Creating 2-D Elements without Surfaces - HM-3170

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

This tutorial demonstrates how to build surfaces and shell meshes using the panels listed below. These
panels are located on the 2-D page.

ruled panel Allows you to create a surface and/or mesh from nodes or lines that are
unconnected.

spline panel Allows you to create a 3-D mesh and/or surface with lines.

skin panel Allows you to create a surface and/or mesh skin across a set of lines.

drag panel Allows you to create a surface and/or mesh by dragging nodes, lines, or
elements.

line drag panel Allows you to create a surface and/or mesh by dragging nodes, lines, or
elements along a line.

The following exercises are included:

• Creating surfaces and meshes using the ruled panel
• Creating surfaces and meshes using the spline panel
• Creating surfaces and meshes using the skin panel.
• Dragging lines to create surfaces and/or shell meshes

• Dragging nodes to create surfaces and/or shell meshes

• Creating surfaces and/or shell meshes with lines

• Creating surfaces and/or shell meshes with nodes

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 Also

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

ruled

spline

skin

drag

line drag

automesh

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 create nodes

lines

line edit

reparam (line parameters)

Creating Surfaces and Meshes using the ruled panel

In this tutorial, use the ruled panel to create surfaces and shell meshes from a combination of nodes,
lines, and/or line segments.

To retrieve the file for this tutorial:

1. Retrieve the file simple300.hm file, located in the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/

directory.
2. Click return to access the main menu.

The simple300.hm file

To build a ruled surface using lines:

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

2. Click the upper input collector switch and select lines.

3. Pick line L1 from the graphics area.

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 4. Click the lower input collector switch and select lines.
5. Pick line L2 from the graphics area.
6. Click the rightmost switch and select mesh, keep surf.
7. Click create.
8. HyperMesh goes to the automesh module panel. Nodal densities are displayed on each edge of the
new surface.
- To change the density, click the number in the graphics area with the mouse button. The left
mouse button increases the density; the right mouse button decreases it.
9. Click mesh to create a shell mesh of elements on the new surface.
- To undo, click reject immediately after you create the mesh.
- If the surface is unacceptable, click abort to exit immediately the automeshing module panel
without saving the surface that you created.
- If the surface and mesh are acceptable, click return. HyperMesh returns to the ruled panel.
10. To create other types of surfaces and meshes, repeat these steps and select one of the following
mesh and surface options in step 6:
- mesh, dele surf
- mesh, w/o surf
- surface only
11. Click return to access the main menu.

To build a ruled surface using nodes:

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

2. Click the upper input collector switch and select nodes.
3. Pick nodes 1 and 4 in the graphics area.
4. Click the lower input collector switch and select nodes.
5. Pick nodes 17 and 19 in the graphics area.
6. Click the rightmost collector switch and select mesh, keep surf.
7. Click create.
8. HyperMesh goes to the automesh module panel. Nodal densities are displayed on each edge of the
new surface.
- To change the density, click the number in the graphics area with the mouse button. The left
mouse button increases the density; the right mouse button decreases it.
9. Click mesh to create a shell mesh of elements on the new surface.
- To undo, click reject immediately after you create the mesh.
- If the surface is unacceptable, click abort to exit immediately the automeshing module panel
without saving the surface that you created.
- If the surface and mesh are acceptable, click return. HyperMesh returns to the ruled panel.
10. To create other types of surfaces and meshes, repeat these steps and select one of the following
mesh and surface options in step 6:
- mesh, dele surf

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 - mesh, w/o surf
- surface only
11. For practice, select a combination of node list and line list entity selection methods to create surfaces
or meshes.

Creating Surfaces and Meshes using the spline panel

In this tutorial, use the spline panel to create 3-D surfaces and meshes from a combination of nodes and
lines.

To retrieve the file for this tutorial:

1. Retrieve the file simple300.hm file, located in the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/

directory.
2. Click return to access the main menu.

The simple300.hm file.

