Use the Create subpanel to create morphing domains. For more details on domains, see Domains and Handles.

Global Domains

You may create more than one global domain in a model, but no node may belong to more than one global domain. Global handles only affect the nodes assigned to their global domain.

If you only need to change the shape of your model in a general way, then you only need to create a global domain. For large models, automatically generating local domains for the full model, such as using the generate auto function, is time consuming and possibly unnecessary. If you only need to change a part of the model, then you only need to create domains for that part.

When creating a global domain, you have the option of having global handles automatically generated for you. HyperMesh will place these handles at the eight corners of a box surrounding the model and at areas of peak nodal density within the model.

1-D, 2-D, and 3-D Domains

For 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D domains, only elements of the appropriate type will be assigned to the domain. If selected elements of the correct type are already assigned to another domain, then they will be reassigned to the new domain. When 2-D domains are created, edge domains will also be created around the edges of the elements for the domains. When 3-D domains are created, 2-D domains will be created on their faces and edge domains will be created around the edges of the 2-D domains. Handles will automatically be created at the ends of the edge domains.

Edge Domains

You are not able to create edge domains that are not attached to any 2-D, 3-D, or general domains. When 2-D, 3-D, and general domains are deleted, edge domains that are no longer attached to any 2-D/3-D/general domains, will be automatically deleted whenever you enter or leave a HyperMorph panel or the Delete panel.

General Domains

General domains can contain any type of element (1-D, 2-D, or 3-D) but edges or faces are not created along with the general domain.  General domains will respect 2-D and edge domains and you may create edge domains inside general domains if you desire. Handles will be created for general domains where the domains contact other elements whether those elements are in domains or not.  Where the general domain contacts elements outside of domains, a handle is created at every node on the interface.  Where general domains contact elements in other domains, handles will be created at logical locations to ensure control of the general domain.  Once created, general domains can be morphed just like any other domain, even though they may contain different element types.

If the partition domains box is checked, any 2-D domains that are created (either from shell elements or from the faces on 3-D domains) will also be partitioned.  It is recommended that this option be left unchecked for large models with many 2-D domains (for instance a car model) during automatic generation.  The result will be fewer domains and handles and a more rapid generation of morphing entities.  Partitioning can be done at a later time using the partition option in the update subpanel, and is mainly intended for domains in which local morphing will be performed.

If the retain handles box is checked, existing handles are not deleted when the handles for any created or organized domain are recalculated.

The generate auto-function deletes all the domains and handles in the model and automatically generates global and local domains for all of the elements in the model.

The update auto-function refreshes the edge domains and recalculates the handle influences for any domains that were changed in some way. An update is automatically performed when entering or exiting a morphing panel, or when exiting the Delete panel.

The add auto-function automatically forms domains on elements outside of the current domains as well as refreshes the edge domains and recalculates the handle influences.

Examples

Panel Inputs

Use the Organize subpanel to combine domains and add or remove nodes and elements from domains.

Only the elements of the appropriate type for the domain will be organized.  The model is automatically updated, and new edge domains and handles may be created after the elements are organized.

Panel Inputs

Use the Edit Edges subpanel to merge, split, or add handles to an edge domain.

Panel Inputs

Use the Update subpanel to remesh, smooth, subdivide, update 1D method, partition, reparameterize, update domain colors, or delete domains.

