Splitting and Combining 2-D Elements - HM-3180

For this tutorial it is recommended that you complete the introductory tutorial, Getting Started with
HyperMesh - HM-1000.

This tutorial demonstrates how to split and combine shell elements using the split and edit element
panels. Splitting and combining elements allows you to refine or coarsen meshes and correct
element-to-element connectivity.

The following exercises are included:

• Splitting shell elements using the edit element panel

• Splitting shell elements using the split panel

• Combining shell elements using the edit element panel

All files referenced in the HyperMesh tutorials are located in the <
install_directory>/tutorials/hm/ directory. For detailed instructions on how to locate the
installation directory <install_directory> at your site, see Finding the Installation Directory
<install_directory>, or contact your system administrator.

See the following panels in the HyperMesh Panels On-line Help for more information:

edges

check elements

split-hexa elements subpanel

solid elements subpanel

Splitting Shell Elements using the Edit Element Panel

In this section, use the edit element panel to split shell elements.

The split sub-panel allows you to split an arbitrary number of shell elements by drawing a split line over
them. The splitting algorithm used depends on how the split line crosses the element.

To retrieve the file:

1. Retrieve the file el_edit_split.hm file, located in the <

install_directory>/tutorials/hm/ directory.
2. Click return to exit the files panel.

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 To split shell elements using the edit element panel:

1. Select the edit element panel on the 2-D page.

2. Select the split subpanel.
3. Click the switch and select elems.
4. Click split.
5. Use the mouse to build a line in the graphics area that intersects the elements A - E.
To draw the line:
- Position the cursor on element A, pressing the left mouse button.
- Draw the line from element A to element B and release the left mouse button.
- Repeat these steps to draw a line from elements B to C, C to D, and D to E.
This specifies the elements you want to split.

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 6. Click split elements.

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 7. You can use the split panel to split elements in the following ways:
- Across opposite edges, creating 2 quads
- Along adjacent edges, creating 3 quads
- From an edge to a vertex , creating one tria and one quad
- From one vertex to its diagonally opposite vertex, creating 2 trias.
NOTE Tria elements can be split in a similar manner.
In this tutorial, an element is split when the split line crosses two of its edges.
This feature is useful if you have several ‘layers’ of duplicated shell elements
that need to be split.
If you select elements before drawing the split line, only the selected elements
are split. If you do not select elements before drawing the split line, the splitting
algorithm operates on all elements displayed.
If you split elements on a surface that has been automeshed, new nodes created
by the split are automatically projected to the surface.
Maintain proper connectivity (without internal free edges) after splitting the
elements.

Splitting Shell Elements using the Split Panel

In this section, use the split panel to split shell elements. The split panel allows you to split elements
simultaneously using one of four algorithms.

To retrieve the file:

1. Retrieve the file split.hm file, located in the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/ directory.

2. Click return to exit the files panel.

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 To split shell elements using the split panel:

1. Select the split panel on the 2-D page.

2. Select the plate elements subpanel.
3. Pick elements A - E.

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 4. Click the switch and select divide quads.
5. Click split.
The selected quads are split into trias.

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 NOTE The methods available for splitting plate elements include:
split all sides - splits an element at the midpoint of its sides
divide quads - divides all the quad element s into trias and allows you to fix
quads with severe warpage
midpoint - to trias - partitions an element by creating a node at its centroid and
forms trias using the element’s vertices
midpoint - to quads partitions an element by creating a node at its centroid and
forms quads using the midpoints of each of its sides
When you split elements whose nodes are associated to a surface, the new
nodes created are also on the surface. To associate a node to a surface, use
the node edit panel.
Maintain proper connectivity (without any internal free edges) after combining
elements.

Combining Shell Elements using the Edit Element Panel

In this section, combine shell elements using the edit element panel.

The combine subpanel on the edit element panel allows you to combine an arbitrary number of shell
elements simultaneously or a set number of shell elements automatically. Both methods are controlled
by the tolerance = and angle = functions. When elements are being combined, HyperMesh requires the

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 nodes attached to the elements to be planar within a user-specified tolerance. The tolerance may be
changed with the menu item tolerance =.

When elements are being combined, HyperMesh performs node condensation on mid-side nodes.
Nodes are considered to be mid-side nodes if the angle between any three nodes in the set of nodes
being condensed is greater than a user-specified angle. The angle may be changed with the menu item
angle =.

To retrieve the file:

1. Retrieve the file el_edit_comb.hm file, located in the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/

directory.
2. Click return to exit the files panel.

To combine an arbitrary number of elements:

1. Select the edit element panel on the 2-D page.

2. Select the combine subpanel.
3. Click tolerance = and enter 0.010.
4. Click auto comb = and enter 4.
5. Pick elements A, B, C, and D.
6. HyperMesh displays the following error message: There is a node out-of-plane by 0.0888896.
7. Click tolerance = and enter 0.1.

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 8. Click combine.
The selected elements become one element.

To automatically combine a set number of elements:

The auto comb = function allows you to combine elements automatically.

1. Click auto comb = and enter 2.

2. Pick elements E and F.
HyperMesh combines the elements automatically.

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 NOTE Setting tolerance = too high may create warped elements, and/or the deviation
from the geometry may increase.
Maintain proper connectivity (without any internal free edges) after combining
elements.

See HyperMesh Tutorials for a complete list of tutorials.

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