MARii ALTAIR HYPERWORKS FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

(FEA) TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME 2024

Altair Linear Analysis (Fundamental)

Training and Certification 2024
 Visit Altair Website
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• Find, schedule • Join our online community of • A quick reference for a specific • Applications
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Recorded and eLearning).
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Want to learn more?

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 HyperMesh for Pre-Processing - Agenda
Training Sessions

Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4 Session 5

Interface Topology Cleanup 2D Mesh and 3D and 1D Model Setup
(Optional) and Midsurfacing Direct Midmeshing Meshing OptiStruct and
Connectors

Exercises: 1A-1E Exercises: 2A-2G Exercises: 3A-3E Exercises: 4A-4D Exercises: 5A-5D

3h 6h 9h 12h 15h

• Getting Started • Importing, Exporting • 2D Mesh • 3D Mesh • Introduction

• File Management CAD and Topology Generalities and Generalities • Rigids and
• Selection of • Topology Cleanup Controls Definition • Tetra Mesh Connectors
Entities • Geometry • Batch Meshing • Hexa Mesh • Model and Analysis
• Model Exploration Preparation • Interactive Shell • Beam Modeling Setup, Validation
through Browsers • Create, Edit and Mesh • Demos, Q&A and Run
• Move/Measure Review Midsurfaces • Editing Shell • Analyze Results
• Demos, Q&A • Additional tools to Elements • Tune the Bracket
manipulate • MidMeshing • Demos, Q&A
Geometry • Mesh Controls
• Demos, Q&A • Demos, Q&A
 Session 1
Interface

Getting Started File Selection of Model Move and

Management Entities Exploration Measure
through
Browsers

Exercise: 1A Exercises: 1B-1C Exercise: 1D Exercise: 1E

60m 80m 110m 160m 180m

 Altair HyperWorks
Why use HyperWorks?

Faster Product Greater Multi-disciplinary Accurate Modeling

Development Collaboration of More Design Alternatives
Altair integrated the tools High-fidelity multi-disciplinary, HyperWorks is the unified CAE
required for the product multiphysics and multi-model environment for product
lifecycles of today’s programs simulations of your development built on the
with bi-directional connection increasingly complex and foundation of Altair
to PDM systems, while connected product in every HyperMesh, the most trusted
enabling multiple variants and operating environment. industry standard for FE
sub-systems to be easily modeling and visualization.
managed within the same
model.

Want to learn more?

https://www.altair.com
 Altair HyperWorks
Driving More Design with Simulation

• HyperWorks provides easy-to-learn, effective workflows that

leverage domain knowledge and increase team productivity,
enabling the efficient development of today’s increasingly
complex and connected products.
• Complete Pre / Post-Processing and visualization environment for
Finite Element Analysis, CFD and Multibody System Data.

• Intuitive direct modeling for geometry creation and editing,

midsurface extraction, surface and midmeshing, and mesh quality
correction, combined with efficient assembly management.

• New standard for speed and integration of CAE results

Post-processing.

• Powerful Data Analysis and plotting tool with interfaces to many

popular file formats.

Want to learn more?

https://www.altair.com
Transition to New User Experience
All Models, Processes Continue to Work - Same HyperMesh File, Same DB
 Altair HyperWorks
Integrating Product Workflows

Altair Activate Seamless workflow between products Altair HyperWorks

Studio HyperWorks

Altair Inspire Altair SimLab

Altair Inspire Studio Altair Compose

 Altair HyperWorks
Streamlined Workflow

• Ribbons - Tab based ribbons

grouped by contexts and tasks.

• Custom Ribbons - Group the

tools you use the most in your
own custom ribbon.

• View Controls - Self-

explanatory view controls for
quick model interrogation.

• Intuitive Tools - Smart find

operations, cursor hints, and a
light GUI.

• Consistent Interface - Once

you learn one tool, you’ll be
able to use them all.
 Altair HyperWorks
Usability

Large Model Handling 3D Model Interrogation Direct Access to Model Operations

Complex multi-subsystem Advanced Functionalities,

Interactive and Intuitive Editing
Based Models such as Cross Referencing
Altair HyperWorks
In-Application Learning

• Built-in, context sensitive step-by-step instructions

• Right at your fingertips within every tool

 Altair HyperWorks
Capabilities - Overview

Design Change, Morphing Composites Model Exploration, Design Space For

Design Explorer Topology Optimization
• Self-Explanatory Morphing • Composite Modeling • End-to-end workflow • Design/Non-Design Setup
Tools providing multi-run
• Post-Processing (Optimization & DOE) setup, • Voxel Design Space
• Analysis and Optimization execution, • Optimization Results
interpretation
• Multiscale Simulation
 Altair HyperWorks
Industry Specific Solutions and Applications - Overview

NVH Crash Analysis CFD Fatigue and Durability

• Advanced Platform for Full • Seatbelt System • Dedicated, Optimized CFD • Altair HyperLife
Vehicle NVH Simulations Simulation Environment
• Dummy positioning and pre-
simulation • Same interface for all Altair
CFD solvers
• Pedestrian Impact
• Seat Mechanism
• Seat Deformer
• IP Impact
 GETTING STARTED

14
 Launching Altair HyperWorks
Getting Started

1.Select Altair 2023 >

HyperMesh from the Start
menu.

2.The Startup dialog opens.

Under Get Started tab, you get a
popup with a link you can follow.

3.There are some short recordings

on basic topics.

4.You can access the same

contents from the Altair
HyperWorks Online Help
→ Video Tutorials
 Launching Altair HyperWorks
Getting Started

1.Get PDF about Keyboard

Shortcuts and Mouse Controls.

2.Altair LMS - eLearning modules

to get an overview of the
HyperWorks capabilities and
workflows.
 Launching Altair HyperWorks
Getting Started

3.HyperWorks offers
comprehensive Online Help
Documentation.

• You can also access from:

• File > Help > Documentation

• F1 Keyboard Shortcut
 Launching Altair HyperWorks
Tool Finder

• View a list of deprecated panels

and their newer, equivalent
workflows.
• Altair HyperWorks Online Help
> Tool Finder

Hint: Hover the mouse on the linked

rows to visualize a short tooltip.
 Tips & Tricks
How to Change Start in Directory?

• On Windows, the default Start in Directory

for HyperWorks is the My Documents directory.

• This can be changed either directly from the Startup dialog

or by editing the Start in field on the application executable
or its shortcut.

• On Linux, the Start in Directory is defined by the directory

from which you run the application startup script.

Hint: If you change the Start in Directory in the application

Properties, it will override the last saved path in the Startup dialog.
 Launching Altair HyperWorks
Getting Started

• In the Startup dialog, you can

manage your Session:
a. Create a New Session

b. Open a Recent Sessions

c. Pick a file to open the session

directly and set the Client and
Profile associated with that file.
 Demo
User Interface and Workspace

File Name and Location:

..\01-Interface\Demo\01-DEMO-GUI.hm

Demo Goals:
1. Launch a new HyperMesh client session.

2. Open HyperMesh Model.

3. Show and interact with modeling window.

4. Ribbons and guide bars.

5. Practice with mouse controls.

6. Visualization toolbar > View controls.

 User Interface
Clients

• There are three different ways

to open or change Clients in
HyperWorks:
1. HyperWorks Startup dialog >
Create or open Session selecting
the appropriate Client from the list.

2. Client pull-down menu in the

menu bar.

3. Change Type of window from the

graphic area.

4. Change Client from Session

Browser.
 User Interface
Main Features

a.Title Bar
b.Menu Bar
c.Pages and Windows
d.Search
e.Ribbons
f. Browsers
g.Entity Selector
h.Modeling Window - HyperMesh
i. Modeling Window - HyperView
j. Modeling Window - HyperGraph
k.View Controls
l. Animation Controls
m.Status Bar
 User Interface
Page and Windows

• Pages and Windows are

created and stored in a
hierarchical list in the
Session Browser.

• Create pages or modify an

existing page from:
1. Session Browser > Right-click >
Create from the context menu.

2. Page Navigation tool in the

upper-right corner:
• Create

• Delete

• Rename

• Modify Layout

• Navigate between pages

 User Interface
Multi-Model

• Multiple HyperMesh windows

active within the session, each
with its own model.
• Multiple pages are supported.

• The organization of all the

windows and pages can be saved
to a Session file (*.mvw).

• The model view can be synced

between windows.

• Entities can be selected for copy

in one window and then pasted
into the model of another window.
This works with most entity types.

• Selection for copy can happen

graphically or through the browser.
 User Interface
Find and Search for Tools

• Quickly find and open tools and browsers that are available
from the ribbons, as well as create entities and solver cards.

Use Wildcards
• Enable the Search tool by:
1. Pressing Ctrl + F

2. Clicking the lens icon in the top-right corner of the modeling window.

• Use Wildcards (*) to include any results that contain your

string rather than begin with your string.

• Selecting a solver card creates a new card. Solver cards are

grouped under the Keywords heading.
 User Interface
Ribbons

• HyperMesh ribbons are designed to help you quickly and

easily access the tools:
1. Secondary ribbons

2. Ribbon group menus

3. Multi-state tool icons

4. Satellite tool icons

• Ribbon hints help you to identify tools that have multiple pick
targets or open a secondary ribbon.
5. They are small indicators that appear in the ribbon between a tool’s
icon and label.
The number of dots represents the number of pick targets in a tool,
including some that are hidden until hovering over the tool.

6. To control this option, go to File > Preferences > Common >

Application > Show ribbon hints.
 User Interface
Display additional Ribbons

• View > Ribbons > Check from

the list the ribbons that are not
displayed by default.
• Certification

• Aerospace

• Aeroelasticity

• SnRD

• Axisymmetry

• Injection Molding

• Concept

• PhysicsAI

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 User Interface
Ribbon-based Workflows

• Morphing
• Skeleton Modeling
• Design Space
• Optimize
• Design Explorer

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 User Interface
Customized Ribbon(s)

• HyperMesh allows user to

generate customized ribbons
including the desired tools from
the existing ribbons.
1. Create a new customized ribbon.

2. Drag-and-drop the tools icons

from other ribbon to the desired
ribbon.

3. Customized ribbons / tools can be

renamed, deleted or imported /
exported.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 User Interface
Status Bar

• The Status bar displays

information pertaining to the
currently loaded model, active
tools, current collectors, and
snap filter options.
• The Status bar is located below
the modeling window.
It contains:
1. An area for messages on the left.

2. Buttons on the right.

• Right-click on any button to
customize the status bar button area.

• To assign or change a current

collector, left-click the respective
button on the status bar and select it
from the pop-up list or by picking it in
the modeling window.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 User Interface
Toolbelt

• Quickly access frequently used tools. Save and import

definitions via *.xml file.
• Open the toolbelt using any of these 4 modifiers in combination with
the right mouse button:
• Alt + right-click

• Alt + Shift + right-click

• Alt + Ctrl + right-click

• Alt + Ctrl + Shift + right-click

• A separate page opens depending on which modifiers are pressed

in combination with the right mouse button.

• From there, you have access to 3 modes:

1. Quick (Holding and dragging the right mouse button in combination with the
modifier keys. Only the inner circle of the toolbelt opens)

2. Complete (Click and release the right mouse button)

3. Configuration (Right-click again after entering complete mode, or click the

hamburger menu, to show tool labels and configure the toolbelt)

Hint: The toolbelt works for all clients in HyperWorks, HyperLife and
HyperWorks CFD.
 User Interface
Guide Bars, Workflow Help, Dialogs, Microdialogs and Tooltip

1.Guide Bars
a. Show or hide Workflow Help from
the View menu.

b. Reset selection with Backspace

or Esc.

c. Proceed and apply with

middle-click.
Reset Selection

2.Dialogs

3.Microdialogs

4.Tooltip
• Detailed entity information is
displayed when hovering over
entities in the modeling window.
 User Interface
Guide Bars Layout - Examples

A menu which provides context This drop-down menu allows you to Zooms in on each
tool specific controls and select a feature to filter the search or to Resets all
previous feature located
options change the selection type filter features
by the search

Executes the
tool's primary
function

Finds and selects all instances of the feature on the Zooms in on the next feature
selected object, based on search criteria located by the search

Apply

Exit the current

context without
saving changes

Open the Advanced Selection dialog for a Save changes and close the
better selection of the entities current context
 Tips & Tricks
Dock and Undock Parts of the User Interface

• Certain parts of the user interface, such as browsers,

toolbars, can be undocked and repositioned as needed.