To build a spline surface using lines:

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

2. Click the leftmost switch and select lines.

3. Pick lines L1 and L2.

4. Click the rightmost switch and select mesh, keep surf.

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 5. Click create.
6. HyperMesh goes to the automesh module panel. Nodal densities are displayed on each edge of the
new surface.
- To change the density, click the number in the graphics area with the mouse button. The left
mouse button increases the density; the right mouse button decreases it.
7. Click mesh to create a shell mesh of elements on the new surface.
- To undo, click reject immediately after you create the mesh.
- If the surface is unacceptable, click abort to exit immediately the automeshing module panel
without saving the surface that you created.
- If the surface and mesh are acceptable, click return. HyperMesh returns to the ruled panel.
8. To create other types of surfaces and meshes, repeat these steps and select one of the following
mesh and surface options in step 4:
- mesh, dele surf
- mesh, w/o surf
- surface only

To build a spline surface using nodes:

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

2. Click the leftmost switch and select nodes.
3. Pick nodes 19, 2, 25, and 27 on the model, in that order.
4. Click the rightmost switch and select mesh, keep surf.
5. Click create.
6. HyperMesh goes to the automesh module panel. Nodal densities are displayed on each edge of the
new surface.
- To change the density, click the number in the graphics area with the mouse button. The left
mouse button increases the density; the right mouse button decreases it.
7. Click mesh to create a shell mesh of elements on the new surface.
- To undo, click reject immediately after you create the mesh.
- If the surface is unacceptable, click abort to exit immediately the automeshing module panel
without saving the surface that you created.
- If the surface and mesh are acceptable, click return. HyperMesh returns to the ruled panel.
8. To create other types of surfaces and meshes, repeat these steps and select one of the following
mesh and surface options in step 4:
- mesh, dele surf
- mesh, w/o surf
- surface only

Creating Surfaces and Meshes using the skin panel

In this tutorial, use the skin panel to create a skin surface and mesh from a set of lines.

To retrieve the file for this tutorial:

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 1. Retrieve the file skin.hm file, located in the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/ directory.
2. Click return to access the main menu.

The skin.hm file.

To create a skin surface with lines:

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

2. Click line list.
3. Pick lines L1, L2, L3, and L4 in that order.
4. Select the rightmost switch and select mesh, keep surf.
5. Click create.
6. HyperMesh goes to the automesh module panel. Nodal densities are displayed on each edge of the
new surface.
- To change the density, click the number in the graphics area with the mouse button. The left
mouse button increases the density; the right mouse button decreases it.
7. Click mesh to create a shell mesh of elements on the new surface.
- To undo, click reject immediately after you create the mesh.
- If the surface is unacceptable, click abort to exit immediately the automeshing module panel
without saving the surface that you created.
- If the surface and mesh are acceptable, click return. HyperMesh returns to the ruled panel.
8. To create other types of surfaces and meshes, repeat these steps and select one of the following and
surface options in step 4:
- mesh, dele surf
- mesh, w/o surf
- surface only

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 Dragging Lines to Create Surfaces and Shell Meshes
The drag panel allows you to take selected entities, either lines or nodes, and drag them along a
specified vector to create a shell mesh and/or a surface along that vector direction.

To retrieve the file for this tutorial:

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

directory.

2. Click return to access the main menu.

The dragdemo.hm file.

To create a surface by dragging lines:

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

2. Select the drag geoms subpanel.

3. Click the upper input collector switch and select lines.

4. Pick line L1.
5. Click the lower right switch and select mesh, keep surf.

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 6. To specify the direction along which to drag the line, use the plane and vector collector switch, or
select three nodes. The three nodes specify a plane, and the drag direction is assumed
perpendicular to this plane.
7. Click the plane and vector collector switch and select z-axis as the direction along which to drag the
nodes.
8. Click the distance toggle switch and select distance =.
9. Click distance = and enter 50.0.
10. Click drag+.
The line is dragged 50 positive units in the z-axis direction and the new surface is displayed.

11. HyperMesh goes to the automesh module panel. Nodal densities are displayed on each edge of the
new surface.
- To change the density, click the number in the graphics area with the mouse button. The left
mouse button increases the density; the right mouse button decreases it.
12. Click mesh to create a shell mesh of elements on the new surface.
- To undo, click reject immediately after you create the mesh.
- If the surface is unacceptable, click abort to exit immediately the automeshing module panel
without saving the surface that you created.
- If the surface and mesh are acceptable, click return. HyperMesh returns to the ruled panel.
13. To create other types of surfaces and meshes, repeat these steps and select one of the following
mesh and surface options in step 5:
- mesh, dele surf
- mesh, w/o surf
- surface only

Dragging Nodes to Create Surfaces and Shell Meshes

The drag panel allows you to take selected entities, either lines or nodes, and drag them along a
specified vector to create a shell mesh and/or a surface along that vector direction.

To retrieve the file for this tutorial:

1. Retrieve the file simple300.hm file, located in the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/

directory.
2. Click return to access the main menu.

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 The simple300.hm file.

