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Analysis Setup Tutorials
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Analysis Setup
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Review entities in HyperMesh to see how they will appear in the solver input file
The purpose for using a finite element (FE) pre-processor is to create a model that can be run by a
solver. HyperMesh interfaces with many FE solvers and all of them have unique input file formats.
HyperMesh has a unique template(s) for each solver it supports. A template contains solver specific
formatting instructions, which HyperMesh uses to create an input file for that solver.
Tools
The card editor feature can be accessed in one of the following ways:
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2.
2.
3.
4.
Click edit.
The card image for the element appears above the panel menu area. It indicates the element is
an OptiStruct CQUAD4 or CTRIA3, depending on whether you selected a quad or tria element.
EID is the elements ID. PID is the ID of the elements property. In this case, the property is
defined as a component collector with ID 1. G(X) is the grid (node) ID that makes up the element.
Options specific to the CQUAD4 or CTRIA3 appear in the menu panel area.
5.
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Step 4: Review the card image of the channel and bracket using the card
panel.
You should still be in the card panel.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Click edit.
The card image for the component appears. It indicates it is an OptiStruct PSHELL property. Its
thickness is 3 and its material has the ID 1. In this case, the material is an existing material
collector with ID 1.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Click edit.
The header bar displays the following message "Could not find section in template for entity,
aborting." This indicates there is no card image assigned to the bracket component. Later in
this exercise, you will use the collectors panel to assign the PSHELL card image to the
component to define the property for the shell elements organized into it.
10. Return to the main menu.
Step 5: Review and edit the existing steel materials card image by
accessing the card editor from the model browser.
This material is defined for the channel.
1.
2.
Open the materials branch of the model tree to show the material steel.
3.
4.
Under Poissons Ratio [NU], change the value from 0.3 to 0.28.
5.
Step 6: Define a material collector named aluminum for the bracket using the
model browser.
1.
On the Model tab, right-click anywhere in the browser except on an existing entity.
2.
3.
4.
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5.
6.
7.
8.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Select comps >> bracket. (Click comps to select from the component list.)
7.
8.
For material = select aluminum. (Click the text field to select from the material list.)
9.
Click update/edit to load and edit the card image and assign the material.
on the toolbar.
Notice the material ID MID is 2, which is the ID of the aluminum material you created earlier and
assigned to the bracket component.
10. For the thickness [T] enter 2.0.
11. Return to the collectors panel.
Notice the thickness= field now has a value of 2.0 instead of <blank>. You can also edit the
thickness directly from this field.
12. Return to the main menu.
Step 8: Create a component for the 1-D rigid link elements (OptiStruct RBE2
or rigid body) to be created.
1.
2.
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3. Verify that:
If using the collectors panel, the card image is set to no card image.
If using the Create Component dialog, the Card Image: is set to Select type: none.
This is because an OptiStruct RBE2 does not require any OptiStruct properties to be defined.
4.
5.
6.
Step 9: Create a 1-D rigid link element (OptiStruct RBE2) at each of the
brackets three holes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
With the independent: node selector active, select the temporary node at the center of one of
the three holes.
6.
With the dependent: nodes selector active, select all the nodes on the perimeter of that hole.
7.
An RBE2 (rigid body element) at the center of one of the brackets holes
8.
Create a rigid link element at the other brackets two holes by repeating #5 through #7.
9.
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Step 10: Create a component for the bar elements (OptiStruct CBEAM or
beam element) to be created.
1.
2.
Type bars.
3.
Verify that:
If using the collectors panel, the card image is set to no card image.
If using the Create Component dialog, the Card Image: is set to Select type: none.
This is because the OptiStruct CBEAM property is defined by creating a property collector
and loading the PBEAM card image for it. (You will do this later in the exercise.)
4.
5.
6.
Step 11: Create a beam section collector for the beam section properties to be
calculated.
1.
2.
If you use the collectors panel, switch the collector type: to beamsection collectors.
3.
4.
Verify that:
If using the collectors panel, the card image is set to no card image.
If using the Create Beamsectioncollector dialog, the Card Image: is set to Select type:
none.
With the OptiStruct template loaded, there are no card images to select from for beam section
collectors.
5.
6.
7.
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Step 12: Calculate the section properties for the bar elements (OptiStruct
CBEAM) by using HyperBeam.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Click on the number 10.0000 to activate a number entry field, enter 6, and then press Enter.
In the section property display area, the values are automatically updated to reflect the circles
new diameter.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Step 13: Create a property collector named bars_prop for the bar elements
(OptiStruct CBEAM).
1.
2.
If you use the collectors panel, switch the collector type: to properties.
3.
4.
For the collectors panel, switch the card image to card image = and select PBEAM.
For the Create Properties dialog, set Card Image: to Select type: PBEAM.
5.
6.
7.
Step 14: Select CBEAM to be the type for the bar2 element configuration.
1.
2.
3.
Step 15: Create a bar element (OptiStruct CBEAM) at each of the brackets
three holes.
1.
2.
In the bar2 sub-panel, switch the vector selector from N1N2N3 to x-axis.
This defines the orientation of the beams section.