• Left-click and drag the dotted rows to reposition parts of the

User Interface.

a. For parts docked at the bottom of the application, the dotted rows
appear on the far-left side.

b. For parts docked on the left and right side of the application, the
dotted arrows appear at the top, next to the name.
 User Interface
Preferences

• File > Preferences

• Change application settings,
graphics, browsers options,
mouse controls etc.

• Use the Search bar inside

Preferences to quickly find the
option that you are looking for.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 View Controls
Overview

• View Controls enable you to control the view and display of

your model in the modeling window. Located at the lower left
of the modeling window.
a. Show/Hide (D)

b. Local Geometry / Mesh Visualization (X)

c. Find Entity

d. True View

e. Store/Recall Views

f. Global Geometry / Mesh Visualization

g. Element / Handle Visualization

h. Face Color

i. Edge Color

j. Model Orientation (Standard Views)

k. Fit Selected (F)

l. Section Cuts

m.Lock/Unlock the View

 Change Display Settings
Geometry and Shell Meshing

1.View Controls toolbar > Global Geometry and Mesh

Visualization
a. Shaded geometry with surface edges.

b. Transparent geometry with 25%, 50%, or 75% opacity.

c. Wireframe geometry with or without surface lines.

d. Don't draw geometry (G) - Turn off geometry display.

e. Shaded elements with mesh lines.

f. Set mesh transparency.

g. Wireframe elements with internal mesh lines.

h. Don't draw mesh (G) - Turn off mesh display.

i. Display associated Geometry/FE on Show/Hide/Isolate.

Hint: Click on the small triangle to open other visualization options.

 Change Display Settings
Elements and Handles

1.View Controls toolbar > Elements and Handles

Visualization

a. Display 1D beams as 3D elements.

b. Display 2D shells as 3D elements.

c. Display plies as independent layers.

d. Shrink elements.

e. Display fixed points.

f. Display element handles.

g. Display load handles.

Hint: Click on the small triangle to open other visualization options.

 Change Color Settings
Model Color - Face

1.Face color - Change how entities are visualized in the

modeling window, valid for both geometry and mesh.
The color is gray when it is not appropriate.
• Automatic - Color mode switch depending on the active tool.

• Topology:
• 2D faces - Gray

• Solid faces transparent (bounding faces) - Green

• Internal faces (full partition faces) - Yellow

• 3D Topology:
• 2D faces - Blue

• Solid faces transparent (bounding faces) - Green

• Internal faces (full partition faces) - Yellow

• Normals - Color elements by their normal.

• Part - Color all surfaces based on the part to which they belong.

• Feature - Color faces based on geometric features (hole, fillets,…).

 Change Color Settings
Model Color - Face

1.Face color - Change how entities are visualized in the

modeling window, valid for both geometry and mesh.
The color is gray when it is not appropriate.
• 1D/2D/3D - Color elements based on their topology:
1D (green), 2D (blue), and 3D (red).

• Configuration - Color elements based on their configuration

(spring, tria3, tetra4, …).

• Element Quality - Color elements based on their quality, which is

defined by the 2D element criteria settings.

• Normals - Color elements by their normal.

• Material/Property - Color elements based on the Material/Property

assigned.

• Thickness - Color elements according to their thickness values.

 Change Color Settings
Model Color - Edge

1.Edge color - Change how entities are visualized in the

modeling window, valid for both geometry and mesh.
• Automatic - Color mode switch depending on the active tool.

• Topology:
• Free Edges (Red), Shared edges (Green)

• T-junctions (Yellow), Suppressed edges (Blue)

• 3D Topology:
• Surface edges - Unless they are part of a solid (Blue)

• Free edges (Red), Shared edges (Green)

• T-junctions (Yellow), Suppressed edges (Blue)

• Feature - Color edges based on geometric features (hole, fillets,…).

 View Controls
Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls

• Change default mouse controls: Action Command

• File > Preferences > HyperMesh Rotate or

> Mouse Controls
Set rotation center on the model while holding

Reset rotation center in space while holding or

(clockwise)
Incrementally rotate or
(counterclockwise)

Flip the model or

Pan

Zoom

Circle zoom Draw with or draw with

Fit (and fit selected)

Go back to previous view

Save a view -

Recall a view -
 Model Display
View Cube

• Rotate the model with the View Cube.

• Right-click Top, Bottom, Right, Left, Rear or Front rotates the model
to the nearest possible orientation of that face.
The view is fit anytime a face is selected.

1.Clicking the arrows incrementally rotates the view.

• Left-click and right-click increments by +/- 15 degrees, while
middle-click increments by 90 degrees.

2.Use right-click context menu to Align to system, activate

True View, Get/Set view and angles.

3.Adjust display and behavior from:

File > Preferences > Common > Appearance
 Model Display
Find Tool

• Find and display entities based on their connectivity or

proximity to other selected entities.
1. View Control toolbar > Find Entity or Shift + F5

2. Open hamburger menu to define relevant options.

3. From the guide bar, choose the output entity type.

4. Choose the desired function.

5. Select the input entities to execute the Find operation.

• The find function executes automatically whenever a selection is made.

Hints:
a. Switch between Automatic / Manual mode.

b. Click on the Save icon to save the found entities to the user mark.

c. Saved selections can retrieved later by right-click > Select > Retrieve Selection
from the context menu.
 Model Display
Save, Lock\Unlock the View and Section Cuts

1.Use Lock View to change the

scope of display operations
(Hide, Show All, Reverse, …)
from global (unlocked) to local
(locked).

2.Save the current view of your

model for future reference or
Recall a saved custom view.

3.Use the Section Cuts to cut

planar or spherical sections
through a model.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Model Display
True View and Perspective Projection

1.Visualization toolbar > Tue

View
• Change the current view of your
model based on a model vector or
angles.

2.File > Preferences >

HyperMesh > Graphics
• Enable Perspective view and set
the angle.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Model Display
Show, Hide, Isolate Entities

• Turn the display of entities

on/off in the modeling window in
different ways:

1. Show (A), Hide (H), and Isolate (I)

using Right-click context menu.

2. Show and hide using Browser

icons.
• Click on an entity's icon in a browser
to switch between showing or hiding Geometry Mesh
the entity (grayed out).

• Click G to toggle on only the mesh,

only the geometry, both.
 Model Display
Show, Hide, Isolate Entities

• Turn the display of entities

on/off in the modeling window in
different ways:

3. Show, hide, and isolate using

Show/Hide tool (D).
a. Left-click entities to hide them,
Shift + left-click to show them,
or use Show/Hide icons on the guide
bar.

b. Click All/None/Only to quickly

change the display state of multiple
entity types.

4. Show, hide, and isolate using

Mask Browser.
• View > Mask Browser

• Entities are logically organized in the

browser to represent the collectors they
belong to.
 Model Display
Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Command
Enter and exit the Show/Hide tool

Show selection

Show entire model

Hide selection

Hide and clear selection

Isolate selection and turn off all other entity types

Isolate selection and retain all other entity types (Show/Hide tool only)

Show entities adjacent to selection (Idle mode only)

Reverse display of selection

Switch the display from mesh only, geometry only, or both (Idle mode only)

Toggle On/Off IDs of a selection (Idle mode only)

Main Concepts - Summary
 MORE TO EXPLORE

52
 User Inteface
Tcl Command Window, HWC Console, Message Log and Python Window

1.Tcl Command Window

enables you to enter and
execute Tcl commands instead
of using the user interface.
2.HWC Console, with the
command line, supports auto-
completion and interactive help
and allows easy modification
and re-execution of commands.
3.Message Log lists the actions
performed in the current
session (Error, Warnings and
Info).
4.Python Window is an IPython
console providing access to the
Python 3.8.10. Python API is
currently supported in the
MotionView client. Support for
other clients will be added in the
future releases.
 Setting Files
Overview

• Settings files include command<#>.tcl and

hwsettings.xml.
• command<#>.tcl
• Command history file containing the commands executed in HyperMesh
when ever any operation is performed.

• This file can be used to rerun operations or as a basis for determining the
commands required to automate a given process.

• By default, the command file is written to the start-in directory for each
session.

• Note that on Linux, the command file is named command.tcl.

• hwsettings.xml
• This file stores information on the browsers, the user interface layout (tab
locations, command window, panel location, toolbars, and so on), keyboard
preferences, import/export settings, recent files, and other various settings.

• By default, the hwsettings.xml file is written to the My Documents directory

on Windows and in ~/.altair on Linux after each session is closed.

• Deleting this file resets the stored settings to their default values.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair HyperWorks Online Help.

 Exercise 1A - Interacting with HyperMesh Workspace

File Name and Location:

..\01-Interface\1A\Taurus.hm

Hint:..\01-Interface\1A\Taurus.mp4 *
(*) May differ from the steps described here

Exercise Steps:

1. Load the model

2. Rotate, Pan and Zoom the model

3. Find the 3 parts that need repair

 Session 1
Interface

Getting Started File Selection of Model Move and

Management Entities Exploration Measure
through
Browsers

Exercise: 1A Exercises: 1B-1C Exercise: 1D Exercise: 1E

60m 80m 110m 160m 180m

 File Management
Create, Open, Save Files

1.Create a New Model

• File > New Model (Ctrl + N)

2.Open an Existing Model

• File > Open Model (Ctrl + O)

• Drag-and-drop an *.hm file into the

modeling window.

3.Save a Model
• File > Save / Save As…
(Ctrl + S or Ctrl + Shift + S)

• Save all the data in your current

session by providing appropriate
name.
 File Management
Open a File using drag-and-drop

• Drag-and-drop a file into

HyperMesh. Load File dialog
opens.

• Supports all File Type:

• Choose the correct one from
the drop-down menu.

• You can open a new model and

save the current one or import
into the current model.

Hint: Multi-model loading is not

supported.
 File Management
Import and Export Files

1.Import existing data files to the

current HyperMesh session.
• File > Import… or Ctrl + I

CAD
Readers

2.Export all FE data in your

current HyperMesh session.
• File > Export or Ctrl + E
 File Management
Session, Extension Manager

1.File > Session

• Create, open, import and save a
Session file *.mvw.

• Open the Flexible Reports

dialog.

2.File > Extension Manager

• Dialog, register and load an
Extension.

• Programs integrated with

HyperWorks to enhance or extend
user experience.

• Extensions allow user to

customize the interface by adding
extra menus, ribbons and linking
them to custom functionalities
(support for all HyperWorks
Clients).

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 File Management
Change Solver Interface, Convert

• Load a different Solver Interface in HyperMesh.

• By default, new models are created and run using the OptiStruct
Solver Interface.

• File > Solver Interface > Select the Solver Type and Format from
the list.

• Click the triangle next to a solver format to change Solver Profiles.

• Convert Solver Input Deck in HyperMesh from one solver

format to another.
• File > Convert and select a solver format.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair HyperWorks Online Help.

Main Concepts - Summary
 MORE TO EXPLORE

63
 File Management
Convert

• Convert model files from one solver format to another.