To build a surface using node selections:

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

2. Select the drag geoms subpanel.
3. Click the upper input collector switch and select nodes.

4. Pick nodes 9, 10, and 11 in the graphics area.

5. Click the lower right switch and select mesh, keep surf.
6. Click the plane and vector collector switch and select y-axis as the direction along which to drag the
nodes.
7. Click the distance toggle switch and select distance =.
8. Click distance = and enter 50.0.
9. Click drag-.
The new surface is displayed.

10. HyperMesh goes to the automesh module panel. Nodal densities are displayed on each edge of the
new surface.
- To change the density, click the number in the graphics area with the mouse button. The left
mouse button increases the density; the right mouse button decreases it.

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 11. Click mesh to create a shell mesh of elements on the new surface.
- To undo, click reject immediately after you create the mesh.
- If the surface is unacceptable, click abort to exit immediately the automeshing module panel
without saving the surface that you created.
- If the surface and mesh are acceptable, click return. HyperMesh returns to the ruled panel.
12. To create other types of surfaces and meshes, repeat these steps and select one of the following
mesh and surface options in step 5:
- mesh, dele surf
- mesh, w/o surf
- surface only

Creating Surfaces and Shell Meshes with Lines

In this section, use the line drag panel to create surfaces and shell meshes by dragging a line, line
segments, or nodes along a selected curve path.

To retrieve the file for this tutorial:

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

directory.
2. Click return to access the main menu.

The dragdemo.hm file.

To create a surface by dragging lines:

1. Select the line drag panel on the 2-D page.

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 2. Select the drag geoms subpanel.

3. Click the input collector switch after drag: and select lines.
4. Pick line L1.
5. Click the lower right switch and select mesh, keep surf.
6. Click the toggle and select use default vector.
7. Click line list to the right of along: and pick line L2 in the graphics area as the guide line along which
to drag the entities.
8. Click drag.
The new surface is displayed.

9. HyperMesh goes to the automesh module panel. Nodal densities are displayed on each edge of the
new surface.
- To change the density, click the number in the graphics area with the mouse button. The left
mouse button increases the density; the right mouse button decreases it.
10. Click mesh to create a shell mesh of elements on the new surface.
- To undo, click reject immediately after you create the mesh.
- If the surface is unacceptable, click abort to exit immediately the automeshing module panel
without saving the surface that you created.
- f the surface and mesh are acceptable, click return. HyperMesh returns to the ruled panel.
11. To create other types of surfaces and meshes, repeat these steps and select one of the following
mesh and surface options in step 5:
- mesh, dele surf
- mesh, w/o surf
- surface only

Creating Surfaces and Shell Meshes with Nodes

In this section, use the line drag panel to create surfaces and shell meshes from a combination of node
picks and a 3-D line, which serves as the path curve along which the nodes are dragged.

To retrieve the file for this tutorial:

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

2. Click return to access the main menu.

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 The skin.hm file.

To create temporary nodes:

1. Select the create nodes panel on the Geom page.

2. Select the on line subpanel.

3. Pick line L1 in the graphics area.

4. Click the data entry field after number of nodes = and enter 6.
5. Click the switch after bias style: and select linear.
6. Click the data entry field after bias intensity = and enter 0.
7. Click create.
Six evenly spaced nodes are displayed in the graphics area.

8. Click return.

To create a mesh of shell elements using the line drag panel:

1. Select the line drag panel on the 2-D page.

2. Select the drag geoms subpanel.

3. Click the input collector switch after drag: and select nodes.
4. Select the six nodes (in order from 1–6) created previously along line L1.

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 5. Click line list to the right of along: and pick line L2 in the graphics area as the guide line along which
to drag the entities.
6. Click the lower right switch and select mesh, keep surf.
7. Click the toggle and select use default vector.
8. Click drag.
The new surface is displayed in the graphics area.

9. HyperMesh goes to the automesh module panel. Nodal densities are displayed on each edge of the
new surface.
- To change the density, click the number in the graphics area with the mouse button. The left
mouse button increases the density; the right mouse button decreases it.
10. Click mesh to create a shell mesh of elements on the new surface.
- To undo, click reject immediately after you create the mesh.
- If the surface is unacceptable, click abort to exit immediately the automeshing module panel
without saving the surface that you created.
- If the surface and mesh are acceptable, click return. HyperMesh returns to the ruled panel.
11. To create other types of surfaces and meshes, repeat these steps and select one of the following
mesh and surface options in step 6:
- mesh, dele surf
- mesh, w/o surf
- surface only

See HyperMesh Tutorials for a complete list of tutorials.

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