In OptiStruct, CBEAM elements have a local coordinate system as part of the elements
definition. The X axis of the elements coordinate system lies along the CBEAM element. The
cross section therefore lies in the Y-Z plane of the elements coordinate system. The Y axis of
this system must be defined by the user. This sets the orientation of the systems Y-Z plane
around the X axis. By setting the vector selector in the bars panel to x-axis, we defined the Y
axis of the elements coordinate system to be oriented along the X axis of the global coordinate
system.
3.
4.
5.
Select the node at the center of one of the three rigid body elements.
The selector advances to node B.
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6.
On the channel, in the area directly under the rigid bodys center node, is a fixed point. Select the
node at this fixed point.
The bar element (OptiStruct CBEAM) is created and the combination of the rigid link and bar
elements simulates a bolt.
Create a bar element at the other two holes by repeating #8 through #10.
8.
On the File menu, point to Export, and click Finite Element Model .
2.
3.
Using any text editor (Notepad, Wordpad, Vi, etc.), open the file channel_brkt_assem.fem.
The information at the top of the file as shown in the image below.
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2.
Search for the HyperMesh component collector rigids and notice the following as shown in the
image below.
The IDs and colors of the component collectors rigids, bars, channel, and bracket.
The PSHELL cards defined for the components channel and bracket.
The HMNAME COMP and HMCOLOR COMP lines are read when this file is imported into
HyperMesh. They are used to create the component collectors and assign their color.
3.
4.
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5.
6.
Search for the HyperMesh property collector bars_prop and notice the following as shown in
the image below.
The property collector bars_prop has the PBEAM card, which you defined in HyperMesh.
The HyperMesh material collectors steel and aluminum have their respective MAT1 card on
the next line. You defined the MAT1 card for the material aluminum in HyperMesh.
The HMNAME PROP and HMNAME MAT lines are read when this file is imported into
HyperMesh. They are used to create the property and material collectors.
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Create two forces (OptiStruct FORCE) on the bracket to simulate a pressing and twisting load
on it
The purpose for using a finite element (FE) pre-processor is to create a model, which can be run by a
solver.
A finite element solver can solve for responses of parts to loading conditions on them. The loads can
be in the form of boundary constraints, forces, pressures, temperatures, etc.
In this exercise, you will gain an understanding of the basic concepts for creating a solver input file by
using a template. More specifically, learn how to define loading conditions on a model, specify solver
specific controls and submit an input file to a solver from HyperMesh.
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on the toolbar.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
2.
3.
4.
All constraints that are created from this point forward will be of the OptiStruct type SPC.
5.
2.
3.
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4.
Select the six lines on the perimeter of the channels bottom surface as shown in the image
below.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Step 5: Map the constraints (OptiStruct SPC) on the geometry lines to the
channel nodes associated to the lines.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
On the model browser, turn off the display of geometry for all component collectors.
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Step 6: Prepare to create forces (OptiStruct FORCE) on the bracket for the
pressing load case.
1.
2.
On the model browser, right click on the pressing_load load collector and select Make
Current.
The pressing_load load collector is now the current load collector, and any loads created will be
placed in this collector.
3.
4.
5.
Step 7: Create two forces (OptiStruct FORCE) on the bracket for the pressing
load case.
1.
2.
3.
With the nodes selector active, select the two nodes as indicated in the image below.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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8.
Step 8: Prepare to create forces (OptiStruct FORCE) on the bracket for the
twisting load case.
1.
On the model browser, right click on the twisting_load load collector and select Make
Current.
2.
Use the model browser to turn off the display of the Elems ___ICON for the load collector
pressing_load.
Step 9: Create two forces (OptiStruct FORCE) on the bracket for the twisting
load case.
You should still be in the forces panel.
1.
With the nodes selector active, select one of the two nodes on which you created a force for the
pressing load case.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Select the other node on which you created a force for the pressing load case.
6.
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7.
8.
Step 10: Define the load step (OptiStruct SUBCASE) for the pressing load
case.
1.
The OptiStruct user profile name for this panel is "subcase". In the HyperMesh profile
(default), this panel is called "load steps".
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Click the = next to LOAD and select the pressing_load load collector.
8.
9.
10. In the header message bar appears the message "The load step has been created". Nothing
new is displayed in the graphics area.
11. Return to the main menu.
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Step 11: Display on and off the load step (the load collectors defined in the
load step) by using the disp panel.
1.
On the model browser, turn the display of the load step pressing_step off.
2.
Notice the load collectors constraints and pressing_load are no longer displayed.
3.
4.
Step 12: Define the load step (OptiStruct SUBCASE) for the twisting load
case.
1.
2.
3.
For the SPC option, verify that it is set to 3 (the ID of the constraints load collector).
4.
5.
6.
Step 13: Define a HyperH3D file to be output from OptiStruct by using the
control cards panel.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Click H3D in the second line of the card image and select HM .
This specifies OptiStruct to output the results to a HyperMesh binary results file, allowing the
results to be post-processed within HyperMesh.
5.
6.
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On the File menu, point to Export, and click Finite Element Model .
2.
3.
Using any text editor (Notepad, Wordpad, Vi, etc.), open the file channel_brkt_assem2.fem.
2.
Near the top of the file, notice the following as shown in the image below.
3.