1. Load the OptiStruct Solver Interface.

2. Import an OptiStruct model.

3. File > Convert > Select the Solver Type/Format.

4. The OptiStruct to Abaqus Conversion tab will appear.

5. Define a Log file location > Conversion Options to view more

options.

6. Open the Edit cards editor by right-clicking on an entity and

selecting Edit Card from the context menu.

7. Click Convert.

8. Optionally run Model Checker post conversion

9. Review and Export the Deck in Abaqus Deck.

 File Management
Save Screen Captures

• Take a screen capture of your

model and save it to your
working directory.

1. File > Screen Capture… >

Advanced Capture
a. Configure settings

b. Define the capture area

c. Capture the screen

2. File > Screen Capture… >

Image / Video to File Image Video
format format

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Session 1
Interface

Getting Started File Selection of Model Move and

Management Entities Exploration Measure
through
Browsers

Exercise: 1A Exercises: 1B-1C Exercise: 1D Exercise: 1E

60m 80m 110m 160m 180m

 Selection of Entities
Using Entity Selector

• Use Entity selector to specify which type of entity you can

select.
1. Entity selectors act as a filter by limiting your selection to a single
entity type in the modeling window. If a selector supports multiple
entity types, click the arrow to view a drop-down menu of available
options.

2. In Idle mode, the entity selector is in the top, left corner of the
modeling window.
It shows all of the entity types available in your model that can be
selected from the modeling window. It also displays the number of
selected entities.

3. To filter entities further, click the three dots and select an

Advanced Selection Method.

• You can press Period key (configurable) to activate

Advanced Selection.
 Selection of Entities
Select, Append, Remove

• Select and deselect entities to

modify with other HyperMesh
tools.
• Selected entities are outlined to
indicate their selection state.

1. Select a single entity by left-click.

2. Append entities to your selection

by holding Ctrl + left-click.

3. Remove entities from your

selection by holding Shift + left-
click.
 Selection of Entities
Context menu

• Use the Right-click Context

menu to perform selection
using specific options:
1. Window selection settings.

2. Visibility options.

3. Select > Save and Retrieve a

selection. Exit Tool

4. Choose selection options

“By Methods”.

5. When a tool is active, right-click

context menu incorporates
Exit Tool option.
 Selection of Entities
Window Selection

• Selecting multiple entities

simultaneously with window
selection:
1. Change shape and behavior from
right-click context menu.

2. Select entities with Box, Circle, or

Freehand.

3. Select entities with Polyline.

• Left-click and drag to draw a line.

• Release the mouse to create an end

point.

• Left-click to continue drawing new

lines.

• Close the selection window by left-

click the start point, middle-click or
pressing Enter.
 Selection of Entities
Window Selection

• Change what part of the model Disable Select only

window visible objects
gets selected when drawing a selection
selection window:
1. Inside
• Select displayed entities inside the
window.

• Any window shape.

2. Outside
• Select displayed entities outside the
window.

• Any window shape.

3. Intersecting
• Select displayed entities intersecting
the window.

• Freehand & Polyline shapes only.

• Elements, Lines, Surfaces only.

 Selection of Entities
Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Command Action Command

Window selection Adjust feature angle
when selecting
Append selection elements By Face or
By Edge
Remove from selection
Edit
Select Displayed
Suspend snaps
Select All
Clear all guidebar
Select Adjacent
selector
Select Attached Show/Clear Elements
IDs
Select Similar (base on type and config if applicable)

Reverse selection

Open Advanced Selection dialog

Quick Advanced Selection menu

Selection Search (Entity Editor only)

 Selection of Entities
Entity Editor

• In the Entity Editor, use selectors to assign certain entities

to another entity or a group of entities.
• If a selector supports multiple entity types, a drop-down menu
becomes available. You can also select the entities directly in the
graphic window.

• Confirm the selection with the checkmarks button, with middle-click

or pressing Enter.

• Click the lens icon or press Slash key to open the Selection
Search interface inside Entity Editor.
• Select entities by typing parts of names or IDs directly.

• Configurable in: File > Preferences > HyperMesh > Browsers >
Selection Search
Main Concepts - Summary
 MORE TO EXPLORE

79
 Selection of Entities
Copy and Paste

• Use keyboard shortcuts to

quickly copy and paste entities
into new or current collectors.

• Available for Elements, Lines,

Points, Loads, Solids, and
Surfaces. This option is only
available in idle mode.

• Select entities in the modeling

window then:
• Copy - Ctrl + C

• Paste in new collector - Ctrl + V

• Use the Move tool to position the

pasted entities.

Hint: Loads cannot be repositioned.

 Selection of Entities
Tips - By Path

• If Entity selector is set to

Nodes, Lines or Elements:

1. Advanced Selection > By Path

2. Quick advanced selection >

Comma.

3. Right-click > Select > By Path

Hint: Middle-click to start a new path.

 Selection of Entities
Tips - By Face and By Edge

• If Entity selector is set to

Elements:
+ +
1. Quick Advanced Selection Append a
face Deselect an edge or the
full face previously
selected
2. Advanced Selection > By Face
or By Edge

3. Increase/decrease the Feature

Angle.

4. Option to Ignore Part

Boundaries useful for models
with many parts.

5. Enable or disable Shell or Solid

topologies.
 Selection of Entities
Tips - By Plane

• Right-click > Select > By Plane

• Advanced Selection > By

Plane

• Use Vector tool manipulator for

plane definition.
• Select entities within a plane
thickness, or a perpendicular
vector radius.
 Exercise 1B - Interacting with Selection Filter

File Name and Location:

..\01-Interface\1B\Airframe_Section.hm

Hint:..\01-Interface\1B\Airframe_Section.mp4 *
(*) May differ from the steps described here

Exercise Steps:

1. Load the model

2. Practice using entity selector and keyboard shortcuts

3. Check if there are nodes with a system assigned to them

4. Check the Property assignment and Thickness

5. Check if all the elements in this model are connected to each other
 Exercise 1C - Interacting with Window Selection Methods

File Name and Location:

..\01-Interface\1C\yaris-bumper.hm

Hint:..\01-Interface\1C\yaris-bumper.mp4 *
(*) May differ from the steps described here

Exercise Steps:

1. Load the model

2. Try the different methods of window selection (Box, Circle, Freehand and
Polyline)

3. Select, save and retrieve the elements surrounding the cutouts

Model courtesy of National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration
 Session 1
Interface

Getting Started File Selection of Model Move and

Management Entities Exploration Measure
through
Browsers

Exercise: 1A Exercises: 1B-1C Exercise: 1D Exercise: 1E

60m 80m 110m 160m 180m

 Browsers
Overview

• Browsers supply a great deal of view-related functionality in

HyperMesh by listing the parts of a model in a tabular and/or
tree-based format and providing controls inside the table that
allow you to alter the display of model parts.
• Browsers in HyperMesh:
• Model Browser​
• Part Browser
• Entity Editor​
• Solver Browser​
• Session Browser​
• Reference Browser​
• Entity State Browser
• Comparison Browser​
• Verification Browser​
• Demo Browser
• Design Explorer Browser​
• Mask Browser​
• ….
 Browsers
Model Browser

• What is Model Browser?

• View > Model Browser

• It is a central part of HyperMesh

that allows you to get an overview,
interact, edit, and control all
entities in the model present in the
session.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Browsers
Model Browser

1.Model Browser and graphics

are synced.
• Hovering over an object in the
browser, highlights the object in
the modeling window.

2.Each object is preceded by an

icon that indicates the type of
object.
• Hidden object in the modeling
window appears grayed out in the
tree structure.

3.Open specific right-click context

menus to selected entity(s) or
right-click on white space.
 Browsers
Model Browser

• Create an entity in the Model

Browser.
1. Right-click in white space to
create any entity, for example, a
Property.

2. Right-click on an entity grouping to

create a specific type of entity for
example, a Property of type
SECTION_SHELL.

3. Upon creating an entity from the

model content view, the Create
Entity dialog is posted for defining
entity attributes such as Name, ID,
and so on.

Hint: Entities can be optionally

displayed in Model Browser
(Flat list) from File > Preferences >
HyperMesh > Browsers
 Browsers
Model Browser

• Open entity views in the Model

Browser.
1. Double-click on an entity group to
open its respective entity view
displaying all entities of the
selected type and the entity
attributes.

or

Right-click on an entity group and

select Open in the context menu.

2. Double-click on a second-level
entity grouping invokes a filtered
entity view displaying just the
entities of the selected sub-type.

3. Use Create and Delete buttons in

the entity views to facilitate the
quick creation or deletion of
entities.
 Browsers
Model Browser

1.Entity Editor appears for

entity-specific views at the
bottom half of the Model
Browser.

2.Finding Empty / Unused

entities:
• Supported from right-click on
white space.

• Considers all the entities in the

browser.
 Model Build and Assembly
End-to-end workflows from CAD to simulation model

Parts Subsystems Connectors

Subsystem Modelling System Modelling Connect Parts and
Subsystems
• Representations • Representations • Representations
• Revisions • Revisions • Controls
• Configurations • Load cases • Efficiency
 Model Build and Assembly
Parts and Subsystems

• Part - Engineering
representation of a physical part

• Part Assembly - Group of part

assemblies and/or parts. PDM Part Structure

• Part Instances - Recognized

from PDM, are automatically
converted to Part Instances on
import into HyperMesh.

• Subsystem - CAE
representation of a self-
contained assembly/group of HyperMesh Client
Part Structure
assemblies within a larger
system model.
 Model Build and Assembly
Parts and Subsystems

• Subsystem Browser allows

you to fully model and organize
the model into manageable
subsystems to aide model
management.

• During the model build and

assembly process, you would
use Parts Browser to go from Revision: A.-.1
CAD to CAE model for a Representation: 10mm

subsystem. Revision: A.-.1 Revision: B.4.1

Representation: LHD Pano Roof Representation: 10mm

Hint: For more details visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.

Revision: C.2.1 Revision: C.1.3

Representation: 10mm Representation: 10mm

…
 Organize Entities
Organize Tool

• Assembly ribbon > Organize

group > Organize
• Move or copy entities into their
proper destinations.

• Open from right-click context

menu or press O after selecting an
entity in the browser.

• Use the first selector to select

entities to move.

• Use the second selector to select

the Destination collector.

Hint: For more details visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Organize Entities
Match Parts

• Assembly ribbon > AI/ML group

> Match
• Automatically group selected
parts into part sets based on
comparison method and criteria
selected.

• Use Link parts checkbox to

create Instances.

• Open hamburger menu to define

additional Options.

Hint: For more details visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
Main Concepts - Summary
 MORE TO EXPLORE

105
 Browsers
Solver Browser

• View > Solver Browser

• It provides a solver centric view of the model structure in a flat,
listed tree structure.

• It lists every entity mapped to a solver card image within the session
and places those entities into their respective solver card image
folders.

• To display every entity type supported by the solver in the browser,

activate the Show empty folders option in the Browser
Configuration dialog.

• Use Solver Browser to create and edit loads, constraints and

review the model setup.

• Use right-click context menu and review the definition in the

Entity Editor.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair HyperWorks Online Help.

 Organize Entities
Renumber, ID Manager and Spatial Renumber

1.Assembly ribbon > Organize group > Renumber

• Review and organize the IDs of model entities (easier Post-
Processing and model management).

• Renumber entities into a different range, offset the IDs of selected

entities by a specified amount, and/or renumber entities in a
particular order.

2.Assembly ribbon > Organize group > ID Manager

• Manage all of the IDs for entities that you create and define ID
ranges for all of the entities in each Include file in relation to the full
model in order to avoid ID duplication.

• ID-Management operations (Create/delete Included Files, create ID

Ranges for new entity types, edit/clear ID Ranges, exclude entities,
filtering).

3.Assembly ribbon > Organize group > Spatial Renumber

• Renumber Elements and Nodes based on spatial sorting.

