Context-Sensitive Menu

From the Model browser, you can access the following context menu options by right-clicking on a folder, entity, or in white space. These context menus will appear only where they are applicable hence making them smart and compact.

Option

Available for:

Description

Assign

Components

Opens a dialog from which you can assign properties and materials to the selected components. You can view properties by name, name and ID, or ID only.

modelbrowser_assign_to_comps

Card Edit

All

You can edit any single item's card. You can edit multiple items provided that they use identical card images. This option displays the card image of the chosen entity for the current solver template; if a template is not loaded or if the entity does not have any card images associated with the loaded template, an error message displays in the status bar.

Collapse

All folders

Closes the selected folder(s) and its children folders (if any), so that only the selected folder displays.

Collapse All

White space

Closes all of the folders in the tree structure, so that only the top-most level of items displays.

Configure Browser

All

Opens the Model browser’s Browser Configuration window where you can specify the entities the browser displays in the tree as well as the columns the browser displays.

Create

White space and the respective folder; user profile valid entity from the list: Assembly, Beam Section Collector, Block, Box, Component, ConstrainedExtraNode, ConstrainedRigidBody, Contact, Contact Surface, Control Volume, Cross Section, Feature, Field, Group, Include File, Laminate, Load Collector, Load Step, Material, Multibody, Output Block, Parameter, Plot, Ply, Property, Region, Rigid Wall, Sensor, Set, System Collector, Transformation, Vector Collector, View, Accelerometer, Positions (Abaqus)

Opens the Create dialog, from which you can define and create a new entity. If you are creating a new entity in the Altair Radioss, Altair OptiStruct, Nastran, LS-DYNA, Abaqus, ANSYS, PAM-CRASH, Permas, Samcef, and Exodus user profiles, HyperMesh creates the new entity and opens it in the Entity Editor. Use the Entity Editor to modify entity data.

When you create a new Assembly or Include File, HyperMesh assigns it a unique, generic name and adds it to the Model browser.

When you create a View, HyperMesh saves the current model’s graphics settings in the browser. Saved views include all of the visible effects of settings such as masks, zoom/pan, X/Y/Z orientation, and whether or not any given component's FE or Geometry is displayed. You can save multiple views (named view1, view2, and so on), and then switch back and forth between them by selecting each view from the browser.

Delete

All except the top-level of Assemblies

Deletes the selected entities. Most items can be deleted.

•	If a component or multibody is present in more than one assembly in the model, you have the choice of deleting that item from the database or deleting it from the present location only.

•	If you entirely delete an assembly, and that assembly has children that are not present anywhere else, those children move to the top level.

Shortcut:

To delete an entity that is selected in the Model browser, press Delete.

Delete Advanced

Components in the Abaqus, Altair OptiStruct, Nastran, LS-DYNA user profile.

Displays a comprehensive preview of the entities uniquely related to the selected component that can also be deleted.

dialog_delete_components_and_their_associations

Drape

Ply

Access to the Drape Estimator and Laminate Tool.

•	Drape Estimator estimates the draping angles for structural analysis of composite laminates.

•	Laminate Tool changes fiber angles with respect to an element material system, creates a distribution of drape angle changes, changes the thickness of each ply, and flattens the shape of a ply that needs to be fabricated before laying on the mold.

Duplicate

User profile valid entity from the list: Assembly, Beam Section Collector, Block, Box, Component, ConstrainedExtraNode, ConstrainedRigidBody, Contact, Contact Surface, Control Volume, Cross Section, Feature, Field, Group, Include File, Laminate, Load Collector, Load Step, Material, Multibody, Output Block, Parameter, Plot, Ply, Property, Region, Rigid Wall, Sensor, Set, System Collector, Transformation, Vector Collector, View, Accelerometer, Position (Abaqus)

Duplicates a selected entity and opens it in the Create dialog. If you are duplicating an entity in the Altair Radioss, Altair OptiStruct, Nastran, LS-DYNA, Abaqus, ANSYS, PAM-CRASH, Permas, Samcef and Exodus user profiles, HyperMesh duplicates the selected entity and then opens it in the Entity Editor. Use the Entity Editor to modify entity data.

Shortcut:

To duplicate an entity that is selected in the Model browser, press CTRL + D.

Empty

Assembly, Beam Section Collector, Component, Control Volume (Altair OptiStruct), Group, Load Collector, Load Step, Multibody, Output Block, Set, System Collector, Vector Collector, Accelerometer, Position(Abaqus), Ply, Feature, Field, Rigion, Include file, Cross-Section, Plot, ConstrainedRigidBody.

Preview and delete empty collectors.

This operation can be performed on several entity types at the same time. To append entity types to the selection, left-click while pressing CTRL.

dialog_delete_empty

Expand

All folders

Opens the selected folders and children in the tree structure, exposing every item nested in the selected folder.

Expand All

White space

Opens all of the folders in the entire tree structure, exposing every item nested at every level.

Export All Includes

Model Browser Include View only

Exports all of the includes with their corresponding content, including the Master model.