The load steps (OptiStruct SUBCASE) named pressing_step and twisting_step which you
defined in HyperMesh
Under each load step, the load collector ids (OptiStruct load and constraint set identification
numbers)
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4.
5.
6.
Step 16: Submit the FEM file to OptiStruct using the OptiStruct panel.
1.
2.
3.
For input file:, click save as and browse for the file channel_brkt_assem2.fem.
4.
5.
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Step 17: View the results using the contour panel in HyperMesh.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Step 18: Review the HTML report file and animate its embedded H3D file by
using HyperView Player.
1.
2.
HyperView Player opens and the channel and bracket assembly model is loaded.
3.
4.
5.
Take a moment to view the models animation. Use the CTRL + mouse buttons to rotate, pan,
and zoom into the model just as you do in HyperMesh.
6.
7.
For Subcases and simulations, select Subcase 2 twisting_step and review its
displacement result.
8.
Obtain beam section properties for various types of beam cross-sections using HyperBeam,
a module within HyperMesh
In FEA, beams are typically modeled as 1-D elements. This tutorial is particularly useful for becoming
familiar with the modeling of beam sections for 1-D elements (beam, bar, and rod) in HyperMesh. The
focus is on obtaining and assigning beam-section properties, not on creating beam elements
themselves.
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Tools
The HyperBeam panel can be accessed in one of the following ways:
The HyperBeam panel allows you to create beam cross-section entities that you can use to simplify
complex portions of your model into simple bar elements.
HyperBeam is a HyperMesh module that allows you to define and calculate the beam cross-sectional
properties of simple as well as complex models to represent them as simple bar/beam elements.
Modeling beam cross-sections is a three-step process in HyperMesh:
1.
Use HyperMesh (HyperBeam panel) to define the beam cross-section. A variety of entities can
be used (lines, elements, or surfaces) unless you want to use a standard section, in which case,
entities are not required.
2.
Use the HyperBeam module to complete the definition of your beam section and obtain the
properties.
3.
There are four types of beam cross-sections that HyperBeam recognizes, and each is represented by
a sub-panel.
shell
section
A thin-shell cut through one or more separate pieces of sheet metal. When
HyperBeam calculates their section properties, it uses thin-shell finite element
theory.
solid
section
Cuts through cast or molded parts, or when the sheet metal thicknesses are so
large that thin-shell theory is inappropriate. When HyperBeam calculates their
section properties, it uses planar solid finite element theory.
standard
section
Used to quickly generate models using a few standard shapes such as boxes
or tubes. HyperBeam uses the closed-form equations for their section
properties.
generic
section
Included for backward compatibility with older models. For these, you have to
explicitly enter all of the necessary quantities for the section properties.
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review
sections
HyperBeam calculates the section properties with respect to the centroid of the cross-section, and
also with respect to a user-defined system. The properties are saved along with the HyperMesh file
and can be retrieved at any point. If you expect to repeatedly use a user-defined section in different
models, it can be exported for subsequent retrieval in a different HyperMesh model.
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Model geometry
The model geometry represents different types of cross-sections used in this tutorial standard,
shell, and solid. The model consists of a solid cylinder attached to a hollow trapezoidal structure,
which is further joined to an irregularly shaped solid component (see image below).
Using the files panel, retrieve the file hyperbeam.hm from the
<install_directory>/tutorials/hm/ directory.
2.
From the Preferences menu, click User Profiles and select OptiStruct.
The model geometry represents different types of cross-sections: standard, shell, and solid. You
will create a standard circular section to represent the cross-section of the cylinder, a shell
section created with lines to represent the cross-section of the hollow trapezoidal feature, and a
solid section created with lines to represent the cross-section of the solid irregular feature.
The model is organized into four collectors: one contains all the surfaces, two contain the lines for
the shell-section and the solid-section, respectively, and the last component stores beam
elements.
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Create three nodes on the circle defining the base of the solid cylinder using the create nodes
panel from the Geom page by doing the following:
-
With the lines selector active, select the circular line defining the base of the cylinder.
Click create.
This generates three nodes on the line, two of which are located at the same location (since
the circular line is a line that closes upon itself). With the two independent locations left, you
can measure the diameter.
Use the distance panel from the Geom page to measure the distance between the two nodes
diametrically opposed by doing the following:
-
For N1 and N2, pick the two nodes that are diametrically opposed.
The distance between the two nodes, which is the diameter of the circle, is displayed in the
distance = field and reads 110 units.
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3.
Create a solid circle standard section in the HyperBeam panel by doing the following:
-
Click the switch and select the solid circle option from the pop-up menu.
Click create.
The HyperBeam window is launched with a solid circle cross-section displayed in the center
pane. The left pane (Section Browser) lists the cross-sections defined in the model and the
right pane (Results Window) displays the results for the various beam properties computed
for the dimensions displayed.
For detailed information on HyperBeam, see the HyperBeam section in the HyperMesh
User's Guide / Building Models / Calculating Beam Properties on-line help.
Modify the diameter of the cross-section and assign the value measured earlier by doing the
following:
-
Alternatively, you could drag the graphical handles that represent the diameter of
the cross-section until the diameter changes to the desired value.
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5.
6.
