Define Interface

Use Define Interface tool to create, import and edit geometric lines.

Define Interface tool is used to create, import and edit geometrical lines along the interfaces to evaluate. These lines are required in the E-line definition stage. Using the Define Interface tool, you can-
  • Create 3D Lines
  • Import Geometry File
  • Edit 3D lines

Following sections elaborate on the operations that you can perform using Define Interface

Create 3D Line(s)

Create 3D lines on the component edges.

Using the Define Interface tool, create geometric or 3D lines at the component edges. You can create geometric lines using two methods-
Fast Create
SnRD automatically creates geometric lines on the edges of the selected components.
Manual Create
Create 3D lines along the required node path. This requires manual inputs and provides more control over line creation.
  1. From Setup group, select Define Interface > Create 3D Line.
    Figure 1.

Fast Create

  1. Optional: On the guide bar, click to define feature options and control Geometrical Lines creation. The available options are:
    Figure 2.
    1. Feature Angle - The maximum angle allowed between the normals of two connected shell elements. When an angle exceeds this value, a geometrical line is created .
    2. Break Angle - The angle to determine points at which to split the line into segments.
    3. Min - Minimum Length of lines which will be created.
    4. Max - Maximum Length of lines which will be created.
  2. Once the guide bar is visible, select the required components and click .
    This creates geometric lines on the selected component edges.

Manual Create

Switch to Manual mode, when there is a need to create geometric lines with more precision and control.

  1. Deactivate to create lines manually by nodepath.
  2. Optional: On the guide bar, click to define controlled line creation.
    This creates controlled lines between locations with the possibility of reducing the number of joints and locations that fall outside the path line.
  3. Select a line type using the drop-down menu () on the left of the microdialog.
    • Linear
    • Smooth

Import Geometry File

Import a geometry lines definition file.

You can import an external file containing the geometric lines definition. File formats are standard file formats support by HyperWorks X.
  1. From Setup group, select Define Interface > Import Geometry File.
    Figure 3.
  2. Browse and select the required file using the file browser window that appears.
    Once the file is opened, the lines in the external files are imported to the session and displayed in the graphics area.

Edit 3D Line(s)

Edit geometric lines.

You can delete or combine geometric lines in the model.

Delete Line(s)

Delete required lines from the model.
  1. From Setup group, select Define Interface > Review / Edit Interfaces.
    Figure 4.
    A guide bar will appear.
  2. Click to define the line length criteria.
    Figure 5.
  3. Click Find.
    This will find all the lines within the line length range.
    Tip: If you created lines on all component edges, use the find functionality here to delete all short lines. This can ease the selection of lines at the E-line creation stage.
  4. Optional: You can also select the required lines from the graphics area manually.
    After selecting the lines, the number of lines selected to delete are displayed next to Line button.
  5. Click .
    This deletes the selected lines.

Combine Lines

Combine two or more lines to form a continuous line.
Tip: The more accurate and well defined your interfaces (geometrical lines) are, the less time you have to spend editing and updating E-lines at a later stage. Make sure you have one Geometrical line per interface.
  1. Select Combine from the guide bar.
  2. Left-click to select lines to combine and click Combine.

Split Lines

Split a line automatically.
  1. Select Split from the guide bar.
  2. Select a position on a line and click Split.