphing a Yoke via Morph Volumes and

Shapes
In this exercise you will increase the diameter of one of the prongs of a yoke using morph
volumes. You will reflect the shape on to the other prong and finally position the combined
shapes from one yoke to the other.

Figure 1: Yoke model

Step 1: Load and review the model.

1. Open the HyperMesh file yoke.hm.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 57

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 8: Shapes

2. In the Model browser, right-click component yoke_2 and select Hide.

Step 2: Convert hexas to morph volume.

1. Access the morph volumes > convert sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu, select Create, then Morph Volumes, then select the
convert sub-panel
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph volumes, then select the
convert sub-panel
2. Select elems >> by collector.
3. Select hexas.
4. Click select.
5. Click convert.

Figure 2: Converting hexas volumes to morph volumes

Note that all the seven hexa elements are converted into morph volumes.

Step 3: Increase the prong diameter.

1. In the Model browser, right-click Tag and select Show to display all the tags.
2. Access the morph > move handles sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu select Morph, then select the move handles sub-
panel
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph, then select the move
handles sub-panel

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 58

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 8: Shapes

3. Set the mode selector to move to node.

4. Click options and make sure mvols: is set to active (toggle if it is set to inactive).
5. Click return.
6. For handle, click Handle 1, and for node, click tag 1’.
7. Repeat this process for the other 35 handles.

Figure 3: Using tags to change the morph volumes

Step 4: Save the morphed shape.

1. Go to the shapes > save as shape sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Create , then Shapes, then select the save as
shape sub-panel
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then shapes, then select the save as
shape sub-panel
2. Use name= Prong1.
3. Toggle as handle perturbations to as node perturbations.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 59

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 8: Shapes

4. Click save
5. Click undo all to bring the model to its original position before morphing.

Step 5: Create coordinate system.

You need to reference a coordinate system in order to create symmetry.
1. In the Model browser, right-click and select Hide for Shape and MorphingVolume.
2. From the Geometry menu, click Create then Systems to open the Systems panel.
3. Keep the default create by axis direction sub-panel.
4. Click origin and select the node labeled “origin.”
5. For X-axis, select the node labeled “X.”
6. For XY plane, select the node labeled “Y.”
7. Click create.
8. Click return

.Step 6:Create symmetry.

1. From the Morphing menu, click Create then Symmetries.
2. For name =, enter symm1.
3. Under domains, click the check-box for morph volumes. (make sure it is active).
4. Keep rest of the default settings.
5. Click syst and select the newly created coordinate system.
6. Click create.
7. Click return.

Step 7: Reflect shape.

1. From the Morphing menu, click Create then Shapes.
2. Change the sub-panel to apply shapes.
3. Under shapes, change apply shapes to reflect shapes.
4. Change apply only to apply & create.
5. Keep the default auto-envelope.
6. Click shapes and select the newly created shape from the previous section.
7. Under reflect using: click symmetries and select the newly created symmetry.
8. Click reflect.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 60

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 8: Shapes

• Note that a reflected shape has been created and applied on the other prong.
• The name of the shape, created by reflecting, has the same name as the original
shape with a suffix “1.”

Step 8: Position the shapes onto the other yoke.

In this step, you will position the shapes of the two prongs of the yoke onto the opposite
yoke.
1. In the Model browser, right-click Title and select Show.
2. In the Model browser right-click yoke_2 and click Show.
3. In the apply shapes sub-panel, under shapes, change reflect shapes to position shapes.
4. Change the selector from scale to no scale.
5. Click shapes and select the two shapes present in the model.
6. Under from: select three nodes, namely from_N1, from_N2, and from_N3 for N1, N2,
and N3.
7. Under to: select three nodes, namely to_N1, to_N2, and to_N3 for N1, N2, and N3.
8. Click position.
9. Click return.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 61

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 8: Shapes

Note that the two or more shapes have been created and applied to the other yoke. The
name of the first new shape (on the other yoke) will have a suffix “2” because it is the
second copy of the first shape and the second shape will have a suffix of “11” as it is the first
copy of the reflected shape.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 62

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 8: Shapes

Exercise: Using Shapes to Interpolate Loads

Shapes are one of the most versatile types of the morphing entities. Loads can be converted
into shapes and vice versa. When you position shapes, they act on a volume equivalent to
the initial volume, but at the new location. In this regard, shapes can be used to interpolate
loads on a mesh given the loading at the boundaries of a volume.
In this exercise you are given a temperature distribution at points defined by a cube (hexa
element). You will use shapes to interpolate the temperatures to the tube lying inside the
cube.