• Select a sorting schema from the drop-down on the guide bar.

Hint: For more details visit Altair HyperWorks Online Help.

 Exercise 1D - Browser Actions

File Name and Location:

..\01-Interface\1D\Taurus.hm

Hint:..\01-Interface\1D\Taurus.mp4 *
(*) May differ from the steps described here

Exercise Steps:

1. Load the model and review parts

2. Find and display isolated shell elements of certain thickness range

3. Reverse displayed elements, then review and edit property

4. Add Young’s Modulus as column in the browser

 Session 1
Interface

Getting Started File Selection of Model Move and

Management Entities Exploration Measure
through
Browsers

Exercise: 1A Exercises: 1B-1C Exercise: 1D Exercise: 1E

60m 80m 110m 160m 180m

 Measure
Overview

• Home group > Measure tool

1. Draw, length, angle, and radius
measurements in the modeling
window.
a. From the drop-down menu, choose
between Interactive and
Dimensioning mode.

• On the guide bar, open hamburger

menu to adjust visualization Options.

2. Calculate Summary
Measurements (areas, volumes,
centers of gravity, bounding
boxes, and the cumulative lengths
of lines).
• On the guide bar, open hamburger
menu to define additional Options.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Move
Overview

• Home group > Move tool

• Translate, rotate and position
selected entities in a selected
direction(s) or enter a precise
value in the microdialog.
• Certain types of entities, like
assemblies or pressures, cannot be
moved with the Move tool.

• From the drop-down menu,

choose between Interactive and
Position mode.
• In this mode, you can position the
selected entities by picking one, two,
or three Source and Target location Translate along Translate along Translate freely Rotate around Rotate
pairs. The Source locations an axis a plane in 3D space an axis freely
represent starting reference points,
which are matched with their
corresponding Targets to produce a
transformation.

• On the guide bar, open hamburger

menu to define additional Options.
 Move
Reposition the Move Tool

• Reposition the Move tool along

an axis, within a plane, or in 3D
space to change the center of
rotation.

• Enter editing mode:

• Hold Shift or double-click one of
the graphical manipulators.

• Move tool becomes orange,

indicating that it is ready to be
repositioned.

• Like translating and rotating, use

the graphical manipulators
and microdialogs to reposition the
tool.

• Let go of Shift or left-click on

empty space to exit editing mode.

• The Move tool displays in white.

 Tips & Tricks
Reposition the Move Tool

• When left-click the axis origin:

1. Align to global axis.

2. Align the to part.

3. Select and assign a local coordinate system.

a. It indicates that the manipulator is now in local system mode. Clicking this
button again to change the assigned system or reset it to go back to global
system mode.

• When left-click a translation or rotation arrow:

4. Orient the selected direction using the Vector tool.
b. Align to local System or Vector.

5. Use the buttons to apply an incremental translation or rotation in

the selected direction.

Hint: Click Escape to return to initial tool situation and proceed.

 Move
Snap Points

• Use Snap Points to help align

geometry.

• All snaps are active by default,

although you can suspend
snapping temporarily by pressing
Alt.

Snap Filter
• You can precisely align two parts
with the Move tool by clicking a
snap point on a part, dragging the
part to translate it, and then
releasing the mouse button near a
snap point on a second part.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Define Orientation
Overview

• Several tools in HyperMesh

require you to define a plane or
a vector direction to perform a
certain function, such as: Define a plane Define a vector direction

• Dragging geometry along a vector.

• Spinning it about an axis.

• Splitting it with a plane.

• Edit 1D Elements.

• …

• You can use Plane and Vector

tools to define and edit planes
and directions.
 Define Orientation
Plane Tool

• How to define orientation using Plane tool:

• Pick an initial orientation from the suggested global X, Y, or Z
frames.
• Some planes can be resized (finite) while others cannot (infinite).
Infinite planes do not allow dragging their handles to resize or rotating them
about their normal axis.

1. Left-click and drag the frame area to reposition it along its normal
direction using snaps or a distance value.

2. Left-click and drag the rotator arrows on the sides of the plane to
rotate it around that axis. The rotator arrows appear when
approaching the handles on the sides of the plane.

3. Resizable (finite) planes have handles on all sides and corners and
can be dragged to resize in any direction. They also have in-plane
rotators that appear near the corner handles.

• While resizing, hold Ctrl to resize from the center, and Shift to lock
the aspect ratio.

• Use the options in the microdialog to help position the plane or

change its options.
 Define Orientation
Vector Tool

• How to define orientation using Vector tool:

• Left-click and drag to move the base handle - the point in space where the plane/vector is
located.

• Then, drag the handle at the tip of the arrow to define a vector, or drag two handles on the
edges of the plane to define a plane.

• Use the options in the microdialog to help position the vector or plane.

1. Example: Defining a vector using the plane handles. A spin axis is defined normal to 3
locations on a circle.

2. Example: Defining a plane using the vector handles. A split plane is defined normal to a point
and its perpendicular projection to an edge.

Hint: HyperMesh takes advantage of the following principle: a plane can be defined with a vector
(the plane is normal to the vector specified), just as a vector can be defined with a plane (the
vector is normal to the plane specified).
 Define Orientation
Vector Tool

• Open Move tool and select the

entity to move.
1. Left-click a translation or rotation
arrow.

2. Click the icon to open Vector tool.

3. Orient the graphical vector

according to your needs.

4. Click Apply (play button) to

proceed and close Vector tool
microdialog.
Use Escape or Return (x button)
to go back to initial tool situation.

5. Type a value and/or an increment

to proceed with the entity
repositioning.

6. Exit from Move tool.

 Tips & Tricks
Define Orientation

• Instead of dragging the handles with the mouse, you can

also define a plane/vector quickly by holding Ctrl and
clicking on any two locations for a vector, or any three
locations for a plane.

Example: Use Along Vector option from microdialog.

• Hold down Ctrl and left-click nodes in sequence:

• Ctrl + 2 nodes → Vector between two nodes

• Ctrl + 3 nodes → Normal vector to the plane by the three nodes

Main Concepts - Summary
 MORE TO EXPLORE

123
 Translate, Scale, Reflect or Rotate Entities
Transformation Tool

• Home group > Move tool >

Transformation Tool
• Translate, scale, reflect or rotate
entities.
• Action - Select an action to perform
on elements.

• Entities - Select source elements,

nodes, components or systems.

• Duplicate - Create multiple

instances.

• Destination Component - Select

where to organize elements after the
transformation.

Example: Reflected Wing with Loads

in a New Load Collector.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Mirror and Scale Entities
Overview

1.Home group > Move tool >

Scale
• Increase or decrease entity’s
dimensions in the model.

2.Home group > Move tool >

Mirror
• Mirror/reflect selected entities
across a symmetry plane.

• From the guide bar, open

hamburger menu to define
additional Options.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Exercise 1E - Interact with Move and Vector tools

File Name and Location:

..\01-Interface\1E\move_drag-geo.hm

Hint:..\01-Interface\1E\move_drag-geo.mp4 *
(*) May differ from the steps described here

Exercise Steps:

1. Use Move tool to move a part along a defined direction

2. Extrude profile cross section to bridge the gap using Vector tool

3. Reposition the solid part

 GEOMETRY

127
 HyperMesh for Pre-Processing - Agenda
Training Sessions

Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4 Session 5

Interface Topology Cleanup 2D Mesh and 3D and 1D Model Setup
(Optional) and Midsurfacing Direct Midmeshing Meshing OptiStruct and
Connectors

Exercises: 1A-1E Exercises: 2A-2G Exercises: 3A-3E Exercises: 4A-4D Exercises: 5A-5D

3h 6h 9h 12h 15h

• Getting Started • Importing, Exporting • 2D Mesh • 3D Mesh • Introduction

• File Management CAD and Topology Generalities and Generalities • Rigids and
• Selection of • Topology Cleanup Setup • Tetra Mesh Connectors
Entities • Geometry • Batch Meshing • Hexa Mesh • Model and Analysis
• Model Exploration Preparation • Interactive Shell • Beam Modeling Setup, Validation
through Browsers • Create, Edit and Mesh • Demos, Q&A and Run
• Move/Measure Review Midsurfaces • Editing Shell • Analyze Results
• Demos, Q&A • Additional tools to Elements • Tune the Bracket
manipulate • MidMeshing • Demos, Q&A
Geometry • Mesh Controls
• Demos, Q&A • Demos, Q&A
 Session 2
Topology Cleanup and Midsurfacing

Importing, Topology Geometry Create, Edit and Additional tools

Exporting CAD Cleanup Preparation Review to manipulate
& Topology Midsurfaces Geometry

Exercises: 2A-2B Exercise: 2C Exercises: 2D-2F Exercise: 2G

30m 80m 120m 160m 180m

 Geometry and Meshing
Strategy Overview

• Geometry and meshing process

in HyperMesh follows the steps:

Mesh
Importing Geometry Geometry
Meshing Quality
Geometry Cleanup Preparation
and Editing

• CAD models • Find and remove • Define washers • Define target • Review
unnecessary mesh element
• Check Units free edges • Find and remove quality
logos • Run the mesh
• Metadata • Find and remove • Correct
duplicate • Find and remove • Adjust the mesh areas with
surfaces unnecessary (for interactive low quality
holes and details processes)
• Close
unexpected • Split geometries for
holes guiding 3D mesh

Hint: eLearning course LMS

 Importing and Exporting CAD
Import Geometry Model

• File > Import > Geometry Model

1. In the Import File dialog, navigate to your working directory, select
the file to import and click Open.

2. Define any options in the Geometry Import Options dialog, then

click Import.
 Importing and Exporting CAD
CAD Readers

1.CAD readers supported by the

application.

• CAD readers provide options for

processing data during import.

• You can access some of these

options from the Geometry
Import Options dialog, while
other options are accessed from a
reader's _reader.ini file.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Importing and Exporting CAD
CAD Import Preferences

1.File > Preferences >

HyperMesh > Geometry >
CAD > Import Options… to
access to CAD Import
Preferences:
a. Under Topology tab, there are
relevant options to check and
keep in mind when you are
importing a CAD model, for
example Cleanup tolerance,
Target units…
(HyperMesh is unitless!)

• Automatically allows mapping of

Metadata from geometry to any of
the PDM attributes through:

b. PDM attributes tab

c. Under Metadata tab

 Importing and Exporting CAD
Export Geometry Model

• File > Export > Geometry Model

1. In the Export File dialog, enter a name for the file and save it to
your working directory.

2. If needed, define any options in the Geometry Export Options

dialog and then click Export.
 Importing and Exporting CAD
CAD Writers

1.Supported CAD writers

• CAD Writers provide options for

processing data during export.

• Some of these options are

available from the Geometry
Export Options dialog.