Export All Self Contained

Model Browser Include View only

Exports all of the model (master model and includes) as self-contained files, ensuring that each exported file contains all of the nodes and systems that are referenced by entities within the given include, as described above (see Export Self Contained option).

TIP:

Activate the Delete duplicate nodes and Delete duplicate systems solver import options to import a model that consists of multiple Self-Contained includes back into HyperMesh. This will ensure that any duplicate nodes and systems across different includes are merged together appropriately when the entire model is imported.

This option is only available in the Altair OptiStruct, Nastran, and Abaqus user profiles.

Export CSV

Model Browser Model View only, and Beam Section Collector folder

Exports a CVS file of all beam section names, each part within the section, corresponding thickness and vertex numbers, and positions.

Note: Only available for shell sections.

Export an Include

Model Browser Include View only

Exports the contents of the selected include into the chosen file name.

Export Self Contained

Model Browser Include View only

Exports the contents of the selected include into the chosen file name, and ensures that the exported file contains all of the nodes and systems that are referenced by entities within the same include, even if such nodes and systems belong to different includes.

Because self-contained includes contain all of the nodes and systems that are used by entities within it, they can always be imported into HyperMesh on their own without requiring the rest of the model.

This option is only available in the Altair OptiStruct, Nastran, and Abaqus user profiles.

Hide

All except Beam Section, Curve, and Optimization Entities

Turns off the entity in the graphics area. This selection affects each item’s local display control, that is, will make the icon become ghosted indicating the display state is off.

You can also use this on the entire folder. In such cases, this hides all of the items within that folder (for example all components, and so on).

Import CSV

Model Browser Model View only, and Beam Section Collector folder

Imports new shell beam sections from a HyperBeam CSV file, without having to use a .hm file.

Note: Only available for shell sections.

Include File Options

Model Browser Include View only

These let you set the options for a selected include. The available options are:

•	The File name to be exported.

•	A Do not export flag (lets you review the contents of an include but not export it). Includes that have this flag turned on display the off icon ().

•	The File Path to export the include to (absolute path or path relative to its parent include).

•

A flag representing the section of the input deck in which the include belongs. This flag is specific to some solvers such as Altair OptiStruct, Nastran, and so on, which subdivide their data deck into various sections such as Bulk Data, Executive Control, or Case Control. For the remaining solvers this option is not available and does not display.

•	A flag representing Include type. This flag is specific to LS-DYNA, which subdivides their includes into various types such as Include, Include_Transform, and Include_Compensation_options.

•	The Instance Option: a flag representing the instance relationship between the includes, allowing you to create a copy of your include files. This flag is specific to LS-DYNA, and only applies to Include files of the "Include_Transform" type.

Include XRef

Include file

Any single item or multiple items can be selected. This option opens a new References browser that displays the relationship of the selected include to other includes in the model in a hierarchical tree structure.

Isolate Only

All except Beam Section, Curve, and Optimization Entities

Isolate Only works like Isolate, except that it affects all entities regardless of type. This option turns off the display of all entities that are not selected.

Isolate

All except Beam Section, Curve, and Optimization Entities

Isolate works locally within a specific entity type; for example, if component(s) are isolated then all display states of other entities, such as load collectors, are unaffected. Isolate displays only the selected entities, and turns off all other entities of the same type.

Make Current

BeamSection Collector, Components, Load Collector, Multibody

Using the pop-up menu, you can make any listed entities current. The current collector status is indicated in bold. Any new components, loads, beam sections or multibodies are created within the respective current collector.

Move To Include

Component

Opens the Move To Include dialog, from which you can create a self containing include out of selected components inside of an include.

Available in the LS-DYNA and Altair Radioss user profile.

Organize

All

Organizes the selected entities into the current include. This option is only enabled in the Include view.

The Organize dialog opens when system collectors, vector collectors, load collectors, beamsection collectors, groups, multibodies, and components are being organized into the current include. By default, any additional entities (nodes, elements, systems, vectors, loads and equations, or beamsections) will be moved along with selected parent collectors. If there are entities you do not want to organize along with the selected collector(s), clear their corresponding check box.

organize_dialog

Organize Include

Include Files (Include View only)

Opens the Organize Include dialog, from which you can move selected entities into a new or existing include file.

Available only in the LS-DYNA and Altair Radioss user profile.

Part Xref

Include Files (Include View only)

Opens the Part References tab, from which you can review all of the part assemblies and parts in an Include file in a hierarchical view or in a flat list.

Within the Part References tab there are two predefined view modes: Hierarchy view and Flat view. The different view modes are located in the top, left corner of the tab.

part_browser_view_modes

Realize

Plies

If ply contours are defined by lines, the realize algorithm will identify elements of an underlying mesh. If an element centroid lies within the ply shape defined by lines, it is added to the particular ply. You can manually define plies on lines in Altair HyperMesh or import them from a Catia Composite Parts Design (CPD) file. Along with this, if a ply has its shape defined in triangulation mesh (in the case of fibersim imported data), that data will be used in projecting on the actual mesh.

