Solid Geometry Introduction

A solid is: • A geometric entity that define a 3-dimensional volume • Same as solids used in most CAD programs

Used in functions where defining a volume is required •Hexameshing (3D : solid map :volume sub-panel) •Tetrameshing(3D : tetramesh : volume tetra sub-panel)

Especially helpful when dividing a part into multiple volumes • A part can be divided into multiple, connected solids • The connection between adjacent solids (topology) can maintain the connectivity of mesh • Aids visualization when dividing a part into simple, mappable regions (used in hexa meshing) Copyright © 2009 Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved. Solid Geometry: 3D Topology

Example: 2 connected solids in topology display

Solid faces Edges • Selectable as surfaces • Selectable as lines

• Bounding Faces • Shared Edges • Green • Green • Belong to 1 solid • Belong to 2 adjacent faces of 1 solid • Partition Faces •Yellow • Non-manifold Edges • Shared between connected solids • Yellow • Belong to: • A partition face - OR - • 2 solid faces Fixed Points and 1+ surfaces • Selectable as points • Lie at the ends of edges Copyright © 2009 Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved. Solid Geometry: Tools for Creating Solids

Import • Pull-down menus – File > Import > Geometry

• Toolbar > Import Geometry

• HyperMesh will import solid geometry from file types that support solid data Solids panel • Creates solid geometry of basic shapes: • Square / Block - Cylinder / Cone – Sphere – Torus • Full or Partial • Bounding Surfs – Select surfaces that enclose a volume • Drag along vector– “Extrude" a cross section along a a defined vector • Drag along normal– “Extrude" a cross section along surf normal vector • Drag along line– “Extrude" a cross section along a line • Spin – “Extrude” a cross section via a circular path Copyright © 2009 Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved. Solid Geometry: Tools for Editing Solids

Surfaces panel • Creates surfaces using various methods • Can be used to split a solid • Edges of the surface must be equivalenced to edges on the solid

Solid Edit panel • Trim with… – splits a solid into 2+ solids using: • Nodes • Lines • Planes • Surfaces • Merge – combine 2+adjacen t solids itintoasilinglesolid entity • Detach – disconnects connected solids • Boolean – advanced trim & merge operations • Union (Solid A + Solid B) – same as merge • Intersection (Solid A x Solid B) – keeps overlapping portions of 2 solids • Removal (Solid A – Solid B) – deletes the volume of one solid from another • Cut (Cut Solid A with Solid B) – trims one solid with another solid • keeps both solids, but they no longer overlap Copyright © 2009 Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved. Solid Geometry: Tools for Viewing Solids

On the toolbar: • Geometry Color – color geometry by component color or by topology or by mappability

• Geometry Shading – set geometry to wireframe or shaded mode • Visualization Panel – Controls: • visibility of edges & faces based on topology • transparency of surface shading • visibility of fixed points Copyright © 2009 Altair Engineering, Inc. Proprietary and Confidential. All rights reserved. Geometry color mode