Assign the name Solid Circle to this cross-section in the Section Browser by doing the following:
-
In the Section Browser, click the name of the cross-section under the auto1 folder.
7.
Use the File menu to Exit HyperBeam and return to HyperMesh. Click Yes in the confi rmation
box.
The information that was computed is automatically stored in a beamsect collector with the name
you specified for the section. This beamsect collector is later used to populate the fields of a
property card.
Note:
Since geometry information was available, this cross-section could have been defined
as a solid section using the solid section sub-panel. A standard section was used
instead because it did not require selection, although it required a diameter
measurement.
You may save your HyperMesh model to your working directory at this point.
In this step, a beam cross-section for standard sections was created using HyperBeam. You also
learned how to specify the dimensions for the standard section, and how to save this section for
subsequent use.
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You can use various panels, such as the distance panel, to find the thickness of this feature. The
thickness of the feature is equal to 2 units.
1.
Create a shell section using the lines in the shell_section component by doing the following:
-
Select the shell_section collector from the list and click select.
Set plane based node to specify node to make this option active.
In the graphics region, hold the left mouse button down and move the mouse on top of one of
the mid-plane lines.
Release the left mouse button when the line is highlighted and click anywhere on the
highlighted line to define the base node.
Note:
The cross section plane: option allows the software to define the plane for calculating
beam cross-sectional properties based on the entity (lines/element) selection. A usercontrolled plane can also be defined by changing the cross-section plane using the
toggle.
When using the fit to entities: option you can select a reference node for the plane if you
want properties about a point other than the section centroid. This is done using the
plane base node: option. This node defines the origin of the coordinate system that
serves as the reference when computing the various beam cross-section properties. All
the properties are calculated both about the centroid and about the node you select.
Shell section
The coordinates of the centroid are calculated with respect to the user-defined coordinate system
appearing at the node location specified earlier. The coordinates of the shear center are
calculated both from the centroid and from the origin of the section. Local Ys and Zs are the
coordinates of the shear center with respect to the origin of the section, while principal Vs and
Ws are the coordinates of the shear center from the centroid of the section.
28 HyperMesh 8.0 Tutorials Analysis Setup
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2.
Modify the thickness of the cross-section and assign the value of 2 units by doing the following:
-
The values for the beam properties computed in the Results Window are updated.
3.
4.
5.
In this step, a beam cross-section representing a shell section was created using HyperBeam, and
the thickness for the shell section was assigned. Note that the shell section is defined with only one
thickness as it is defined as one part. For shell sections comprised of multiple parts, each part is
assigned an independent thickness.
You may save your model to your working directory.
Load the Trapezoidal Section cross-section back into HyperBeam using the edit section subpanel by doing the following:
-
Click beamsect and select Trapezoidal Section from the list of beam section collectors.
Click edit.
HyperBeam is displayed with the selected cross-section. Note that the state of the crosssection is retained and shows the dimensions used when the section was last saved.
Some of the typical changes to a section involve:
The previous section showed how to change the thickness just click on the displayed thickness,
enter the new value, and save.
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The options in the Tools menu of the HyperBeam window allow you to perform advanced
modifications such as breaking segments, joining segments, creating parts, moving vertices, etc.
Detailed information on these tools can be found in the , HyperBeam section of the HyperMesh
User's Guide / Building Models / Calculating Beam Properties on-line help. You can also click
Help on the HyperBeam menu bar to directly access this information.
Break segment 1-4 adding a new vertex using the Break a Segment tool by doing the following:
-
Breaking a segment
Note:
Breaking a segment amounts to adding a vertex, which can be useful in changing the
geometry and properties of a cross-section. Since this does not break a part, it will not
affect the thickness that is applied to the current part.
To turn on and off vertices, use the Vertex IDs option from the View menu.
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3.
Move vertex 5 to form a pentagon using the Move Vertices tool by doing the following:
-
Moving a vertex
This operation moves vertex 5 to a new location and the section now resembles a pentagon.
Note how the centroid and shear center change as well as the beam properties. A new crosssection has been created, a new design for which the properties could be closer or further
from intended values. This tool can be used in the initial stages of design to achieve the
functional requirement of a component.
When beams have the same cross-section, but are rotated by an angle, it is possible to easily
re-calculate the properties of a shell section at a new position. Use the Reorient Shell
Section option from the Tools menu to:
4.
Move the origin of the cross-section (user-defined system) to the location of the centroid by doing
the following:
-
Click OK.
The origin of the user-defined coordinate system is now at the centroid of the cross-section,
and all the properties calculated with respect to this system and the centroid system are
identical.
The properties calculated with respect to the user-defined system are the ones that can be
automatically passed to property collectors. This allows you to obtain the properties at the
centroid of the cross-section.
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Specify the y-axis as pointing from the origin to vertex 2 using the Reorient Shell Section dialog
-
Under Specify y-axis choose origin to vertex and enter 2 in the field.
Click OK.
The orientation of the shell section is changed such that the y-axis is now aligned with the
origin and vertex 2. All the properties are updated as well as the definition of the centroid and
shear center.
Exit HyperBeam without saving the changes you made to the shell section.
In this step, you learned how to edit an existing section. You have also learned about some of the
advanced options of HyperBeam used in modifying a shell section such as break a segment, move
vertex, and re-orient shell section.