• Other options are accessed only

from each writer's _writer.ini
file.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Geometry Entities
Surfaces

1.Surface

2.Surface edge
• Line associated with a surface:
• Defines a surface’s boundary

• Cannot be moved off the surface

• Has a fixed point on both ends

3.Fixed point (“Surface vertex”)

• Point associated with a surface:
• Cannot be moved off the surface

• Can lie on a surface edge or the

“interior” of a surface

• Separates surface edges from each

other

• Forces a node to be placed at that

location during meshing
 Geometry Entities
Solids

• Solid Faces - Selectable as surfaces

1. Bounding Faces: Green, belong to 1 solid

2. Partition Faces: Yellow, shared between connected solids

• Fixed Points - Selectable as points

3. At the ends of edges

• Edges - Selectable as lines

4. Shared Edges: Green, belong to 2 adjacent faces of 1 solid

5. Non-manifold Edges: Yellow, belong to a partition face or 2 solid

faces and 1+ surfaces
 Topology
Definition

• Topology is how surfaces

connect to adjacent surfaces of
a part.
Free edge (red)
• Associated with only 1 surface
• Surfaces with a free edge
• Surface connectivity is controlled between them are NOT
by the associated surface edges. equivalenced at that edge Non-manifold edge (yellow)
• Associated with 3 or more
surfaces - Example: Surfaces
• If a surface edge is associated forming a
Shared edge (green) T-connection.
with more than 1 surface, those
surfaces are considered to be • Associated with 2 • Surfaces are equivalenced
connected (equivalenced). surfaces
• Surfaces are equivalenced

• Surface edges are categorized,

named, and colored according to Suppressed edge (blue)
the number of associated • A suppressed edge is shared
surfaces. by two surfaces, but it is
ignored by the meshing
operation
 Topology
Repair Process

• HyperMesh will attempt to

properly clean up surfaces
during import.
Use tools in
• Some types of geometry files Observe the current
Figure out what the Figure out what is HyperMesh to get the
display of topology
(typically native geometry files like ideal surface causing the topology connectivity as it
colors
Catia, UG, ProE, etc.) have connectivity of the to be displayed this should be as quickly
(Free, Shared,
surface connectivity information part should be. way. and efficiently as
T-junction).
possible.
which helps HyperMesh.

• Topology repair consists of

correcting connectivity errors Duplicate surface deleted
between adjacent surfaces.

• Potential errors include: Missing surface created

• Unconnected adjacent surfaces.

Free edge pair
• Duplicate surfaces. equivalenced
• Missing surfaces.
 Geometry Preferences
Cleanup Tolerance

• During a topology repair process, check appropriate

value/options under:
File > Preferences > HyperMesh > Geometry

1. Geometry Cleanup Tolerance

• Specifies the largest gap size to be closed by topology functions → How
much HyperMesh is allowed to modify the geometry in the course of
"cleaning" it.

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

• Can be Automatic or Manual.

• Understand model size and scale to determine an appropriate global

element size. Then, set a Cleanup Tolerance based on the determined
global element size.

Hint: For more details about Geometry Preferences, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Change Display Settings
Geometry

1.View Controls toolbar > Global Geometry and Mesh

Visualization
a. Shaded geometry with surface edges.

b. Transparent geometry with 25%, 50%, or 75% opacity.

c. Wireframe geometry with or without surface lines.

d. Don't draw geometry (G) - Turn off geometry display.

e. Display associated Geometry/FE on Show/Hide/Isolate.

2.Change the visualization style or transparency of select part

using Local Geometry/Mesh Visualization.
• Press X to open the dialog bar.

Hint: Click on the small triangle to open other visualization options.

 FE Geometry
Overview

1.Topology ribbon > Setup group > FE Geometry

• FE geometry is topology on top of mesh, meaning CAD and mesh
exist as a single entity.

• The purpose of FE geometry is to add vertices, edges, surfaces,

and solids on FE models which have no CAD geometry.
• Tools and workflows operate similarly on CAD as they do with FE.

• With FE geometry, mesh selections are made easier as they are topology-
based.

• FE geometry supports all geometry types (1D, 2D, and 3D)

• It is recommended to use FE geometry where there is no associated CAD.

2.View Controls toolbar > Geometry and Mesh Visualization

> Display associated Geometry/FE on Show/Hide/Isolate.
• Coupled topology behaviors:
• Isolation of FE Geometry Elements is possible, with the Coupled mode set
to Off.

• Isolation of FE Geometry Surfaces is possible, with the Coupled mode set

to Off.
 FE Geometry
Creation

• FE Geometry creation in HyperMesh tools is controlled from

File > Preferences > HyperMesh > Geometry

1. Geometry Creation > Create mode:

• CAD geometry → All points, lines, surfaces, and solids created

will be CAD geometry.

• FE geometry → All points, lines, surfaces, and solids created will

be FE geometry.

• Midmesh default extraction output will be FE Geometry only.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair HyperWorks Online Help.

 FE Geometry
Tools

• FE Geometry > From CAD • FE Geometry > From Elements • FE Geometry > Update

Hint: On the guide bar, open hamburger menu for additional Options.
 Tips & Tricks
Display Geometry Type Attribute

1.Model Browser > Double-click on Surfaces or Solids

under Geometry to open the dedicated entity view.

2.Right-click on the column header and select More...

3.In the Choose Attributes dialog, check Geometry Type

box and click OK.

4.Geometry Type column will be populated. You can use filter

icon to display CAD or FEGeometry.
Main Concepts - Summary
 MORE TO EXPLORE

147
 CAD Interoperability, CAE Solver Interfaces, Customization
Open Architecture

ACIS FORAN Parasolid

AVEVA Marine IGES PDGS
CATIA Inspire Rhino
CATIA Composites Link Intergraph SolidWorks
CAD CATIA v6 Inventor STEP
Creo JT Stl
DXF NX VDAFS
FiberSim Pamformh5

OptiStruct Moldex 3D
Radioss Moldflow nCODE
Altair HyperMesh Abaqus Nastran MSC Matlab
Ansys Nastran NX AcuSolve
Deform Pamcrash FLUENT
CAE Exodus Permas Samcef
FEKO Samcef Simpack
Ls-Dyna MotionSolve Star-CD
Marc Adams
Medina Femfat

Configure the HyperMesh Interface

Custom Utilities
Custom Solver Input Translators
Solver Export Templates
 Tips & Tricks
Inspire Parameter Support

• This feature requires Inspire installation (specify the Inspire

installation directory path).

1. Parameters imported along with Inspire CAD files can be updated

in HyperMesh.

• Updated parameter values are passed to Inspire to make the design

change, the updated CAD is saved and automatically reloaded.

2. Support of live update via Entity Editor.

3. Delayed update via CAD Update tool (Topology ribbon > Edit
group > CAD Update).

Hint: For more details, visit Altair HyperWorks Online Help.

 Session 2
Topology Cleanup and Midsurfacing

Importing, Topology Geometry Create, Edit and Additional tools

Exporting CAD Cleanup Preparation Review to manipulate
& Topology Midsurfaces Geometry

Exercises: 2A-2B Exercise: 2C Exercises: 2D-2F Exercise: 2G

30m 80m 120m 160m 180m

 Topology Cleanup
Strategy Overview

• What can HyperMesh do to cleanup topology?

1. Surface Repair → Automatically find, review, and fix any geometric
errors in the model's surfaces.

2. Split → Create/Delete fixed points and split surfaces or solids using

a variety of methods.

3. Stitch → Stitch and unstitch adjacent or overlapping surfaces and

suppress or unsuppress edges.

4. Patch → Create/Delete patch surfaces between surface edges or

free lines that are not connected.

5. Topology and 2D ribbons - Discover a lot more.

• At the end of the process, create solids from enclosed

surface volumes.

• Extract midsurface for shell meshing or prepare the solid for

3D meshing.
 Surface Repair
Overview

• 2D ribbon > Edit group > Surface Repair

• Find, review, and fix any geometric errors in the model's surfaces.
These tools only works on visible surfaces.
1. Validate - Find or select surfaces to validate. Select appropriate checks,
methods to fix and tolerances.

2. Edges - Review/fix free edges using available options on the microdialog.

3. Self Intersection - Review/fix intersections using available options on the

microdialog.

4. Slivers - Based on defined sliver size, review/fix slivers using available

options on the microdialog.

5. Duplicates - Review/fix duplicate surfaces.

6. Closed Shells - Review bounding surfaces to convert into valid solids.

 Surface Repair
Validate

• 2D ribbon > Edit group >

Surface Repair > Validate
1. On the guide bar, open hamburger
menu to define which errors to
check for.
a. Review each subsection to set
methods and tolerances to
automatically fix each error.

2. Click on Find or select Surfaces

to validate.

3. Fix identified problems based on

options.

4. To review and fix specific error

types, do one of the following:
b. Select the associated tool from the
secondary ribbon.

c. Click the error type in the legend.

d. Error types can be turned on or off

from the legend.
 Surface Repair
Edges

• 2D ribbon > Edit group > Surface Repair > Edges

1. Shows Free edges or Non manifold edges in the displayed
surfaces.

2. Use the microdialog to select a method for fixing them:

a. Patch Hole - If the free edges form a loop.

b. Stitch or Stitch and Intersect - If two edges are close by, this option
connect them within a given tolerance. You also have the option to only
stitch open loops.

c. Delete - Remove floating surfaces.

3. If you turn Auto refresh checks off, you have to click the refresh
icon on the guide bar of each associated tool to manually refresh
the legend.
 Surface Repair
Self Intersection

• 2D ribbon > Edit group > Surface Repair >

Self Intersection
• Shows surfaces which have intersections within the surface or
belong to one solid.

• You can fix them in this tool by:

1. Optimizing CAD with or without re-faceting

2. Performing batch repair

3. Deleting surfaces. Afterwards, you are left with free edges, which you can
repair using the Free edges check.

4. Splitting surfaces
 Surface Repair
Slivers

• 2D ribbon > Edit group > Surface Repair > Slivers

1. Shows surfaces which have regions that are narrower than a
defined threshold.
• The default tolerance is based on the geometric tolerance defined in the
Preferences.

• Reduce the value in this tool if you wish to retain some valid sliver surfaces.

2. You can fix slivers by collapsing the edges or suppressing the

edges.

3. For CAD geometry, you can also perform Batch Repair to

auto-suppress edges based on given tolerance.
 Surface Repair
Duplicates and Closed Shells

• 2D ribbon > Edit group > Surface Repair > Duplicates

• Duplicate surfaces overlapping each other and connected with
green edges can be deleted.

• 2D ribbon > Edit group > Surface Repair > Closed Shells
• Shows the surfaces which are closed but do not form solids.

• You can construct solids out of these surfaces.

 Split
Split Surface Edges, Surfaces and Solids

• Topology ribbon > Edit group > Split

1. Use Split tools to create fixed points and split surfaces or solids
using a variety of methods.

2. Click on the little triangle highlighted in the picture on the right to

open Unsplit tool.

3. You can access Split/Unsplit tools also from:

2D ribbon > Edit group.
 Split
Interactive

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Split > Interactive
(or press F11)
• Quickly create fixed points on
surfaces and edges, and split
surfaces with lines.

• You can also remove fixed points

from surfaces or surface edges to
unsplit them.

• When unsplitting/removing
multiple vertices at once using
window selection (Shift + left-click
and drag), the tool use the current
global Geometry feature angle,
editable under Geometry
Preferences.
 Split
Split with Nodes

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Split > Nodes
• Split surfaces using ordered (node
list/path) and non-ordered node
selections or FE Edges.

• Target surface selection on the

guide bar is optional if only two
nodes are selected.
• If selecting a node list or node path Split with FE Edges Split with Nodes
with two or more nodes, you should
select the target on the guide bar
before selecting nodes.

Hint: Activate Tool selector on the

guide bar. Click … or press Period
key to launch the Advanced
Selection and select By Path.
 Split
Split with Lines

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Split > Lines (or press F9) Split with Offset
Lines
• Split lines, surfaces and solids
using different splitting methods.

• From the guide bar, open

hamburger menu for additional
Options.

Split with
Bounding
Lines

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help. Split with Trim
intersecting lines
 Tips & Tricks
How to Create a Washer with Offset Lines

• Topology ribbon > Edit group > Split > Lines

• Select Offset Lines as splitting method from the guide bar drop-
down menu.

• Select lines, enter a specific distance and number of instances.

Hints:
• Option only available when Surfaces are the Target.

• A Washer split anchor is added for quick execution of the split.

• You can select a line, usually a free edge with a cutout to create the split.

• This is useful when creating a washer split around a hole.

 Split
Split with Surfaces

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Split > Surfaces
• Split surfaces and solids using
surfaces.