Panel Inputs

Input	Description
calc avg	This button displays when the function is remesh 2D/3D and remesh edges is active.  Use it to calculate the average element size.
divide by comps	This checkbox appears when the function is partition.  It creates new domains, divided along component boundaries.  This can be combined with divide by domains so that one domain will be generated for each combination of component and domain.
divide by domains	This checkbox appears when the function is partition.  It creates multiple new domains based on the domains that the selected elements already belong to.  (In the following diagram, different colors represent each domain).
divisible 2D domains	This collector appears when the function is subdivide 3D.  Use it to pick the 2D domains that you wish to divide. When subdividing, HyperMorph will not divide a 2-D domain unless it is specified as being a divisible domain. Thus, the original face domains will be preserved.
domains	This collector appears when the function is subdivide 3D, 1D/conn method, reparameterize, or partition. Use it to pick the domains that you wish to divide, for which you wish to update the 1d/connector domain method, that you wish partition, or that you wish to reparameterize. Selected 3-D domains will be subdivided into several 3-D domains depending on the shape of the 3-D domain and the number of divisible 2-D domains. The 1D/conn method determines how handles are placed for the 1-D and connector domain and how the dependencies are assigned. See the parameters subpanel for an explanation of the different methods.
domains / elems (toggle)	This toggle and collector displays when the function is remesh 2D/3D or smooth mesh. From the toggle, choose either domains or elements. If you choose elements, you should only select elements that are not inside domains, since doing so would remove those elements from their domains when they are remeshed.
elem size =	This numeric field displays when the function is remesh 2D/3D and remesh edges is active.  Use it to specify the desired element size.
independent / slave / master / cluster	This switch displays when the function is 1D/conn method and determines how handles are placed for the 1-D and connector domain and how the dependencies are assigned. See the parameters subpanel for an explanation of the different methods.
iterations	This numeric box displays when the function smooth mesh.  Use it to specify a limit on the number of iterations when smoothing the mesh.
new mesh type:	This switch displays when the function is remesh 2D/3D.  Use it to determine the type of mesh to use during remeshing--quads, trias, r-trias, or mixed.  For more details, see Mesh Generation Algorithms.
preserve shapes	This checkbox displays when the function is remesh 2D/3D.  When active, morphing shapes remain applied after the remesh.  Otherwise, shapes may be lost.
retain handles	This checkbox appears when the function is subdivide 3D or partition.  If the retain handles box is checked, the existing handles are not deleted when the handles are recalculated.
size control	This checkbox displays when the function is remesh 2D/3D.  When active, the meshing algorithm attempts to keep elements roughly similar in size.
skew control	This checkbox displays when the function is remesh 2D/3D.  When active, the meshing algorithm attempts to avoid producing highly-skewed elements.
smooth method:	This switch displays when the function is smooth mesh. Options include: • autodecide: The mesher will attempt to pick the best method. • size corrected: The smoothing will attempt to create elements of roughly uniform size. • shape corrected:The smoothing will attempt to create elements of roughly uniform shape. • angle corrected: The smoothing will attempt to create elements of roughly uniform angle. • QI optimize: The smoothing will attempt to create elements that conform to preset element Quality Index criteria. • Kriging: The kriging method of smoothing applies only to elements inside domains. • Kriging+auto: The mesher will attempt to pick the best method while using kriging algorithms. • Kriging+size: The smoothing will attempt to create elements of roughly uniform size while using kriging algorithms. • Kriging+shape: The smoothing will attempt to create elements of roughly uniform shape while using kriging algorithms. • Kriging+angle:  The smoothing will attempt to create elements of roughly uniform angle while using kriging algorithms. • Kriging+QIopt: The smoothing will attempt to create elements that conform to preset element Quality Index criteria while using kriging algorithms. • squish corrected: The smoothing will attempt to improve the element squish quality index of the selected domains or elements.
remesh edges / hold edges	This toggle displays when the function is remesh 2D/3D. Remesh edges allows the mesher to change the node seeding along edges in the model, while hold edges preserves edge node seeding.