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Create a solid section using the lines in the solid_section component by doing the following:
-
Select the solid_section collector from the list and click select.
Select a node within the area formed by the lines by holding the left mouse button down
until a line or the surface highlights and then click anywhere on the highlighted entity.
This option tells HyperBeam to use 1 order (linear) elements to calculate the properties of
the section.
-
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Solid section
The properties of sections are stored in beamsect collectors and in the current model database
file. Additionally, they can be exported to a text file using a right mouse click in the Results
Window. Finally, when a beam section is to be used in different HyperMesh models, the
properties can also be exported as a Beam Section File (.bm)using the File menu, Export
Selection option. This file can be loaded in any HyperMesh model using the import sub-panel
of the files panel.
2.
Export the properties to a text file using the right mouse button in the Results Window by doing
the following:
-
Click the right mouse button, and select Save Results to File.
A Save As file browser displays to allow you to select an output location and name for the
text file.
3.
4.
In this step, you learned how to model a solid section using HyperBeam. You also experimented with
the export function for the beam properties. Now that the cross-sections are defined, you can assign
the properties to property collectors.
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Create a property collector with a PBEAM card and assign the Solid Circle beamsect collector to
it by doing the following:
-
Create/edit a props collector with name = standard_section, card image = PBEAM, and
material = steel.
In the card previewer, click beamsec twice and select Solid Circle from the list of beamsect
collectors defined in the model.
The properties calculated using HyperBeam are automatically assigned to the PBEAM card.
Observe that the values of the parameters (A, I1a, I2a, I12a, J, etc.) are extracted from the
properties of the selected section.
2.
Create a beam element in the bars panel with a direction vector set to the global x-axis and
using the standard_section property by doing the following:
-
Click the lower left switch and select vectors as the option to define the orientation of the
beam.
In the graphics region, hold the left mouse button down and place the cursor on top of the line
that runs though the cylinder until it is highlighted.
Release the left mouse button and select two nodes at the ends of the line for node A and
node B.
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Note:
When creating beam elements, the z-axis is defined by the two nodes selected as
node A and node B. The direction of the cross-section (x or y axis) is defined either
by using components, vectors, or a direction node. Due to the nature of this solid
circle, how you define the x or y axis is unimportant.
Changes made to a beamsect collector (for example, through editing of a cross-section) are also
automatically applied to any property collector referencing this beamsect collector.
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System ID
Vector
Angle
Tools
The composites panel can be accessed in one of the following ways:
The composites panel aligns the element material coordinate system of a mesh of shell elements
with a selected vector direction or coordinate system axis. The material coordinate system of an
element is used in different analysis codes to define composites, or other non-isotropic materials, or
stress output request directions. You can also review the material coordinate directions to verify that
they have been set correctly. You can choose to have the material angles displayed either as vectors
or as continuous lines that follow the 0-degree direction within each element.
The composites panel is supported for OptiStruct, Nastran, and ANSYS user profiles only.
2.
3.
Step 2: Update all the elements to the correct element types for OptiStruct.
1.
2.
3.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Select system and select the rectangular system on top of ball (system ID = 1).
6.
Click color and select the display color of the review vectors or lines.
7.
Set size = 2,0, this value specifies, in model units, how large the review vectors are when
displayed.
8.
Click assign.
9.
This function assigns the ID of the coordinate system to the selected elements. This
can be verified by reviewing the MCID field of the CQUAD4 card populated with System
ID 1 for the currently loaded OptiStruct user profile. How each analysis code interprets
this information varies. For OptiStruct, refer to the CQUAD4 and PCOMP(G) bulk data
cards in the Bulk Data Section of the OptiStruct Reference Manual. For visualization
purposes HyperMesh also projects the x-axis of the selected coordinate system onto
the face of the shell elements to define the x-axis of the material coordinate system. If
you later modify the system, the element material coordinate directions change
implicitly.
2.
3.
4.
Select system and select the rectangular system on top of ball (system ID = 1)
5.
6.
Set size = 2,0, this value specifies, in model units, how large the review vectors are when
displayed.
7.
Click color and select the display color of the review vectors or lines.
8.
Click project.
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9.
This function assigns a material angle to the selected elements, which for OptiStruct is
defined as the angle between the vector direction connecting node1 and node2 of the
shell element (i.e the element coordinate system x-axis) and the projection of the
selected local axis onto the surface of the shell element. This can be verified by
reviewing the THETA field of the CQUAD4 card populated with an angle (in degrees)
for the currently loaded OptiStruct user profile. Each element in this case will have a
unique THETA value as defined by the projection. How each analysis code interprets
this information varies. For OptiStruct, refer to the CQUAD4 and PCOMP(G) bulk data
cards in the Bulk Data Section of the OptiStruct Reference Manual. For visualization
purposes HyperMesh also projects the local axis of the selected coordinate system onto
the face of the shell elements to define the x-axis of the material coordinate system.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Select the radial r vector from the spherical coordinate system on the bottom of the ball; the r axis
will flash once when you click on it.
6.
7.
Set size = 2,0, this value specifies, in model units, how large the review vectors are when
displayed.
8.
Click color and select the display color of the review vectors or lines
9.