Figure 1: Model

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 63

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 8: Shapes

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file s_bend_tube.hm.

Step 2: Convert temperatures to shapes.

1. Access the shapes > convert sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Create, then Shapes, then select the convert
sub-panel
• Οn the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then shapes, then select the convert
sub-panel
2. Switch the conversion type to temperatures to shapes.
3. For loadcols select temperature.
4. Click select.
5. Click convert.

Figure 2: The base and the node for translating the shape

Note that the temperature loads have been converted into shape vectors.

The shape vectors are proportional to the temperature loads on the corners of the cube
and the distances from those corners.

The name of the converted shape is the same as the temperature load collector.

Step 3: Translate the shape.

1. Click the apply shapes sub-panel.

HyperMorph Introduction 64 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 8: Shapes

2. Change the operation to translate shapes.

3. Change the switch to create new.
4. For envelope, use auto-envelope.
5. For shapes, select temperature.
6. Click select.
7. For from: base, select the node shown in Figure 2.
8. For to: nodes, select the node shown in Figure 2.
9. Click translate.
The shape has been transferred to the tube. You selected the same base and to node,
effectively selecting a translate distance of 0.

A new shape is created with the suffix 1 (temperature1).

Step 4: Convert shape vectors to temperature loads .

1. Click the convert sub-panel
2. Switch the conversion type to shapes to temperatures.
3. For shapes, select temperature1.
4. Click select.
5. Click convert.
The shape has been converted into temperature load.

Step 5: Check the result.

1. In the Model browser, right-click and select Hide for Shape..
2. In the Model browser, right-click component cube and select Hide.
3. In the Model browser, right-click LoadCollector and select Hide.
4. From the BCs menu, select BCs Contour.
Make sure you expand the BCs contour panel appropriately to visualize all the buttons.

5. From the list of loads, select temperature1.

6. Click Accept.
This takes you to the contour panel.

7. Select simulation = temperature1.

8. Select data type = temperature.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 65

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 8: Shapes

9. Click contour.

Figure 3: The contoured temperature results

Summary
Using shapes you have been able to interpolate temperatures from the corners of a volume
on to an object located in that volume.

HyperMorph Introduction 66 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 8: Shapes

Exercise: Recording Shapes

The record panel gives you the flexibility of making changes to the mesh using panels
outside the HyperMorph module and saving them as shapes.
In this exercise you will change a bead using the node edit > align node and Record the
shape function. You will then reflect the shape to the other side of the mesh to complete the
mesh update.

Figure 1: Location to record the nodal movements on and reflect

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file floor.hm.

Step 2: Start recording nodal movements.

1. Access the freehand > record sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Free Hand, then select record.
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then freehand, then select record.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 67

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 8: Shapes

2. Click start.
3. Exit from the HyperMorph module.

Step 3: Change the bead profile.

1. Click Geometry, then Edit, then Nodes to open the Node panel.
2. Click the align node sub-panel.
3. Select the nodes.

Figure 2: first set of nodes to align

4. Select the nodes between the selected nodes to align the nodes to the 1st end: and 2nd
end: nodes.
5. Repeat the same process to align the next row of nodes (figure 3).

Figure 3: Second set of nodes to align

HyperMorph Introduction 68 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 8: Shapes

Step 4: Stop the recording.

1. Go to the freehand > record sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Freehand, then select record
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then select freehand, then select record
2. Click finish.
This stops the record process.

Step 5: Save the morphed shape.

1. Go to the save shape sub-panel.
2. Set name= Morph1.
3. Toggle save option to as node perturbations.
4. Click save.
5. Click undo all to bring the model to its original position before morphing.

Step 6: Create coordinate system.

1. Click Geometry, then Create, then Systems.
2. Go to the create by axis direction sub-panel.
3. For origin select the node with tag origin.
• For x-axis select node with tag x-axis.
• For xy-plane select node with xy-plane.
4. Click create.
5. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 7: Create symmetry.

1. Go to the symmetry > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Create, then select Symmetries
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then symmetry
2. Set name = symm1.
3. For symmetry type use 1 plane.
4. For align with use x-axis.
5. Select the syst created in step 4.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 69

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 8: Shapes

6. Click create.
Note that 1 plane symmetry is created with a square symbol.

7. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 8: Reflect shape.