(update function switch)	Use this switch to determine the type of function to perform, and which of the the remaining inputs display on the subpanel. • remesh 2D/3D: This remesh functionality differs from the automesh elements functionality in that it will place the new elements into the domains of the old elements and optionally allow you to preserve your saved shapes. Click for more details. If you remesh a 3D domain and have the new mesh type set to quads, the 2D domains on the surface of the 3D domain will be remeshed with quad elements. The inside of the 3D domain will be remeshed with a layer of pyramid elements (one quad face with four tria faces) with the rest of the inside remeshed with tetra elements. Note: For elements outside of domains where shells and solid elements are touching, remeshing may destroy the connectivity between the solid and shell elements. Covering the solid elements with a layer of shell elements will prevent this from happening. If the mesh is too distorted, such as when element angles exceed 175 degrees, it may not be possible to remesh the elements or domains. In those cases you can smooth the elements or domains before remeshing, morph your mesh in several steps while remeshing after each one, or morph the mesh to fix poor elements. One good tool to use to correct poor elements interactively is the Quality Index panel. If you wish to have the changes that you make in the Quality Index panel applied as morphs, use the record functionality in the Freehand panel. • smooth mesh: The smoothing will be applied to the selected domains as a morph, which means that it can be undone and redone and will be saved as part of any shape. Click for more details. The kriging method of smoothing applies only to elements inside domains. If you wish to apply smoothing to elements outside of domains while using the kriging method for elements inside domains, choose one of the options which lists both the kriging method and another method, such as kriging + auto, which will perform kriging style smoothing on elements inside the domains and autodecide style smoothing on elements outside the domains. The squish corrected method of smoothing allows you to select which nodes are fixed in place during the smoothing process. When smoothing domains, the handle nodes will automatically be fixed, but you may optionally select the nodes on edge domains and face domains to be fixed as well as any nodes that lie on feature edges. You can also manually select any other nodes to remain fixed. When smoothing elements, no nodes will automatically be fixed, and you have the same options of which nodes to fix automatically. The squish corrected method also allows you to select whether to pursue the best element quality, the best smoothing speed, or a balance between the two. If you want smoothing to happen automatically whenever any morphing is performed, that option can be set in the Morph Options panel. • subdivide 3D: The selected 3-D domains will be subdivided into several 3-D domains depending on the shape of the 3-D domain and the number of divisible 2-D domains. Click for more details. When subdividing, HyperMorph will not divide a 2-D domain unless it is specified as being a divisible domain. Thus, the original face domains will be preserved. The maximum number of new domains is equal to the number of indivisible domains. In cases where a 3-D element touches more than one indivisible 2-D domain there may be fewer 3-D domains created than the maximum. There can be cases where the 3-D domain cannot be subdivided if an insufficient number of divisible 2-D domains have been selected. • 1D/conn method: The 1D/conn method determines how handles are placed for the 1-D and connector domain and how the dependencies are assigned. See the parameters subpanel for an explanation of the different methods. • reparameterize: <%HYPERMESH%> automatically reparameterizes domains if they have been edited when you enter or exit a morphing panel or exit the Delete panel.  This keeps the handle influences updated and thus, in most cases, you will not need to reparameterize your domains manually. Click for more details. Reparameterizing affects the way that handles influence the nodes.  If a domain is morphed a great deal, the handles may not influence the nodes in the way you might expect.  For instance, if a node is moved from one side of the mesh to the other, it will still be influenced more heavily by the handles it was previously close to rather than by the handles it is currently near.  If this happens, you may want to reparameterize the domain so that the handles close to the nodes will influence them more than the handles farther away from the nodes.  Since reparameterizing can change shapes saved as handles, HyperMorph will ask you whether you want to preserve those shapes as node perturbations.  If you click yes the shape will be converted to node perturbations and remain essentially unchanged.  If you click no the shape will still apply to handles, which will affect the model in a different way than before, thus changing the shape. Shapes saved as node perturbations are unaffected by reparameterization. Domain reparameterizing can be rejected, but only until you exit the Domains panel. • partition: <%HYPERMESH%> partitions 2-D domains by dividing them along element edges where the angle between the elements exceeds the domain angle parameter (see to update the morphing parameters) or where the curvature changes from flat to positive or negative.  The curve tolerance parameter (see domain partitioning parameters) is used to determine whether two elements are flat or curved.  Curvature changes are ignored if the partitioning order parameter is set to "angle-based." • delete all: Delete all domains, and/or all morph entities, throughout the model.