Click project
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This function assigns a material angle to the selected elements, which for OptiStruct is
efined as the angle between the vector direction connecting node1 and node2 of the
shell element (i.e the element coordinate system x-axis) and the projection of the
selected vector onto the surface of the shell element. This can be verified by reviewing
the THETA field of the CQUAD4 card populated with an angle (in degrees) for the
currently loaded OptiStruct user profile. Each element in this case will have a unique
THETA value as defined by the projection. How each analysis code interprets this
information varies. For OptiStruct, refer to the CQUAD4 and PCOMP(G) bulk data
cards in the Bulk Data Section of the OptiStruct Reference Manual. For visualization
purposes HyperMesh also projects the selected vector onto the face of the shell
elements to define the x-axis of the material coordinate system.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Set size = 2,0, this value specifies, in model units, how large the review vectors are when
displayed.
6.
Click color and select the display color of the review vectors or lines
7.
Click set.
8.
9.
This function assigns a material angle of 45 degrees to the selected elements, which for
OptiStruct is defined as the angle 45 degrees from the vector direction connecting
node1 and node2 of the shell element (i.e the element coordinate system x-axis) using
right hand rule. In order to use right hand rule, the normal direction of the element must
be known and can be determined from the tools page, normals panel. This can be
verified by reviewing the THETA field of the CQUAD4 card populated with a 45 degree
angle for the currently loaded OptiStruct user profile. Each element in this case will
have a THETA of 45 degrees. How each analysis code interprets this information
varies. For OptiStruct, refer to the CQUAD4 and PCOMP(G) bulk data cards in the
Bulk Data Section of the OptiStruct Reference Manual. For visualization purposes
HyperMesh defines a vector using OptiStruct convention on the face of the shell
elements to define the x-axis of the material coordinate system. This option should be
used only in situations where great care has been taken to assure that the node1node2 direction of the shell elements are initially aligned properly.
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2.
Select the elems, by collector, select yellow_sample collector, and click select
3.
The yellow_sample collector has a PCOMP card image assigned to it with the following
laminate definition (45/60/90)s. The PCOMP definition assigned to the yellow_sample
collector can be reviewed through the card editor as shown next,
4.
5.
6.
7.
Click edit
8.
9.
he first ply defined on the PCOMP card is the most negative z-axis ply as determined
from the element normal. All ply angles on the PCOMP card are relative to the material
coordinate direction set in the above exercises using right hand rule. In order to use
right hand rule, the normal direction of the element must also be known and can be
determined from the tools page, normals panel. For OptiStruct, refer to the PCOMP(G)
bulk data cards in the Bulk Data Section of the OptiStruct Reference Manual.
10. Click return to exit out of the Card Editor panel and return to the Composites panel.
11. Set size = 2,0, this value specifies, in model units, how large the review vectors are when
displayed.
12.
Click color and select the display color of the review vectors or lines.
13.
Click review.
14.
Additional ply angles can be reviewed by reselecting elements, entering a ply id, and clicking
review.
Note:
Elements that do not have ply angles assigned will not be displayed. Ply directions are
set through card images in solver template, example is PCOMP card for OptiStruct.
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Modify the mesh and re-mapping the loads to the new mesh
Tools
The pressure panel can be accessed in one of the following ways:
The pressures panel allows you to create concentrated pressures. This is accomplished by
applying a load, representing pressures, to an element, component, surface, or set.
The forces panel allows you to create concentrated forces. This is accomplished by applying a load,
representing forces, to a node, point, set, or component.
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The constraints panel allows you to place constraints or enforced displacements on a model.
This is accomplished by assigning a degree of freedom (dof) constraint to the node.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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6.
7.
8.
Click create.
9.
Similarly, create two more loadcols with names pressure and forces, assign colors 10 and 15
respectively, and no card images.
2.
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3.
Fully constrain the bottom eight lines of the c-channel using the constraints panel from the
Analysis page by doing the following:
-
Select the eight lines defining the bottom portion of the c-channel.
Lines to constrain
-
Constrain dof1, dof2, dof3, dof4, dof5, and dof6 by checking their respective boxes.
Dofs with a check will be constrained, while dofs without a check will be free. Dofs 1, 2, and 3
are x, y, and z translation degrees of freedom. Dofs 4, 5, and 6 are x, y, and z rotational
degrees of freedom.
Click create.
This applies these constraints to the selected lines. They display as a triangular icon and
checking the box for label constraints would display what degrees of freedom are
constrained.
4.
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5.
Apply a pressure of 25 units normal to the top three surfaces using the pressures panel by doing
the following:
-
Set the entity selector to surfs and pick the three surfaces defining the top of the c-channel.
Click create.
This applies the pressure loads to the selected surfaces. They are represented with an arrow
as well as a label. This label can be template based (PLOAD4 here) or follow the HyperMesh
terminology (P) as specified in the modeling sub-panel of the options panel.
6.
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7.
Creates forces at the 8 corners of the three top surfaces with a magnitude of 15 units in the
negative z direction using the forces panel by doing the following:
-
Set the entity selector to points and select the eight fixed points defining the corners of the cchannels top surfaces.
Click the direction definition switch below magnitude =, and select z-axis.