1. Go to the shape > apply shapes sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Create, then Shapes, then select the apply
shapes sub-panel
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then shapes, then select the apply
shapes sub-panel
2. Under shape change the option to reflect shapes.
3. Under reflect shapes change the option to apply & create.
4. For shapes, select Morph1.
5. For symmetries, select symm1.
6. Click reflect.

Summary
The shape (Morph1) is reflected to the other side. Also, the reflected shape has the same
name with the suffix 1. The changes that you made on one side are thus transferred to the
other side.

HyperMorph Introduction 70 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

Chapter 9

Morph Constraints

Morph constraints are a powerful tool that can be used to restrict the movement of nodes
during morphing operations.
Whenever a handle is moved the constrained nodes are moved according to the handle
perturbation and then projected back onto the feature to which they are constrained. This
allows the nodes to slide across vectors, lines, planes, surfaces, meshes, to remain fixed, or
to move as a cluster along with other nodes. You may also constrain nodes where handles
are located which, in effect, constraining the handles. When a perturbation is applied to a
constrained handle, the handle is moved along the constraint feature regardless of the
applied perturbation.
Morph constraints can also be applied to domains. The smooth constraint, applies spline-
based smoothing along constrained edge domains. Model constraints, allow you to set a
given parametric target (such as length, angle, mass, etc.) and make HyperMorph adjust the
model to meet that target.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 71

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

HyperMorph Introduction 72 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

Exercise: Using Morph Constraints to Keep the Area

of a Windshield Constant while Changing its Shape
In this exercise will change the shape of the windshield while keeping its area constant.

Figure 1: Windshield mesh

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file windshield.hm.

Step 2: Create a shape to define the degree of freedom for the mesh.
1. Access the freehand > move nodes sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu point to Free Hand and select the move nodes sub-
panel
• On the Tool page, go to HyperMorph, then freehand, then select the move
nodes sub-panel
2. Switch the method to translate.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 73

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

3. Key in

• x = 0;

• Y = -5 (negative 5);

• Z=0
4. Under moving nodes: click nodes >> by sets and select move_node.
5. Click select.
6. Under fixed nodes: click nodes >> by set and select fix_node.
7. Click select.
8. Under affected elements: click elems >> displayed.
9. Click morph.
10. Go to the freehand > save shape sub-panel.
11. For name =, enter Shape1.
12. Toggle the save option to as node perturbations.
13. Click save.
14. Click undo all to bring the model to its original position before morphing.
This initial shape defines the direction in which the nodes have the freedom to move, as
the shape of the windshield is changing, thus enabling us to keep the area at a constant.

Step 3: Create a constraint.

1. Access the morph constraints > create/update sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, select Create, and then select Morph Constraints
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph , then morph constraints
2. Set name = const1.
3. Change the constraint type to area.
4. For shapes, select Shape1.
5. Select elems >> displayed.
6. Switch the area option to equal to.
7. Click calculate to calculate the area of the mesh:
• Note that the value shows in the area box is: 1.085e+06.
• This is the actual surface area of the windshield which will be maintained.
8. Click create.

HyperMorph Introduction 74 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

Note that the constraint is created. The symbol for the constraint is a matching-mesh.

9. Right-click Shape and select Hide in the Model browser.

10. Right-click MorphingConstraint and select Hide in the Model browser.

Step 4: Create morph volume.

1. Access the morph volumes > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu point to Create and select Morph Volumes
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph volumes
2. Switch the method to create morphvol.
3. Toggle entity type to enclose elems.
4. Select elems >> displayed.
5. Toggle coordinate system to global system.
6. Click create.
The morph volume is created.

Step 5: Morph the part.

1. Go to the morph > move handles sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu point to Morph and select the move handles sub-
panel
• On the Tool page, go to HyperMorph, then morph, then select the move nodes
sub-panel
2. Change the morph type to move to node.
3. For from: handle, select handle1 (Figure 2).
4. For from: node, select node1 (Figure 2).
5. Repeat the process for the other handles and nodes.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 75

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

Figure 2: From handles and from nodes

Step 6: Save the morphed shape.

1. Click the save shape sub-panel radio button.
2. Set name = Shape2.
3. Toggle the save option to as node perturbations.
4. Click save.

Step 7: Check the result.

1. Right-click MorphingVolume in the Model browser and select Hide.
2. On the Tool page, go to the mass calc panel.
3. For comps, select windshield.
4. Click select.
5. Click calculate.
The final area of the windshield is 1.085e+06, which is the same as the initial area. So,
even though the profile of the windshield has changed, its area has not. As the height of
the windshield reduced, it expanded in the direction provided by Shape1.