• From the guide bar, open

hamburger menu for additional
Options.

Split with
Surfaces

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.

Split Solid with

Surfaces
 Split
Split with Planes

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Split > Plane
• Target geometry define how to Split Lines
split: with Plane

1. Lines or surfaces → As Tool, use

Vector to adjust the position of the
split plane.

Split Solid
2. Fill cut loops option creates a new with Plane
surface if the edges being split form a
closed loop.

3. Solids → As Tool, select Plane,

Nodes, or Points.

Split Surface
with Plane
 Split
Perform Parametric Trimming

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Split > Parametric
• Use the Split: Parametric tool to
restore suppressed fixed points.

• Use Snap Points to create fixed

points at predefined points on your
model such as end, middle, and
center points. Split at joints Split Parametric
 Stitch
Stitch Surfaces and Suppress Edges

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Stitch
• Use Stitch tool to:
1. Stitch and unstitch adjacent or
overlapping surfaces

2. Suppress or unsuppress edges.

3. You can access Stitch/Suppress

tools also from:
2D ribbon > Edit group.
 Stitch
Stitch Surfaces

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Stitch
• On the guide bar, open hamburger
menu for additional Options.
• Maximum stitching distance

• Stitching method

1. Use Parasolid option as stitching

method.
• This functionality works on free edges
only and not on non-manifold or
T- junctions.

• In addition, only surface selection is

supported.

• This option is useful for locally

merging edges that are less than 10
times the geometry cleanup
tolerance.
 Tips & Tricks
Stitch Surfaces

• Repair topology with Stitch:

1. Left-click and drag an edge to another edge

2. Left-click and drag a point to another point.

3. Select the point(s) to move, then click on one of the selected points
that you wish to retain and combine with the other selected points.

• If you are dragging point or edges to merge, the tolerance

(Maximum stitching distance) is ignored.
 Tips & Tricks
Stitch Surfaces

• Repair topology with Stitch:

1. Use window selection (left-click and drag or Ctrl + left-click) to
select multiple surfaces, and simultaneously stitch adjacent Deselect with
surfaces and intersecting surfaces. Adjust individual edges if
needed.

2. Use the legend in the upper-left corner of the modeling window to

assist you in finding edges. Edges are color coded by type.

3. Show and hide an edge type clicking on it in the legend.

4. Hover the mouse and click on Isolate to show only the selected
edge type.

5. Right-click on the legend to Show or Hide All and change the

visualization Color.
 Stitch
Suppress Edges

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Stitch
1. Left-click on a surface edge to
advance its topology state from
shared to suppressed.

2. Conversely use Shift + left-click

and drag to regress its topology
state from suppressed to shared.

3. Select the surface(s) to suppress.

Enter a value in the microdialog to
adjust the feature edge, then click:
a. Suppress None

or

b. Suppress All
 Tips & Tricks
Suppress Edges

• Prepare for meshing with Suppress:

1. Use window selection (left-click and drag or Ctrl + left-click) to
simultaneously select multiple surfaces.

Deselect with

2. Use the legend in the upper-left corner of the modeling window to

assist you in finding edges. Edges are color coded by type.

3. Show and hide an edge type clicking on it in the legend.

4. Hover the mouse and click on Isolate to show only the selected
edge type.

5. Right-click on the legend to Show or Hide All and change the

visualization Color.
 Surfaces
Overview

• 2D ribbon > Create group > Surfaces

• A surface represents the geometry associated with a physical part.

• A surface is a two-dimensional geometric entity that may be used in

automatic mesh generation.
1. Patch/Spline - Create/Delete surfaces by patch, spline, or node/point cloud.

2. Extend - Create tangent or normal extension surfaces.

3. Cross Extend - Extend surfaces to meet each other, or other target

surfaces.

4. Skin - Create a surface by skinning across lines.

5. From FE - Create surfaces that closely fit a selection of shell elements.

 Surfaces
Patch Surfaces

• 2D ribbon > Create group >

Surfaces > Patch/Spline >
Patch
• Create patch surfaces between
surface edges or free lines that
are not connected.

1. Using Find option, click a highlighted

surface to patch it. Click the green
flag on the guide bar to patch all
found loops.

2. Use Parasolid option helps you in

creating/editing geometries using a
parasolid geometry modeling kernel.

3. Check Mesh to automatically open

the 2D Meshing tool after creating
surfaces.
 Tips & Tricks
Patch Surfaces

1.Copying (Ctrl + C) and pasting (Ctrl + V) solid faces

generates surfaces and organizes them in the same
component.

2.Use Ctrl + Tab to switch between Surface: Patch and

Surface: Extend modes.
• Any edges already selected will be maintained when switching.

3.Patch - Mouse cursor actions:

a. Toggle tangency of created surface.

b. Click on selected lines to create surface.

c. Delete selected surface.

 Surfaces
Node/point cloud and Spline

• Topology ribbon > Create

group > Surfaces >
Patch/Spline > Node/point
cloud
1. Create surface by selecting point
cloud data.

• Topology ribbon > Create

group > Surfaces >
Patch/Spline > Spline
2. Create spline surface using lines
selection. Order of selection
determines the surface creation.
Main Concepts - Summary
 MORE TO EXPLORE

177
 Unsplit Surface Edges
Overview

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Split > Unsplit
• Remove split lines so that split
surfaces return to their previous
unsplit state.

• Unsplit will suppress fixed points.

Generate a straight
line between vertices
• Select points, lines, or surfaces Unsplit Surfaces

• On the guide bar, open hamburger

menu for additional Options.
Extending the edges using adjacent
edges as a guide
 Ruled
Smooth

• Topology ribbon > Create

group > Ruled > Smooth
1. Use Ruled tool to create surfaces
or solids from lines or surfaces by
interpolating smoothly.

2. For Smooth surfaces, activate

Select guides option to choose
guidelines and/or surfaces. With Guidelines
Without Guidelines

3. Create ring solids or surfaces,

first and last lines or surfaces in
the list are considered as pair to
form a closed loop.

• From the guide bar, open

hamburger menu to define
additional Options.
 Ruled
Linear

• Topology ribbon > Create

group > Ruled > Linear
1. Use Ruled tool to create surfaces
or solids from lines or surfaces by
interpolating linearly.

2. Click Review on the guide bar.

3. Use the microdialog to preview the

output and define additional link
options.

4. For linear, check Mesh to

automatically open the 2D
meshing tool after creating
surfaces.
 Find Symmetry
Overview

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Find Symmetry
• Find symmetrical surfaces or
compare selected surface sets for
symmetry.

• Select an Action, pick the

Surfaces.

• Define your axis of symmetry by

selecting a Vector entity and a
base Node.

• Choose a Result.

Hint: This can be helpful with highly

symmetrical components, because
you can then perform cleanup on
only one half, mesh it, and then
mirror the mesh instead of having to
clean up the entire component prior
to meshing.
 Additional Topology Tools
Overview

• Topology ribbon > Edit group

1. CAD Update

2. Geometry Match Topology

3. Geometry Interference Check

4. CAD/FE Comparison

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Exercise 2A - Surface Repair

File Name and Location:

..\02-Topology-Cleanup-Midsurf\2A\Surface-Repair.hm

Hint:..\02-Topology-Cleanup-Midsurf\2A\Surface-Repair.mp4 *
(*) May differ from the steps described here

Exercise Steps:

1. Load the model and evaluate its integrity

2. Use Surface Repair to find, review, and fix geometric errors

3. Identify Issues

4. Remove Free Edges

5. Create Closed Shell

 Exercise 2B - Loading and Preparing CAD Geometry

File Name and Location:

..\02-Topology-Cleanup-Midsurf\2B\TOPOLOGY-REPAIR.hm

Hint:..\02-Topology-Cleanup-Midsurf\2B\TOPOLOGY-REPAIR.mp4 *
(*) May differ from the steps described here

Exercise Steps:

1. Load the model and evaluate its integrity

2. Delete the surface that overhangs the round corner using Split

3. Create surfaces to fill gaps in the model with Patch

4. Combine free edges with Stitch and change tolerance

5. Reload the model and fix most of the issues in one go using higher tolerance

6. Reload the model and use Surface Repair to adjust the topology
 Session 2
Topology Cleanup and Midsurfacing

Importing, Topology Geometry Create, Edit and Additional tools

Exporting CAD Cleanup Preparation Review to manipulate
& Topology Midsurfaces Geometry

Exercises: 2A-2B Exercise: 2C Exercises: 2D-2F Exercise: 2G

30m 80m 120m 160m 180m

 Geometry Preparation
Strategy Overview

• What can HyperMesh do to

prepare my geometry?

• There are three main

approaches:

1. Manual defeaturing

2. Batch defeaturing

3. Features management
 Defeature
Remove Cuts and Edge Fillets

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Defeature > Cuts/Edge Fillets
• Use the Cuts/Edge Fillets tool to
extend surface edges and remove
cutouts, fillets, and rounds.

1. Select lines, locations, or

surfaces.

2. From the drop-down menu, select

whether to find Rounds, Fillets,
or All.

3. On the guide bar, open hamburger

menu for additional Options
(Min/Max radius and the Minimum
angle).
 Defeature
Remove Small Features

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Defeature > Small Features
• Find and remove/fix small solids
and surfaces.

• On the guide bar, open hamburger

menu for additional Options:
1. Feature detection size

2. Cleanup tolerance.
 Defeature
Find and Remove Logos

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Defeature > Logos
• Find and remove logos.

1. If you have already used the

Features tool to detect logos, you
can use the drop-down on menu
on the guide bar to select them
directly.

2. On the guide bar, open hamburger

menu for additional Options.
 Defeature
Remove Rounds and Fillets

• Topology ribbon > Edit group > Defeature > Fillets

• Find and remove both Round (convex) and Fillet (concave)
surfaces.
• In general, it is best to remove small fillets first, then larger fillets, then
rounds.

• When you get to a point where you cannot remove any more, it is time to use other
modeling tools and strategies to complete the geometry simplification.

1. From the guide bar drop-down menu, select whether to find Rounds,
Fillets, or All.

2. If you have already used the Features tool to detect fillets, you can change
the entity selector on the guide bar and select them directly as well.

3. Check Use Parasolid to use parasolid geometric kernels for finding and
defeaturing fillets/rounds.

4. Uncheck Use Parasolid to activate Ignore edge association and fillet Ends
options in the guide bar.
 Defeature
Remove Rounds and Fillets

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Defeature > Fillets
1. Select lines that a fillet should
ignore.

2. Select lines which make up the

end of a fillet.

3. Select a fillet manually, and then

use context menu options to find
Larger, Smaller, or Similar
(± 5%) fillets in size.
• Use left-click or middle-click to delete
the fillet selected.
 Defeature
Remove Solid Holes

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Defeature > Holes
• Remove solid holes in the model.

1. Holes tool shows count of surface

and solid holes detected in the
Status Bar.

2. If you have already used the

Features tool to detect solid
holes, you can use the drop-down
on menu on the guide bar to
select them directly.

3. On the guide bar, open hamburger

menu for additional Options.
 Defeature
Examples

Cut/Edge Fillets Fillet/ Round Holes Solid Holes

 Defeature
Perform Batch Repair

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Defeature > Batch
• Perform automatic cleanup
operations on selected surfaces.

Hint: FE geometry is not supported

for this tool.
 Defeature
Perform Batch Repair

• Topology ribbon > Edit group > Defeature > Batch

• On the guide bar, open hamburger menu to define to define batch
repair options and review parameter and criteria files.
1. Open or make any necessary changes to parameter/criteria file options
based on your requirements via Parameter/Criteria Editor.