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Click create.
This creates a number of point forces, with the given magnitude in the z-direction, to be
applied to the fixed points selected.
Loads on geometry
Note:
If you sent some loads into the wrong load collector, use the organize panel on loads to
move them into the right collector.
In this section we created various types of loads on various geometric entities: lines, surfaces and
fixed point. The ultimate goal is to have these loading conditions applied to finite elements. We will
now create these elements.
Create a mixed mesh with an element size of 0.25 units on the surfaces displayed using the
automesh panel.
-
Click the toggle to switch from elems to current comp to elems to surf comp.
This ensures that the elements created go into the surfaces component collector.
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2.
Click mesh.
Meshed c-channel
In this step, you quickly created a shell mesh on the surfaces. You can now try to map the loads that
were applied to geometric entities onto these fi nite elements.
Map the constraints in the constraints loadcol to the mesh using the load on geom panel by
doing the following:
-
Click loadcols and check the box next to constraints from the list of load collectors.
Click select.
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Repeat the steps above to map the pressure loadcol to the mesh.
The pressure loads previously applied to the surfaces are now mapped to the nodes associated
to these surfaces. These pressure loads are placed in the same load collector as the ones
applied to the geometry.
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The display panel allows separate or simultaneous visualization of loads on mesh and loads on
geometry. Turn off the display of loads applied to the geometric entities to display only the loads
applied to the mesh.
1.
Use the Model Browser to turn off the display of the loads applied to geometric entities.
-
Right mouse click to uncheck the boxes for constraints, pressure, and forces.
2.
3.
Set the toggle to displayed, and export the model to your working directory as an OptiStruct
deck.
Since loads applied to geometry were turned off in the Display panel in the previous step, only
the loads mapped previously will be exported using the displayed option in the export sub-panel.
You may open the exported deck in any text editor to verify that no OptiStruct FORCE card has
been exported in the deck.
In this section we experimented with the behavior of the export sub-panel when it comes to loads
applied to geometry and elements. We learned that with different combinations of the all/displayed
option and loads displayed in the disp panel, we can control what information gets exported.
Step 6: Modify the mesh and re-map the loads to the new mesh.
Besides the convenience they offer, loads applied to geometry give you the flexibility of re-applying
them as many times as you want to different meshes. This feature is particularly useful when
remeshing a model without deleting complicated loads or boundary conditions. After remeshing,
loads or boundary conditions that have been applied to geometrical entities can be easily remapped
to the new mesh, while loads applied to elements are automatically deleted when the elements
themselves are deleted.
In this step, remesh the surfaces and re-map the loads on geometry to the new mesh.
1.
Use the automesh panel to remesh all the surfaces using an element size of 0.5 units by doing
the following:
-
Click mesh.
The automesher deletes the existing elements before creating a completely new set based
on the new element size. As you exit the automesh panel, the loads that were applied to the
initial mesh are removed since the elements are no longer there.
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New mesh
2.
Map all the loads on geometry to the new mesh using the load on geom panel.
-
Click loadcols and check the boxes next to constraints , pressure, and forces.
Click select.
Deleting geometric entities to which loads are applied will also result in the deletion of
these loads. It will not affect any loads applied to the mesh, though.
In this step, you experimented with the re-mapping of loads applied to geometry onto a new mesh.
Loads applied on geometric entities can be mapped several times onto the different finite element
entities attached to these geometric entities. You took advantage of this in a situation where a mesh
had to be changed, and it saved you from having to re-create loads on the elements.
Summary
In this tutorial, you used several boundary condition creation panels to generate constraints and
various loading conditions on geometric entities. We then experimented with the mapping of these
loads on geometry onto finite elements. We also familiarized ourselves with the rules that govern the
export of loads on geometric entities.
No consideration to the creation of specific card images that need to accompany the various loading
conditions was given. For more information on how to generate the various loading conditions for
different solvers, refer to the Modeling / Solver Specific section of the HyperMesh tutorials.
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Export options
While HyperMesh supports include formulations for several other solvers, LS-DYNA 970 input decks
will be used for the purpose of this tutorial.
Many FEA solvers allow you to organize your input deck into separate files and provide a mechanism
to read all files linked to a single input deck. This capability is commonly known as "includes".
HyperMesh provides several options for importing such models, one of which preserves the include
structure upon import. The include browser is available to manipulate these includes. The include
browser lets you, for example, create, review, edit, organize, and update the contents of any
HyperMesh model into various include files. Every entity in HyperMesh then belongs to either the
master model or one of its include files.
To load the LS-DYNA user profile and import the model:
In the files panel, import sub-panel, the following options are available for importing include files:
merge include files: with this option, all the data in the individual includes are merged into
the master model and imported in HyperMesh as a single model. HyperMesh has no
knowledge regarding individual include files with this option.
skip include files: with this option, the INCLUDE statements are simply read as control
cards and none of the contents of the include files are processed. The data within the include
files is therefore ignored.
preserve include files: when you select this option, the INCLUDE statements are preserved
and the contents of the include files are processed. In addition, the contents of the include
files are "marked" to remember which include file they belong to. When the deck is exported
from HyperMesh, if desired, all of the entities that are marked as belonging to include files get
written back to that include file. The entire file structure (the master file and all its include
files) are re-written from the HyperMesh database.