Summary
Using morph constraints, you able to change the shape of the windshield, while keeping its
area constant.

HyperMorph Introduction 76 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

Exercise: Using Limiting Constraints and Freehand

Morphing to Position a Dummy and Morph the Seat
In this exercise, you will learn to position the H-point of the dummy on a seat cushion.
This helps to reduce design and remeshing of the seat based on the pre-stress analysis. To
do this exercise you will be using a limiting constraint and freehand morphing.

Figure 1

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file dummy.hm

Step 2: Create constraints.

1. Access the morph constraints > create/update sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu point to Create and select Morph Constraints
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph constraints
2. Set name= const1.
3. Set type of constraint to on elements.
4. Set the option under nodes to bounded.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 77

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

5. Set project along: to normal.

6. Set distance= 2.
This will ensure that there is a distance of 2 units between the dummy and the seat after
the morphing is complete.

7. Use nodes >> by collector and select cushion.

8. Click select.
9. Use elems >> by collector and select dummy.
10. Click select.
11. Click create.
Constraints with a diamond shape are created.

Step 3: Morph the part.

1. Right-click MorphingConstraint in the Model browser and select Hide.
2. Go to the freehand > move nodes sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu point to Free Hand and select the move nodes sub-
panel
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then freehand, then select the move
nodes sub-panel
3. Switch moving method to translate.
4. For moving nodes, use nodes >> by collector and select cushion.
5. Click select.
6. For fixed nodes, use nodes >> by collector and select dummy.
7. Click select.
8. For affected elements, use elems >> by collector and select cushion.
9. Click select.
10. For the translate magnitude, set

• x=0

• y=0

• z = 80
11. Click morph.
The top surface of the cushion has conformed to the shape of the dummy.

The distance between the dummy and the seat-cushion is 2 mm.

HyperMorph Introduction 78 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

Summary
Using limiting constraints, you are able to move a mesh such that it moves an adjoining
mesh along with it, thus preventing penetration between the two of them.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 79

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

HyperMorph Introduction 80 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

Exercise: Using Cluster Constraints to Preserve the

Wheel Shape while Lengthening the Body of a Truck
When circular features are stretched, they become elliptical in shape. In some cases as in
the wheels of a truck, this effect is not desirable. In such cases, using cluster constraints will
allow you to translate the features, along with the morph, while maintaining its circular
shape.
In the exercise you will be changing the length of the cab while preserving the shape of the
wheel. To facilitate the morphing process you will be employing constraint and symmetry.

Figure 1: Truck model

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file truck.hm.

Step 2: Create a coordinate system.

1. Go to Geometry > systems > create by axis direction sub-panel.
2. For origin select the node with tag origin.
3. For x-axis, select node with tag x-axis.
4. For xy-plane, select node with xy-plane.
5. Click create to create the coordinate system.

6. On the toolbar, click User View ( ) and then click right.

7. Click return to exit the panel.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 81

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

Step 3: Create and split the morph volume.

1. Access the morph volumes > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, point to Create and select Morph Volumes
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph volumes
2. Switch the creation method to create morphvol.
3. Set entity type to enclose elems.
4. Select elems >> all.
5. Set system to global system.
6. Set buffer % = 5.
7. Click create to create the morph volume.
The morph volume is created.

8. Click the split/combine sub-panel.

9. Toggle the operation to split mvols.
10. Toggle to split the morph volume by edges.
11. Toggle the type of split to single split.
12. Set single split = 0.44.
13. Select the morph volume in the graphics window.
14. Click split to split the morph volume.
The original morph volume is now split into two morph volumes.

15. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 4: Create a symmetry.

1. On the toolbar, click view ( ) and click restore1.

2. Access the symmetry > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, point to Create and select Symmetries.
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then symmetries.
3. For name =, enter symm1.
4. Under domain, check the box for morph volumes.
Symmetry can be linked to either domains or morph volumes. In this exercise since you
are dealing with morph volumes you will use the check to link the symmetry to the
morph volume.

HyperMorph Introduction 82 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

5. Switch the symmetry type to 1 plane.

6. For syst, select the coordinate system created in step 4.2.
7. Click create to create the symmetry.
A 1 plane symmetry with a square symbol has been created.

8. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 5: Morph the part.