2. Select Surfaces to clean up.

3. On the guide bar, click Auto Cleanup.

Hints:
a. Criteria and parameter files can be loaded in the session using the
Param/Criteria tool on the Topology ribbon > Setup group.

b. These files are accessible to all the tools that require them and can be
accessed from links in the Options menu.

c. For Batch repair, the parameter file is launched exposing only the Geometry
Cleanup options.

• Meshing related options are hidden from as only geometry cleanup is done
using this tool.
 Preserve Edges
Overview

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Preserve Edges
• Ensure that specific component
edges and feature lines do not
accidentally get discarded during
Auto-cleanup or batch meshing.
 Features
Overview

• HyperMesh supports the detection, review and management

of geometric holes (2D and 3D), fillets, flanges, and logos, as
well as mesh holes and flanges.
• After a feature is detected, it will keep track of the geometry or
elements defining it and automatically update if their topology is
modified by another operation, like splitting the edges or surfaces
defining it.

Topology ribbon > Setup group > Features

• Find and create geometric features in the displayed model.
a. If there are no features in your model yet, the Feature Detection
Parameters dialog opens.
b. Select the feature types you want to find and enter the
Minimum and Maximum dimensions to include in the detection > Find.

Hint: Using larger tolerances will capture more features but will
increase processing time.
 Tips & Tricks
Manage Features

1.You can interact with features in the modeling window by

setting the entity selector filter to Features with the mouse
or by pressing the E key.

2.Selection conversion between features and surfaces, lines,

or elements (depending on feature type) is supported by
switching the filter type with an active selection.

3.If you have already used the Features tool to detect logos,
holes or fillets, you can use the drop-down on menu on the
guide bar to select them directly.

4.BatchMesher output stores Features which can be

accessed by Feature Manager.
 Features
Types

• 2D and 3D Holes
1. 2D Holes are surface holes with
edges as perimeters and no
height dimension.

2. 3D Holes have surface faces

along their height dimension, and
surface edges at either the top
side (blind) or top and bottom
sides (through).

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Features
Types

• Fillets can be curved Round

(exterior) or Fillet (interior)
connecting surface edges in
place of a corner.

• Their measured dimensions are:

• Minimum and Maximum Radius

• Minimum and Maximum Width

• Minimum and Maximum Angle.

 Features
Types

• Flanges are surfaces along the

edge of a part, with a width
typically smaller than its length,
as measured between its
connected and free edges.
• Their measured dimensions are:
• Minimum and Maximum Width.

• Logos are collections of

surfaces representing symbols
or letters that are embossed,
etched, or machined into other
surfaces.
• Their measured dimensions are:
• Size and Height.
Main Concept - Summary
 Exercise 2C - Simplifying CAD Tools

File Name and Location:

..\02-Geom-Cleanup-Midsurf\2C\SIMPLIFYING-CAD.hm

Hint:..\02-Geom-Cleanup-Midsurf\2C\SIMPLIFYING-CAD.mp4 *
(*) May differ from the steps described here

Exercise Steps:

1. Load the model and evaluate its integrity

2. Use the Batch Repair to perform automatic cleanup on selected surfaces

3. Remove surface fillets and repair the surface

4. Remove holes

5. Remove edges fillets using Cuts and fixed points

 Session 2
Topology Cleanup and Midsurfacing

Importing, Topology Geometry Create, Edit and Additional tools

Exporting CAD Cleanup Preparation Review to manipulate
& Topology Midsurfaces Geometry

Exercises: 2A-2B Exercise: 2C Exercises: 2D-2F Exercise: 2G

30m 80m 120m 160m 180m

Midsurfacing - Highly Efficient Workflow
 Midsurfacing
Overview

• 2D ribbon > Surface Mesh

group > Midsurface
• Extract the midsurface of thin
solids and review and edit
midsurface plates.

Hint: FE geometry is not

supported for midsurface
extraction.

• Midsurface tool allow you to:

• Specify base surfaces

• Extract automatic midsurfaces

• Edit midsurface plates

• Imprint lines or surfaces

on midsurfaces
 Midsurfacing
Base Surfaces

• 2D ribbon > Surface Mesh

group > Midsurface > Base
Surfaces
• Specify a distance from the base
surfaces of multiple solids that you
wish to treat as if they were
continuous.

• This will help generate separate-

but-aligned midsurfaces during
extraction.
 Midsurfacing
Extract Midsurfaces (Automatic)

• 2D ribbon > Surface Mesh

group > Midsurface >
Automatic
1. Extract the midsurface of sheet
metal stampings, molded plastic
parts with ribs, and other parts
that have thickness clearly smaller
than width and length.
a. The original geometry that you
selected to extract the midsurface
from remains unchanged.

The new geometry that represents

the midsurface is placed in the
component specified by the
Destination component option
(OriginalName.# by default).

2. On the guide bar, open hamburger

menu to define Midsurface
Method Options.
 Midsurfacing
Extract Midsurfaces (Automatic) - Methods

1.Offsets
• Creates pieces of the middle
surface by offsetting one side of
the model’s surfaces towards the
middle.

• This is the traditional approach for

midsurfacing.

2.Planes + Offsets
• Identify the places in the model
where a piece of plane can be
used as a middle surface.

• At the remaining places in the

model, for example the places
where planar pieces cannot be
used as a middle surface, the
same algorithm as in offset is
used to construct the middle
surface via the offset of the
model's sides.
 Midsurfacing
Extract Midsurfaces (Automatic) - Methods

1.Planes + Sweeps + Offsets

• Identify the places where a piece of plane or a piece of a sweep
surface can be used as a middle surface.

• A middle surface is constructed at the remaining places in the

model, for example the places where planar or sweep surface
pieces cannot be used as a middle surface, by the same algorithm
as in offset via the offset of the model's sides.

2.Skin Offset
• Automatically detects the two largest faces on the model, detects
the thickness, and then creates the middle surface by offsetting one
of the faces towards the other one by half of thickness. This is the
quickest method for creating a midsurface. However, it is not
applicable to many models.

• The parts you provide to the algorithm must be relevant.

T-connections, varying thickness or internal ribs/features/creases
are not relevant.

• The typical models where Skin Offset can be successfully applied

are metal stamped parts.
 Demo
Extract Midsurfaces

File Name and Location:

..\02-Topology-Cleanup-Midsurf\Demo\
mystery-bracket.hm and midsurface-Demo.hm

Demo Goals:
1. Topology ribbon > Surface Mesh tool > Midsurfaces > Automatic

2. Extract Midsurfaces trying different methods:

• Model a → Offsets

• Model b → Planes+Sweeps+Offsets
 Midsurfacing
Edit Plates - Plate & Surface Types

• The different plate and surface

types used when editing a
midsurface are:

1. Midsurface - Surfaces created to

represent a thin solid for shell
meshing.
2. Planes - A continuous, flat plate.
3. Sweeps - A continuous plate that
follows the contours of the
geometry.
4. Offsets - A plate that is offset from
one side of the source geometry.
5. Transitions - Transition surfaces
that connect separate plates.
6. Edges - Edge surfaces that define
the boundary of the midsurface.
7. Ignored - A surface that is ignored
during midsurfacing.
8. Unidentified - A plate that has not
been assigned a plate type prior to
midsurfacing.
Main Concept - Summary
 MORE TO EXPLORE

220
 Imprint Lines or Surfaces on Midsurfaces
Pocket Imprint

• 2D ribbon > Surface Mesh group > Midsurface > Pocket

Imprint
• Imprint pockets, fillets, and other geometry features from the source
geometry onto the midsurfaces.

• Select Lines or Surfaces from the Source selector.

• You are not required to select the midsurface.

• HyperMesh automatically recognizes the midsurface corresponding to the

solid/surface component from which it was derived and imprints the
lines/surfaces on the midsurface component.

• To manually select target surfaces, under Options, change the

Target surfaces selection to Manual, activate the Target selector
on the guide bar, then select make your selection.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair HyperWorks Online Help.

 Tips & Tricks
Imprint Points on Midsurface

• How can I add some missing fixed point in the midsurface?

• 2D ribbon > Edit group > Imprint

• Source = Points > by solid (select original solid)

• Target = midsurface
 Exercise 2D - Manual Midsurface Repair

File Name and Location:

..\02-Topology-Cleanup-Midsurf\2D\manual-midsurf.hm

Hint:..\02-Topology-Cleanup-Midsurf\2D\manual-midsurf.mp4 *
(*) May differ from the steps described here

Exercise Steps:

1. Extract the midsurface

2. Fix midsurface’s problems

 Exercise 2E - Extract Midsurfaces and Edit Plates

File Name and Location:

..\02-Geom-Cleanup-Midsurf\2E\MIDSURFACE-CROSS.hm

Hint:..\02-Geom-Cleanup-Midsurf\2E\MIDSURFACE-CROSS.mp4 *
(*) May differ from the steps described here

Exercise Steps:

1. Create the midsurface

2. Edit Plates to solve midsurface problems

 Session 2
Topology Cleanup and Midsurfacing

Importing, Topology Geometry Create, Edit and Additional tools

Exporting CAD Cleanup Preparation Review to manipulate
& Topology Midsurfaces Geometry

Exercises: 2A-2B Exercise: 2C Exercises: 2D-2F Exercise: 2G

30m 80m 120m 160m 180m

 Additional Tools to Manipulate Geometry
Overview

• Create and edit geometry by

modifying existing geometry
with tools like Surfaces,
Extrude/Revolve, Fillets,
Midlines…
1. Topology ribbon > Create / Edit
group Find more information
about topology editing
2. 2D ribbon > Create group > tools on: Session 03 -
Surfaces 2D Mesh Direct
Midmesh
• Create new geometry in 3D
space with previews from
scratch with various Sketching
tools.
3. Sketch ribbon

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Surfaces
Extend Surfaces

• 2D ribbon > Create group > Surfaces > Extend

• Once selected edge(s), click the arrow to switch between creating a
tangent or normal extension surface.
• Extend the surface by entering a length in the microdialog and pressing
Enter or pulling the arrow.

• New surfaces are organized in the same component as the surface being
extended.

• Select one or both of the extend options in the microdialog:

1. Maintain edge angles

2. Auto-trim intersecting

3. Create as new

Hint: Extending surfaces is supported for FE geometry. If the edge that

is extended is CAD geometry, then a CAD surface is created; if it's FE
geometry, then an FE geometry surface is created. Mixed cases are
supported.
 Demo
Cross Extend Surfaces

File Name and Location:

..\02-Topology-Cleanup-Midsurf\Demo\CROSS-EXTEND.hm

Demo Goals:
1. Make sure you have active Topology view.

2. 2D ribbon > Create group > Surfaces > Cross Extend

3. Select all the surfaces to be extended (unselect the 2 surfaces in grey).

4. Click on Extend.

5. Select the other surfaces highlighted and Extend again.

6. Review and adjust the topology, if necessary.

 Surfaces
Cross Extend Surfaces

• 2D ribbon > Create group >

Surfaces > Cross Extend
• Extend surfaces to meet each
other, or other target surfaces.

• Disconnected surfaces on the

same plane cannot be extended
using the Cross Extend tool.

• On the guide bar, open hamburger

menu for additional Options.
 Surfaces
Skin Surfaces and From FE

• 2D ribbon > Create group >

Surfaces > Skin

• 2D ribbon > Create group >

Surfaces > From FE

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Lines, Surfaces, and Edge Fillets
Fillets

• Topology ribbon > Edit group >

Fillets
• Create a constant radius on lines,
surfaces, and edges.
• You cannot create a fillet across free
(red) edges between two surfaces.

• If an edge (or edge chain) is curved,

you can only create a fillet with a
radius smaller than the radius of the
edge curve.

