HYPERMESH 11.

0 TEACHING OUTLINE

Class Name: HyperMesh Introduction - Pre-processing Models for

Finite Element Analysis

The class material is written with respect to HyperMesh Desktop. Please have
all students launch HyperMesh Desktop and demo all models using HyperMesh
Desktop. In the class package, there is a folder called Demo Model Files that
contains any additional files that are needed for the demos.

There are a few introductory slides that cover Altair, HyperWorks, and FEA.
These give the students a good introduction to the available features in HW,
information about the Partner Program, and information on HW licensing.

Chapter 1: Basic Interaction with HyperMesh

In this chapter, there are quite a few slides that explain the basic interaction with
HM (files, panels, visualization, organization, etc). The suggested teaching
method is listed below, but feel free to do more demos and less powerpoint if you
are more comfortable with that.

Getting Started with HyperMesh

• Slides on the User Interface
• Demo the GUI using the Exercise_1.hm model. During this demo, show
how to:
o Navigate using the menu bar and main menu
o Emphasize the use of the pull down menus, Action Object
Method, and how it is designed for new users
o Turn on/off browsers
o Add/Delete pages with different clients
Opening and Saving Files
• Slides on Files
• Demo/Workalong using Exercise_1.hm model
o Open the hm file Exercise_1.hm
o Import the bucket.iges file
o Export Geometry
Working with panels
• Slides
• Demo/Workalong translate panel (or any other panel) using
Exercise_1.hm
Organizing a Model, Controlling the Display
• Cover the slides for both topics
• Demo/Workalong using Exercise_1.hm.
o Manipulate the display with the mouse then with toolbars
o Shortcut keys (fit, back, etc)
o Use Model Browser
o Create Components
o Make sure to show them how to use the Middle Mouse button
Exercise 1: Have the students do this exercise themselves.
Exercise 1: Have the students do this exercise themselves.
• Page 20

Chapter 2: Geometry Cleanup

Importing and Repairing CAD

• Slides on Topology Repair
• Demo using the file clean_up_geom.hm
o Equivalence
o Toggle edges
o Duplicate surfaces
o Filler surfaces (show visualization tools for isolating free edges)
o Make sure Quick Edit panel is introduced
Generating a Midsurface and Defeaturing
• Slides on Defeature and Midsurface
• Demo/Workalong using Exercise_2a.hm model
o For this demo/workalong, please cover how to edit the midsurface
using the quick edit subpanel. This tends to be a difficult concept
for students to understand, so if you demo what they need to do,
then let them follow the exercise themselves, it should go much
smoother.
Exercise 2a and 2b
• Page 40, 44
Exercise 2c is optional
• This uses the tutorial on Importing and Repairing CAD Geometry. Many
instructors prefer using these files, so they are now included as part of the
manual.
• Page 47

Chapter 3: Shell Meshing

Automeshing
• Slides on Automeshing
• Demo using the file Exercise_3a.hm
o Cover the different subpanels and options in the Automesh panel
Checking and Editing Mesh
• Slides on Checking and Editing Mesh
• Demo on checking and editing mesh
o Use whatever model you are comfortable with (you can always
use Exercise_3a.hm after it has been meshed)
Exercise 3a
• Page 64
Exercise 3b is optional
• This uses the tutorial Refining Topology to Achieve a Quality Mesh. This
provides another exercise for instructors to use.
• Page 71
Exercise 3c is optional
• This uses the tutorial Checking and Editing Mesh. This provides another
exercise for instructors to use.
• Page 80
Batch Meshing
• Slides on Batch Meshing (you can also do this section before the
exercises if you are more comfortable with that)
Chapter 4: 3D Solid Meshing with Hexas and Pentas

Creating and Editing Solid Geometry and Solid Meshing

• Slides on both Creating and Editing Solid Geometry and Solid Meshing
Exercise 4a
• Do this exercise as a work along
• Page 106
Exercise 4b - optional
• This exercise is optional if you are running short on time, or you can do it
as a demo
• Page 112

Chapter 5: 3D Solid Meshing Tetrahedral Elements

Standard Tetra Meshing and Volume Tetra Meshing

• Slides on both Standard and Volume Tetra Meshing
• Demo the Standard Tetra Mesh using Exercise _5a.hm
Exercise 5a
• Page 125
Exercise 5b - optional
• This exercise is optional if you are running short on time, or you can do it
as a demo
• Page 130

Chapter 6: 1D Meshing and Connectors

1D Meshing and Connectors

• Slides
• Demo with Exercise _6.hm
o In the demo, show the users how connectors save them time.
Create a line of spots and then a bolt manually and then using
connectors to illustrate the power of connectors.
Exercise 6
• Page 145

Chapter 7: Morphing

Morph Volumes, Domains and Handles, Map to Geometry

• Slides on all topics
• No specific demos
• Mention that domain type refers to the type of element (1D, 2D, 3D), not
the type of geometry. Students often get confused by this topic.
Exercise 7a, 7b, 7c
• These exercises could be optional depending on time. I would have the
students at least do 7a so they are familiar with morphing when they do
the capstone project.
• Pages 161, 163, 168

Chapter 8: Analysis and Loading

Setting up Loading Conditions
• Slides Setting up Loading Conditions
• No specific demos
• Before the exercise, explain symmetrical constraining. You may want to
draw something on the white board to explain the concept.
Exercise 8
• Page 177

Chapter 9: Capstone Project

Capstone Project
• Page 190
• You will want to provide the students with a brief explanation of inertia
relief before staring the capstone.
o Used for satellites in orbit, control arms, planes in flight
o Frame of reference
• Can only have 6 DOFs
• How to define those 6 DOFs (explained in the manual as
well, but you may want to draw it on a white board and
discuss with class before they start the project to avoid
numerous questions later)
• Issues you may run into:
o If the student didn’t change the constraint type to SUPORT1 then
they may get a localized stress in their model.