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For this tutorial, it is recommended that you complete the introductory tutorial Getting Started with
HyperMesh - HM-1000.
Geometry clean-up and meshing are often cited as the most time consuming aspects of finite element
modeling. In HyperMesh, these tasks can be performed in batch mode (Batch Mesher), requiring
minimum input and no user interaction.
In this tutorial you will learn how to generate a 2-D mesh on a part in batch mode and how to review and
evaluate the results. As part of setting up the batch task, you will also learn how to create the custom
criteria and parameter files used in batch mode.
The following exercises are included:
The model file used for this tutorial is a floor panel (see figure below):
Batch Mesher is a process that generates a finite element mesh of a given CAD geometry without any
user intervention. The objective of this process is to generate the best quality mesh while respecting the
parameters set by the user, and with minimal deviation from the geometry.
• Geometry data file in any CAD format that HyperMesh supports, or in a HyperMesh database file
• Parameter file - This text file defines the average element size, type of elements to be generated
(quads or trias) and various options for geometry cleanup.
• Criteria file - This text file contains all the element quality requirements such as jacobian, warpage,
etc. You can export this file from the qualityindex panel in HyperMesh after you update the settings
to your requirements.
The quality of the mesh generated is measured with a quality index (QI) value which is derived from the
individual element quality criteria defined in the criteria file. The Batch Mesher invokes HyperMesh in
batch mode and performs a variety of predefined functions which include:
• Perform a variety of geometry cleanup operations, such as closing internal slivers and removing
duplicate geometry, to cure any inaccuracies in the geometry.
• Perform geometry simplification specified by the user such as removing pinholes, fillets, etc….
• Execute the geometry editing tools required to improve the regions to mesh.
• Determine the best combination of meshing algorithm and mesh parameters to generate the best
quality mesh.
• Perform quality optimized meshing and node placement to meet the quality requirements (QI value).
In this tutorial, mesh a floor panel (floor.iges) in batch mode with the following requirements:
• Warpage <20.0
• Jacobian >0.7
• The number of tria elements should not exceed 10% of the total number of elements
• All bolt holes with a diameter less than 8mm should be ignored and all others should be meshed with
one row of washer elements
In this section, invoke the Batch Mesher user interface, and configure it to the requirements set above
defining the appropriate criteria and parameter files.
1. Invoke the Batch Mesher user interface.
On PC:
- Click Start and go to Programs / Altair HyperWorks <version> / Altair Tools / Batch
Mesher.
Note On PC, you can also launch the interface by opening a command prompt and typing
<install_directory>/hm/batchmesh/hw_batchmesh
Note If you have difficulties launching the interface at your site, please contact your system
administrator.
The user interface has four tabs:
Batch Mesh lets you choose the CAD geometry files to be meshed in batch mode
and submit the jobs.
Run Status lets you check the status of runs that have been submitted to the Batch
Mesher.
Configurations lets you specify the input parameters, such as the CAD geometry file
format and file extension, desired element quality criteria file,
parameter file, etc.
User Procedures lets you customize the Batch Mesher process to your needs.
The next step is to configure the Batch Mesher to your requirements. This step includes setting the
geometry file type, and criteria and parameter file
We now need to assign a Criteria File and a Parameter File for this new Mesh Type. If we had such
files already, we could use the open file icon to browse for them. Here we will simply edit existing
files from the installation and save them to our working directory before specifying them in the
3. Edit the nvh10.criteria file to define the criteria for the mesh.
- In the Configurations tab, select the Criteria File cell referencing the file nvh10.criteria.
- Click the edit icon to load this file into a text editor and edit it.
Disregard any message that is posted as we will save the edited file under a new name.
Note The file lists 12 criteria that can be turned on or off using the On column (0=off, 1=on).
Specify various weight factors for the different criteria using the Wt column.
- Leave the Ideal value for min length and max length untouched as it already matches our
target element size.
- Turn on the warpage criterion, which is already set to the right Fail value of 20, by changing the 0
to a 1 in the On column.
- Change the Fail value of the jacobian to 0.7, and the Warn value to 0.75.
- Update the Fail value for % of trias to 10.0, and set the Warn value to 9.0.
- Set the weight factor in the Wt column to 2 for min length, warpage, jacobian, and % of trias
as these are most important for us.
- Click Save, and save this criteria file to your working directory as
tutorial_batchmesh.criteria.
Note Criteria files can also be generated from the qualityindex panel located on the 2D page of
HyperMesh. Refer to this panel help for complete information.
4. Specify the tutorial_batchmesh.criteria file in the Criteria File column of the Configurations tab
for the Mesh Type we created using the open file icon.
surf_component Leave at 1
7. Specify the tutorial_batchmesh.param file in the Parameter File column of the Configurations tab
for the Mesh Type we created.
The Batch Mesher is now configured. You can save this configuration for future use using the Save
Config… option from the File menu. The next step is to select the CAD files to be meshed.
In this section, choose the CAD geometry file(s) to be meshed in batch mode, and set the results
directory where the Batch Mesher will save the resulting mesh files.
1. Use the Batch Mesh tab to set the Geometry source directory:.
- Click the open file icon next to Geometry source directory: and browse for the
<install_directory>/tutorials/hm directory.
2. Use the icon to select the file floor.iges to mesh in batch model.
A window is displayed with a list of all the files in this directory with the .iges extension, as specified
The file name and path populate the Geometry File field, while the file type populates the Geom
Type field.
3. Click the cell under Mesh Type and select tutorial_meshsize10 from the list.
4. Click the open file icon next to Result directory: and browse for your working directory as the
directory where result files will be placed.
Once the CAD geometry is submitted, the Run Status tab automatically displays. This is where you can
check the status of the run(s). Each geometry file submitted is listed individually along with its current
status (Pending, Working, or Done).
The results of the run are saved in a directory bm.xxxx within the specified result directory specified on
the Batch Mesh tab where xxxx is randomly generated and varies for each run.
1. On the Run Status tab, click Details to load the content of the floor_res.txt file.
This file is generated by the Batch Mesher and shows the progress of the run.
It lists the file name being meshed in batch mode with the corresponding element size, criteria, and
parameter files. It also lists the steps completed by the Batch Mesher along with time in seconds for
each step. It also provides information such as:
- The total number of surface/faces in the model
Before After
Area 2: Added (trimmed) layer of washer around pinholes with a minimum of 5 nodes (fixed points) along
the free edges
Area 3: Suppressed geometric edges which do not have a sharp feature and that are too close to other
geometry causing elements smaller than specified element size
Area 5: Fixed points (or trim lines) added to better align the mesh where surface edges are close to one
another
Area 6: Nodes moved off the surface edges (while still on surface geometry) to improve mesh quality