Use the Parameters subpanel to update the morphing parameters.

When values are changed in the parameters subpanel, the new values are reflected in any new domains that are created. You can experiment with them by changing the values in the parameters subpanel and clicking generate in the auto-functions part of the create subpanel.

Panel Inputs

Use the Partitioning subpanel to update partitioning parameters and global influence options.

Panel Inputs

The following action buttons appear throughout the subpanels:

One or more new domains are created using the selected nodes or elements.

Comments

Global Domains

You may create more than one global domain in a model, but no node may belong to more than one global domain. Global handles only affect the nodes assigned to their global domain.

If you only need to change the shape of your model in a general way, then you only need to create a global domain. For large models, automatically generating local domains for the full model, such as using the generate auto function, is time consuming and possibly unnecessary. If you only need to change a part of the model you only need to create domains for that part.

When creating a global domain, you have the option of having global handles automatically generated for you. HyperMesh will place these handles at the eight corners of a box surrounding the model and at areas of peak nodal density within the model.

1-D, 2-D, and 3-D Domains

For 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D domains, only elements of the appropriate type will be assigned to the domain. If selected elements of the correct type are already assigned to another domain, they will be reassigned to a new domain. When 2-D domains are created, edge domains will also be created around the edges of the elements for the domains. When 3-D domains are created, 2-D domains will be created on their faces and edge domains will be created around the edges of the 2-D domains. Handles will automatically be created at the ends of the edge domains.

Edge Domains

You are not able to create edge domains that are not attached to any 2-D, 3-D, or general domains. When 2-D, 3-D, and general domains are deleted, edge domains that are no longer attached to any 2-D/3-D/general domains will be automatically deleted whenever you enter or leave a HyperMorph panel or the Delete panel.

General Domains

General domains can contain any type of element (1-D, 2-D, or 3-D) but edges or faces are not created along with the general domain.  General domains will respect 2-D and edge domains and you may create edge domains inside general domains if you desire. Handles will be created for general domains where the domains contact other elements whether those elements are in domains or not.  Where the general domain contacts elements outside of domains, a handle is created at every node on the interface.  Where general domains contact elements in other domains, handles will be created at logical locations to ensure control of the general domain.  Once created, general domains can be morphed just like any other domain, even though they may contain different element types.

If the partition domains box is checked, any 2-D domains that are created (either from shell elements or from the faces on 3-D domains) will also be partitioned.  It is recommended that this option be left unchecked for large models with many 2-D domains (for instance a car model) during automatic generation.  The result will be fewer domains and handles and a more rapid generation of morphing entities.  Partitioning can be done at a later time using the partition option in the update subpanel, and is mainly intended for domains in which local morphing will be performed.

If the retain handles box is checked, existing handles are not deleted when the handles for any created or organized domain are recalculated.

The generate autofunction deletes all the domains and handles in the model and automatically generates global and local domains for all of the elements in the model.

The update autofunction refreshes the edge domains and recalculates the handle influences for any domains that were changed in some way. An update is automatically performed when entering or exiting a morphing panel, or when exiting the Delete panel.

The add autofunction automatically forms domains on elements outside of the current domains as well as refreshes the edge domains and recalculates the handle influences.

Examples

In this example, a 2-D domain has been created from the selected elements.  You only need to select the elements that you want to be in the new domain.  The elements are automatically assigned to the new domain, edge domains are created around it, and handles are added at appropriate positions on the edge domains.

In this example, an edge domain has been created for the selected nodes.  The nodes should be selected in order following the path of the edge domain without skipping over any nodes.  HyperMesh automatically adds handles at the ends of the edge domain at points along the length where the angle and curvature direction change above the set threshold.  The edge and 2-D domains created as shown allow for the creation of a bead by moving the two handles at the ends of the edge normal to the plane of the elements.  See the Morph panel for more information regarding this process.