In this section, load the LS-DYNA user profile, then import the LS -DYNA decks (master file and
include files) defining the model. Preserve the organization of the data into the various include files.
1.
2.
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3.
From the import sub-panel, select the preserve include files option and import the file
<install_directory>/tutorials/hm/master.k.
This loads the master.k deck into HyperMesh as well as the include files wheels.key,
frame.key and engine.key, which are also present in the same directory.
Truck model
Note:
For more details on the options available in the import sub-panel, click help while in
the panel to bring up its context sensitive help.
In this section, the truck model defined with a master deck and several include files was imported into
HyperMesh while preserving the organization of the data between the various files.
To review the model organization using the include browser:
The include browser is accessed from the View menu. It allows you to create, review, edit, organize,
and update the contents of a model into various include files. A context sensitive pop-up menu
provides many other include browser functionalities. For a complete description of the options
available, refer to the Include Browser topic from the on-line help.
In this section, launch the include browser, review the structure of the model and its organization into
the various includes, and experiment with some of the display and configuration options available.
1.
From the View menu, select Include Browser to launch the include browser.
This is a tree-like organization of the database structure. The Master Model is at the top level of
the include browser. Data, which does not have any references to an include file, is stored in the
master model. Each include file is represented with an icon
along with its name (file name).
Each folder and include can be expanded to reveal its contents. The contents of each include is
organized (grouped) into folders containing each type, next to which appears the total number of
entities of that type. Each of the folders can be expanded to revi ew the individual entities in that
folder. The browser can be configured to show only specific entities of interest.
2.
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3.
Similarly review the content of the other includes as well as the content of the folders belonging to
the Master Model.
The wheels.key include contains, for example, components, control volumes, groups,
materials, properties, and sets.
Note:
While most entities are presented in this tree, elements and nodes are not listed, as this
would not be practical for larger models.
5.
Right -mouse click an empty area of the browser and select Collapse include from the context
menu to collapse all the trees that you expanded.
6.
Right -mouse click anywhere in the include browser and select Configure Browser.
This launches the Browser Configuration dialog that lets you customize what entities are
displayed in the browser.
7.
Select the Entity types option to activate the list of entities to display.
8.
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9.
Display the Browser Configuration dialog again and specify Select all entity types in the
current model to revert the browser back to listing all the entities present in the model.
For a detailed description of these options, review the topic Include Browser from the
on-line help.
12. Use the Show Onl y option on each one of the includes to visually review the components they
contain.
2.
You can add includes under the master model or under includes themselves.
You can rename or make current an include using the context menu displayed when
you right -mouse click the include.
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3.
4.
Select the includes sub-panel and set the entity selector to comps.
5.
Click dest = and select the doors.key include as the destination for the components.
6.
From the graphics area, pick the two doors and their windows, or click comps to access the list of
components and select the components SHELL: DOOR-LEFT, SHELL: DOOR-RIGHT, and
SHELL: DOOR-WINDOWG-LEFT.
7.
8.
9.
10. Use the organize panel, includes sub-panel to select elements by collector according to the
components named above, and move them to the doors.key include.
11. Right -mouse click doors.key and select Show Only.
The elements are now displayed in the graphics area.
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merge includes: in this case, all the data in individual include files is merged into a single
master model during export. The exported file does not contain references to any include
files.
preserve includes: with this option, all the data in individual include files are exported
separately to their corresponding files. The references to these includes in the master model
file are also maintained.
In this section, create a new include in the master model called barrier.dyn and import a barrier
model into it. Review the include file options for each one of the includes in the model and modify
them as needed. Finally, export the model preserving the includes.
1.
In the include browser, right-mouse click Master Model and select New.
2.
3.
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4.
6.
The File path: option lets you type in or browse for the directory in which the include is to be
exported. The Do not export option lets you specify whether the include should get exported or
not when the model is exported out of HyperMesh.
This box is automatically checked when you read includes into HyperMesh that have their
permission set to read only, as well as includes that are referenced by the master file using
absolute paths.
The three files frame.key, wheels.key and engine.key are referenced by the file
master.k that we imported initially using relative paths (edit the master.k file to verify this), but
had their permissions set to read only. In order to export these includes, the Do not export box
should be unchecked.
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7.
Uncheck the Do not export box and click Set for the includes engine.key, frame.key and
wheels.key.
9.
Type in a location and name for the master model and click OK. Or, use the open file icon to
browse for a location, type in the name of the master file and click Save.
10. Go to the directory you selected and verify that all the includes have been exported with the
names set in the include browser.
Note:
Using this option, all the include files are exported as individual files. This is equivalent
to using the export sub-panel of the files panel and using the preserve includes
option when writing out the master model.
When you want to export a single flat file, use the export sub-panel and set the export
option to merge includes.
In this section, export options were modified for the various includes and the model was exported
respecting the organization of the data into the various includes.
This concludes this tutorial. You may discard this model or save it to your working directory for your
reference.
In this tutorial we used the include browser to manage the use of includes in our truck model. Several
options for import, display, organization, and export were used. For more details on the support of
includes in HyperMesh, you can refer to Support of Includes.
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