Three realization/conversion methods are available:

•	Project Normal to target mesh for CPD/Geom data: If the element centroid projected along its normal lies within the geometrical ply definition, it is associated with this ply. This method is valid for ply shapes defined in geometry (lines) coming from the Catia CPD file.

•

FiberSim drape map by proximity method: This method is similar to Project Normal to target mesh for CPD/Geom data except that instead of ply geometry in terms of lines, it uses the triangulation data from fibersim which is stored in the related table entity. It also considers/maps drape data to the new ply elements/shapes. Once an element is selected for a given ply, drape data closest to its centroid from the ply table (where the drape data is stored) is considered.

•	CATIA Composites Link drape map by proximity method: Use this method to realize the plies.

Advanced options:

Three options are available for the search criteria:

•	Centroid: If the element centroid is inside the ply boundary, the element is added to that ply set boundary.

•	All nodes inside: The element will be added to a ply set, if all of the nodes are inside the ply boundary.

•	Shrinkage factor of border element edges: Based on the fraction of an element area intersected by the ply boundary, the element is added to the ply set.

Input Sample Point: Judging whether elements reside inside of a ply boundary is sometimes challenging, especially on a curved surface. Using correct sample points (or nodes) to indicate if the elements are inside helps ply realization. You should use this method for each ply, not for all of the plies. It is recommended to use ply realization for all the plies, and then inspect each ply to make sure it is correct. If the ply realization is wrong, correct that ply only using sample points or interactive nodes. You can either import the core sample .csv file, or interactively pick nodes for a ply.

Laminates

A laminate can also be realized. In this step, you create and assign properties to elements to translate the ply-based composite's definition into a zone-based one. A template composites property has to be assigned to the elements involved in the composites definition prior to this step. The algorithm copies all settings from this property to the newly generated ones. Each zone of elements with a unique set of plies receives its own property.

If there is drape data available on every ply (such as fibersim drape data) then thickness and fiber orientation corrections are applied to each property layer/ply automatically. Currently Laminate Realize with drape data results into one property per element.

To open the Laminate Realize dialog, right-click on a laminate in the Model browser, and then select Realize.

Fields

Field realization creates pressures and temperature loads, and maps properties IDs. In order to map the spatially varying values stored in a field entity to the element and node data of the new target mesh you must realize the field entity.

Define field realization settings in the Field Realization dialog, which opens when you right-click on a field in the Model browser and select Realize from the context menu.

Remove

Components

Removes the component from an assembly if the component is referenced in more than one assembly.

Note:

This does not delete the component, but merely removes one listing of it from the Model browser tree.

Rename

All

You can rename any item in the name text field, but the new name must be unique. All instances of the renamed item update automatically. You can cancel the rename operation by pressing ESC.

The high-level entity folders are non-editable, but you can rename folders containing the assembly hierarchy.

Replace

Component

Opens the Part Replace dialog, from which you can quickly replace a part with either an existing part in your model or a part from an external file. This option is only available in the LS-DYNA user profile.

Review

Assemblies, Beamsection collectors, Beamsection, Blocks, Bodies, Boxes, Components, Configuration, Constrained extra nodes, Constrained rigid bodies, Constraints, Contact surfaces, Control volumes, Crosssections, Design variables, Design variable links, Design Objective Reference, Design Variable Property Relationship, Elements, Groups, Joints, Laminates, Load collectors, Loads, Loadsteps, Materials, Mechanisms, Objectives, Optimization constraints, Optimization responses, Output blocks, Part, Part Assembly, Part Set, Plies, Properties, Regions, Seatbelts, Sensors, Sets, System collectors, Systems, Vector collectors, Vectors.

Invokes Review mode, which displays selected entities irrespective of their display state, masked, active state (Entity State browser), but not outside of the spherical clipping (if enabled).

Show

All except Beam Section, Curve, and Optimization Entities

Displays the item in the graphics area. The item's icon changes to bold indicating that the display state is on. You can use the Show option on a folder to display all items within a folder (for example, all components).

Unrealize

Laminates

Unassigns properties previously assigned to elements through the Realize function. These properties are not deleted, but merely disassociated from the elements.

Unused

System, Property, Curve, Material, Parameter, Block, Box, Encriptions, Features, Field, Rigion, Contact Surf, Ply, Include file, Set

Preview and delete unused property collectors, material collectors, curves, and so on.

This operation can be performed on several entity types at the same time. To append entity types to the selection, left-click while pressing CTRL.

dialog_delete_unused

XRef Entities

Assembly, Beam Section Collector, Block, Box, Card, Component, ConstrainedExtraNode, Contact, Contact Surface, Control Volume, Cross Section, Curve, Field, Group, Include File, Laminate, Load Collector, Load Step, Material, Multibody, Output Block, Parameter, Plot, Ply, Property, Region, Rigid Wall, Sensor, Set, System Collector, Table, Transformation, Vector Collector

Any single item or multiple items can be selected. Opens the References browser and displays the relationship of the selected entities to other entities in the model in a hierarchical tree structure.