In this example, a general domain has been created for a connector consisting of two rigid spiders and a hexa element. Note the four-rectangle shaped icon (in the center) for the general domain. Two handles have been manually added at either end of the domain so that the domain can be morphed as needed. Moving either handle will cause the entire domain to stretch evenly across its length.

For combine domains, select the domains that you want to combine by clicking in the graphics area, or use the switch to choose a different selection method.

For add nodes/elems:

For remove nodes/elems:

Comments

Only the elements of the appropriate type for the domain will be organized.

The model is automatically updated, and new edge domains and handles may be created after the elements are organized.

If the retain handles box is checked, HyperMesh will not delete the existing handles when the handles are recalculated.

Comments

The ends of the edge domains must meet at common nodes.

If the retain handles box is checked, the existing handles are not deleted when the handles are recalculated.

Comments

The node selected must be on the given edge but cannot be on the end of the edge.

If the retain handles box is checked, the existing handles are not deleted when the handles are recalculated.

Comments

Creating dependent handles on an edge domain speeds radius and curvature changes for the given edge. This is useful for radius changes on edge domains attached to domains that contain a large number of nodes.

If you choose elements, you should only select elements that are not inside domains, since doing so would remove those elements from their domains when they are remeshed.

If you selected remesh edges, you must specify a target element size for the selected domains or elements in the field labeled element size =.

You may use the calc avg button to calculate the average element size for the selected domains or elements. The calculated value will be placed in the element size = field.

Comments

This remesh functionality differs from the automesh elements functionality in that it will place the new elements into the domains of the old elements and optionally allow you to preserve your saved shapes.

If you remesh a 3D domain and have the new mesh type set to quads, the 2D domains on the surface of the 3D domain will be remeshed with quad elements. The inside of the 3D domain will be remeshed with a layer of pyramid elements (one quad face with four tria faces) with the rest of the inside remeshed with tetra elements.

If the mesh is too distorted, such as when element angles exceed 175 degrees, it may not be possible to remesh the elements or domains. In those cases you can smooth the elements or domains before remeshing, morph your mesh in several steps while remeshing after each one, or morph the mesh to fix poor elements. One good tool to use to correct poor elements interactively is the Quality Index panel. If you wish to have the changes that you make in the Quality Index panel applied as morphs, use the record functionality in the Freehand panel.

Comments

The smoothing will be applied to the selected domains as a morph, which means that it can be undone and redone and will be saved as part of any shape.

The kriging method of smoothing applies only to elements inside domains. If you wish to apply smoothing to elements outside of domains while using the kriging method for elements inside domains, choose one of the options which lists both the kriging method and another method, such as kriging + auto, which will perform kriging style smoothing on elements inside the domains and autodecide style smoothing on elements outside the domains.

The squish corrected method of smoothing allows you to select which nodes are fixed in place during the smoothing process. When smoothing domains, the handle nodes will automatically be fixed, but you may optionally select the nodes on edge domains and face domains to be fixed as well as any nodes that lie on feature edges. You can also manually select any other nodes to remain fixed. When smoothing elements, no nodes will automatically be fixed, and you have the same options of which nodes to fix automatically.

The squish corrected method also allows you to select whether to pursue the best element quality, the best smoothing speed, or a balance between the two.

If you want smoothing to happen automatically whenever any morphing is performed, that option can be set in the Morph Options panel.

Comments

The selected 3-D domains will be subdivided into several 3-D domains depending on the shape of the 3-D domain and the number of divisible 2-D domains.

When subdividing, HyperMorph will not divide a 2-D domain unless it is specified as being a divisible domain. Thus, the original face domains will be preserved.

The maximum number of new domains is equal to the number of indivisible domains. In cases where a 3-D element touches more than one indivisible 2-D domain there may be fewer 3-D domains created than the maximum. There can be cases where the 3-D domain cannot be subdivided if an insufficient number of divisible 2-D domains have been selected.