1. You can select additional surface

edges that are connected to the
original selection using Tangent
propagation option.
 Points and Nodes
Create and Edit

• Topology ribbon > Create

group > Create Points
(or press F8)
• Points and Nodes can be used to
establish reference locations for
geometry construction and
meaningful snap locations for use
with other tools.
1. From the drop-down menu on the
guide bar, select whether to:

• Create Points

• Create Free Nodes

• Mark Free Nodes Create Interpolate Mark

Free Nodes Free
• Interpolate Nodes
Nodes Nodes
2. From the guide bar, open hamburger
menu to define additional Options.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Points and Nodes
Extract Points/Nodes

• Topology ribbon > Create tools

> Extract Points
• Interpolate and divide an edge or
line, and find the center of an arc,
fillet, or multiple curve segments.
1. From the drop-down menu below the
tool, select what to extract:

• Extract Points

• Extract Nodes

• Extract Points at Intersection

• Extract Nodes at Intersection

Extract Nodes at Extract Points at Extract Nodes on
Intersection Intersection Points
2. Extract Points/Nodes at
Intersection of planes, plane with
lines or surfaces or solids

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Points and Nodes
Extract Points/Nodes

• Topology ribbon > Create tools

> Extract Points
• Extract points/nodes in the
following ways:
1. Interpolate Nodes/Points

2. Split line at points

3. Finding Curve Center

4. Create nodes at parametric locations

on lines and surfaces (define the U
and V lower and upper bounds).

Extract Points
Parametric

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Tips & Tricks
Quick Way to Add Temp Nodes

• Topology ribbon > Create tools > Create Points >

Mark Free Nodes

• Select the nodes that you want placed in or removed from the
temporary node mark.

• If a structural node is selected, it just displays the structural node, but the
ID remains the same. Essentially, it does not create a new node on top of
the structural node. It just shows or marks the structural node.

• When nodes are removed from the temporary node mark, the node is
deleted if it is not attached to a structural element and is not used by a card
in the database.
 Shapes
Rectangles, Arc and Circles

• Topology ribbon > Create tools

> Shapes
1. Create rectangles for geometry
construction, edit free rectangles,
and create/toggle filled rectangles.

2. Create circles for geometry

construction, edit free circles, and
create/toggle filled circles, for Fill
example, disk surfaces. Shape

a. From the drop-down menu below the

tool, select what to create:
Auto Imprint Draw circle between 3
• Circle by Center and Radius points
• Circle by 2 Points

• Circle by 3 Points

3. Create arcs for geometry

construction, edit free arcs, and
create/toggle filled arcs.
 Lines
Lines and Polylines and Combine/Extend Lines

• Topology ribbon > Create tools

> Lines
1. Draw free lines for geometry
construction and to generate
meaningful snap locations to be
used by other tools.
a. From the drop-down menu, select
one of the following:

• Interactive

• Extract Parametric Lines

• Extract at Intersection

• Drag Nodes
Drag Nodes Extract at Intersection Draw Polylines

2. Draw polylines for geometry

construction.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Lines
Combine and Extend Lines

• Topology ribbon > Create tools

> Lines
1. Combine Lines create a new
continuous line segment between
two existing lines, resulting in a
single seamless line.
• Check the Smooth connect
checkbox to create curved Smooth connect ON
connections between non-collinear
lines.

2. Extend Lines make an existing

line longer, following the general
vector and/or curvature of the
input line.
• You can specify the distance as a
numeric value, or extend the line to a Smooth connect OFF
specified node, line, surface, or point.

• If the Follow curvature option is

selected, the extended line follows
the input line curvature.

• Activate the Choose target

checkbox to extend the line to a
target point, node, line, or surface.
 Demo
Ribs Creation

File Name and Location:

..\02-Topology-Cleanup-Midsurf\Demo\PLATE-EDIT-RIBS.hm
and RIBS.hm

Demo Goals:
1. Create Free Nodes to define the ribs Start, End and Reference Nodes.

2. Topology ribbon > Create group > Ribs

3. Follow the guided process under the Ribs dialog to create Triangular or
Quadrilateral Rib Type.

4. Once you have the preview, adjust the rib dimensions and Apply.

5. Optionally, change the Profile Position.

Triangular Quadrilateral
6. If necessary, Stitch the surfaces to recreate the solid geometry.
 Ribs
Creation

• Topology ribbon > Create

group > Ribs
• Use Ribs tool to create and
modify simple ribs between two
surfaces (not more than two).

• Complicated ribs still need to be

created in the CAD system and re- Start Node
imported into HyperMesh.
1. Choose a Rib Type
(Quadrilateral or Triangular)

2. Choose Profile Position

(Centered, On right/Left).

3. Define the Rib Properties.

4. Finalize the rib creation > Apply. Reference

End Node Node

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Imprint Geometry
Overview

• 2D ribbon > Edit group >

Imprint
• Imprint geometry or mesh onto
target surface/lines or elements
creating new edges/fixed points or
a mesh patch respectively.
• Select Source to imprint, choose
whether to imprint lines, nodes, node
list, points, surfaces, or elements
using the drop-down menu.

• Make your selection in the modeling Imprint nodelist on Imprint lines on

window. selected targets selected targets

• Select imprint Targets.

• On the guide bar, click hamburger

menu for additional Options.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Extrude
Overview

• Topology ribbon > Create

group > Extrude/Revolve
Lines
1. Extrude surfaces, nodes, or lines
along their normal direction, a
vector, or another line.
a. Check Mesh to automatically open
the General 2D mesh after creating
surfaces.

b. Activate Guides selector and use the

options in the microdialog to define
how the geometry is dragged:

• Fixed Frame

• Line Tangent Surfaces Nodes

• Frenet Frame

• Reverse Direction

• Auto-Trim

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Tips & Tricks
Non-Uniform Drag

1.Activate Extrude tool and select Lines from entity selection.

2.In the microdialog, choose from:

a. By normal - Use this option in the microdialog to simply create a

surface washer.

b. Variable distance.
 Tips & Tricks
Auto-trim

1.Use the Auto-trim option in the microdialog when dragging

nodes and lines.

Auto-trim
• While dragging lines or nodes, if a continuous surface or mesh is Surfaces intersecting
intersected and this option is ON, the newly created surfaces are with surfaces
trimmed at the intersection.

• The auto-trim option works for both geometry intersecting

geometry and mesh.

• It also works for FE topology intersecting FE topology.

Surfaces intersecting
with mesh
 Tips & Tricks
Create FE with Extrude

1.Activate Extrude tool and choose Lines entity selector.

2.Check Mesh option.
3.Select lines to extrude and left-click and drag to create a
new mesh.
4.General 2D Mesh automatically open after creating
surfaces.

• File > Preferences > Meshing > FE topology revision

• Select a remeshing method for revising modified topology.

Hint: Mesh option is available inside Patch, Skin, Ruled, Extrude,

Revolve…
 Revolve
Overview Surfaces

• Topology ribbon > Create

group > Extrude/Revolve
1. Revolve surfaces, nodes, lines,
elements, or facets around a
defined axis.
a. Check Mesh to automatically open
the General 2D meshing tool after
creating surfaces.

b. Create solid elements using

Elements and Facets selections.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.

Elements Facets
 Tips & Tricks
Define Orientation with Vector Tool

• Uncheck Along Vector option from microdialog.

Along Vector

• Vector tool is now enabled.

• Hold down Ctrl and select a node it will in sequence:

1. select base

2. select vector direction

3. select normal
Main Concepts - Summary
 MORE TO EXPLORE

250
 Midlines
Create Lines

• Topology ribbon > Create

group > Midlines
• Create midlines from existing
lines, surface edges, or tube
solids.

Lines Solids
 Tips & Tricks
Quickly Create Nodes on Snaps

• Create nodes on snaps option helps to create temp nodes

on the fly.
• It is available for tools having dedicated regular (un-ordered)
node selector.
• For ordered (Node-list) nodes same option is not available.

1. Open a tool that requires node selection and activate node

selector.

2. Right-click context menu > Select > Create nodes on snaps

3. Hover the mouse on the snap point, select to create a new node.

Example: Create a node at the center of a hole.

 Offset
Overview

• Topology ribbon > Create

group > Offset
• Offset surfaces, solids, lines,
elements, or faces. Offset by uniform and
variable distance
• Enter offset value in the microdialog.

1. If desired, select Continuous offset on

the guide bar to preserve the
connection between adjacent surfaces
after offsetting.

• From the guide bar, open hamburger

menu to define additional Options.

• The topology of the surface edges Surfaces Lines Solids

(free, shared edges, and so on) is
maintained during the offset function.
Some individual surfaces will be
trimmed or extended to maintain the
connectivity.

Hint: For more details, visit Altair

HyperWorks Online Help.
 Tips & Tricks
Drag 2D Elements into 3D Elements with Normal direction

• Topology ribbon > Create group > Offset

1. Select Elements to offset.

2. Under Options, you can define Layer type and Number of layers.

3. Left-click and drag the arrow to perform the offset in the element
normal direction and generate solid elements.

• From the microdialog, you can set corner type or change the
normal direction.
 Extract Entities
Realize and Unrealize

• Topology ribbon > Create

group > Extract
1. Extract tool converts existing
sketches into geometry lines
or surfaces with Realize option.

2. Delete lines and surfaces

converted from a sketch entity
with the Unrealize option.

3. From the guide bar, open

hamburger menu to define
additional Options.

Hint: Extract acts like a custom

realization of sketched entities.
You can go to extract context and Merge adjacent Merge adjacent
unrealize what you have done, then faces ON faces OFF
you realize it with different options
which are offered in the extract tool.
 Introduction to Sketching
What can you do with Sketching?

• Create and edit 2D parametric sketch geometry.

• Learn about sketching basics including the sketch plane, legend,
constraints, context menu options, and construction geometry.

• Create and assign variables to parameters when modeling.

• Variables can be created and applied to variety of parameters available in

the sketch and geometry tools.

• Specify dependencies between the variables, which will cascade changes

and update the model accordingly.

• Quickly iterate and compare design concepts by tweaking the values of the
variables.

• One Graphics: Sketching within HyperMesh with existing geometry in the

background

Hint: For more details, visit the Altair HyperWorks Online Help.
 Introduction to Sketching
Apply a Variable to a Parameter and Manage Variables

1.Sketch ribbon > Create group > Dimension (or press D)

• Select a parameter and in the tool’s microdialog, click the f(x) icon.

• In the drop-down menu, select Create Variable to add a new

variable based on the dimension in the text field, or select the name
of an existing variable.
• Create a variable by entering a new name and expression in the
microdialog’s text field.

• In addition, create a new variable based on an existing variable, for example,

Variable2=Variable*0.5.

2.Sketch ribbon > Variables

• Use the Variable Manager to edit variables, create new variables or
delete, and import or export variables in *.csv format.

• Double-click on Parameters on the Model Browser to open the

specific entity browser.

Hint: For more details, visit the Altair HyperWorks Online Help.
 Tips & Tricks
Sketch Tools vs Topology Tools

• What’s the difference between the sketch tools inside

Topology and the sketch tools in the Sketch ribbons?

• Technically no difference essentially, they do the same thing

(different methods and more options), but geometry page creates a
geometry.

1. Sketch only creates a drawing and with Preferences settings as

you exit the sketch, the drawing is converted/realized into
geometry entities like lines and surfaces based on Preferences.
a. Realize as: Surfaces, Lines or None
 Exercise 2G - Build a Bracket

File Name and Location:

Start from new model

Hint:..\02-Topology-Cleanup-Midsurf\2G\Build-a-Bracket.mp4 *
(*) May differ from the steps described here

Exercise Steps:

1. Create the rectangle

2. Create the upper Circle
3. Create the tangent lines
4. Extrude the lines to create the surfaces
5. Stitch all the surfaces
6. Split surfaces in the middle plane
7. Create the patch and the rib
8. (Optional) Create a bracket starting from a sketch
CHANGING TOMORROW,
TOGETHER.
altair.com

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