1. Access the morph > move handles sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu point to Morph, then click the move handles sub-
panel
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph, then click the move
handles sub-panel
2. Switch the morphing mode to translate.
3. Switch the along option to along xyz.
4. Set the following values:

• X val = 500

• Y val = 0

• Z val = 0
5. Select two handles as shown in figure 3.
6. Click morph to morph the front half of the truck.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 83

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

Figure 2

The front end is stretched 500 units. Since the front wheels are also the part of the morph
volumes they became elliptical after morphing. This is not desirable. You will undo this
morphing, constrain the wheels and re-do it.

Figure 3

7. Undo all morphs.

HyperMorph Introduction 84 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

Step 6: Create a cluster constraint.

As seen in the previous image, the front wheels, after morphing, become elliptical. To fix
this issue, you will be employing a particular type of constraint, called a cluster constraint,
which helps to keep the original shape of a portion of the model while morphing.
1. Access the morph constraints > create/update sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu point to Create and select Morph Constraints
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph constraints
2. Set name = const1.
3. Switch the constraint type to cluster.
4. Select nodes >> by collector.
5. Select comps >> by id.
6. Use id = 1-8 and then hit enter on the keyboard.
7. Click select to select the components.
8. Click create to create the cluster constraint.
The cluster constraints are created on the nodes of the selected components.

9. Click return to exit the panel.

Figure 4

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 85

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 9: Morph Constraints

10. In the Model browser, right-click MorphingConstraint and click Hide to turn off the
constraints.

Step 7: Morph the part.

Repeat the procedure in Step 5 to morph the front of the truck by 500 units.
The front end is stretched 500 mm. The front wheels are moved in the morphing process
while maintaining their circular shape.

Summary
Using cluster constraints and morph volumes you are able to stretch the cab of the pickup
without distorting the wheels.

HyperMorph Introduction 86 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 10: Miscellaneous Topics

Chapter 10

Miscellaneous Topics

Exercise: Remeshing Domains After Morphing

Depending on the morphing being performed, there is a possibility that the mesh can get
distorted. For such cases, HyperMorph provides a remeshing capability. The advantage of
this remeshing is that the newly created elements are automatically a part of the original
domain. This provides continuity to the morphing process along with proper element quality.

Figure 1: Model

Step 1: Load and review the model.

Open the HyperMesh file arm2D.hm.

Step 2: Set the morph options.

1. Access the morph options panel in one of the following ways:

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 87

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 10: Miscellaneous Topics

• On the Morphing menu point to Assign and select Morph Options

• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then morph options
2. Select the auto qa sub-panel.
3. Switch auto quality check to 2D jacobian.
4. Set limit = to 0.7.
5. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 3: Create domains and handles.

1. Access the domains > create sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, point to Create and select Domains
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then domains
2. Switch the creation type to 2D domains.
3. Switch from all elems to elems.
4. Use elems >> by sets and select set_1.
5. Click select.
6. Click create to create the domain.
7. Use elems >> by set sand select set_2.
8. Click select.
9. Click create to create the domain.
Note that two 2D domains are created.

10. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 4: Translate the washer.

1. Go to the morph > move handles sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• On the Morphing menu, select Morph, then select move handles
• On the Tool page, go to HyperMorph, then morph, then move handles
2. Switch the mode to translate.
3. Switch the along option to along vector.
4. Select N1 and N2 as shown in figure 2.

HyperMorph Introduction 88 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 10: Miscellaneous Topics

Figure 2: Selecting N1 and N2 for the translate vector

5. Set dist = 0.25.

6. Select the two handles on the washer.
7. Click morph to morph the washer.
The elements outside the washer get compressed as the washer moves. Also, as the
elements fail (jacobian < 0.7) they are highlighted (figure 3).

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 89

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
Chapter 10: Miscellaneous Topics

Figure 3: Elements after morphing

Step 5: Remesh the domain.

1. Access the domains > update sub-panel in one of the following ways:
• From the Morphing menu, point to Create and select Domains
• On the Tool page, select HyperMorph, then domains
2. Select the update sub-panel.
3. Switch the update option to remesh 2D.
4. Switch new mesh type: to quads.
5. Select both 2-D domains on the model.
6. Click calc avg to get the average element size.
7. Click remesh to remesh the domain.

HyperMorph Introduction 90 HyperWorks 10.0

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.
 Chapter 10: Miscellaneous Topics

Figure 5: Updated mesh

The mesh is updated.

Summary
Using this technique, you can update the mesh in regions that might have undergone
excessive elemental deformation during morphing. Since the domains and handles are
maintained, it allows you to conduct further morphing if need be.

HyperWorks 10.0 HyperMorph Introduction 91

Proprietary Information of Altair Engineering, Inc.