Comments

The 1D/conn method determines how handles are placed for the 1-D and connector domain and how the dependencies are assigned. See the parameters subpanel for an explanation of the different methods.

Comments

HyperMesh automatically reparameterizes domains if they have been edited when you enter or exit a morphing panel or exit the Delete panel.  This keeps the handle influences updated and thus, in most cases, you will not need to reparameterize your domains manually.  Reparameterizing affects the way that handles influence the nodes.  If a domain is morphed a great deal, the handles may not influence the nodes in the way you might expect.  For instance, if a node is moved from one side of the mesh to the other, it will still be influenced more heavily by the handles it was previously close to rather than by the handles it is currently near.  If this happens, you may want to reparameterize the domain so that the handles close to the nodes will influence them more than the handles farther away from the nodes.  Since reparameterizing can change shapes saved as handles, HyperMorph will ask you whether you want to preserve those shapes as node perturbations.  If you click yes the shape will be converted to node perturbations and remain essentially unchanged.  If you click no the shape will still apply to handles, which will affect the model in a different way than before, thus changing the shape. Shapes saved as node perturbations are unaffected by reparameterization.

Domain reparameterizing can be rejected, but only until you exit the Domains panel.

Comments

HyperMesh partitions 2-D domains by dividing them along element edges where the angle between the elements exceeds the domain angle parameter (see to update the morphing parameters) or where the curvature changes from flat to positive or negative.  The curve tolerance parameter (see domain partitioning parameters) is used to determine whether two elements are flat or curved.  Curvature changes are ignored if the partitioning order parameter is set to "angle-based."

(Influences — calculated by the domain solver — determine how far each node moves relative to its assigned handle, and range from 0-1).  Influences below this limit are discarded, so morphing with a high minimum influence often results in breaks in the mesh between nodes with influences above the limit (which morph) and those below the limit (which do not morph).  However, using a low minimum influence requires more memory and disk space.

The large domain solver does not use influence calculations.

The large domain solver resolves the effects of morphing each time morphing is applied (as opposed to the standard domain solver which runs once), computing influences which are applied each time the handles are moved. The large domain solver is actually slower for domains with few elements — but it is much faster for domains with a large number of elements.

Exponential biasing raises each node’s influence coefficient to the power of the biasing value of the handle to determine how biasing applies to the affected nodes. Sinusoidal biasing uses a sine-cosine function instead.  See the set biasing subpanel of the Morph panel for details on biasing.

Comments

When values are changed in the parameters subpanel, the new values are reflected in any new domains that are created.  You can experiment with them by changing the values in the parameters subpanel and clicking generate in the auto functions part of the create subpanel.

Curvature based partitioning will try to divide domains along boundaries where the angle exceeds the domain angle, where the curvature changes direction, and where the curvature goes from flat to curved. Angle based partitioning will only divide domains along boundaries where the angle exceeds the domain angle.

This determines the algorithm used for partitioning domains.  The element based algorithm is generally more successful for quad and mixed meshes while the node based method is more successful for tria based meshes.

If the number of trias/tetras exceeds 2/3 of the total number of elements, the mesh is considered a tria/tetra mesh; otherwise it is considered a mixed mesh.

For elements associated with surfaces, domain boundaries will be drawn along the edges of surfaces.  Elements that do not lie on surfaces are partitioned normally.

This option will not merge two partitions which lie on different surfaces.

When creating domains that cut through a tetra mesh you will probably want this option to be off, since the jagged faces of a tetra mesh will be partitioned into many small domains with numerous handles, make morphing them very difficult. When creating domains that cut through a more regular mesh you may want this option to be on so that internal partitions are created similar to how they appear on the surface of solid element meshes.

Comments

If you do not like the results of your domain generation, you can enter new values in this panel and then click redo last.  The most recent domain creation will be redone using the new partitioning values that you have chosen.