Define Interface

Use the Define Interface tool to create, import, and edit geometric lines along the interfaces to evaluate.

These lines are required in the E-Line definition stage. Using the Define Interface tool, you can:
  • Create 3D lines
  • Import geometry file
  • Edit 3D lines

Create 3D Lines

Use the Define Interface tool to manually or automatically create 3D lines on the component edges.

3D lines can be created automatically or manually. Manual creation of 3D lines along the required node path require manual inputs and provides more control over line creation.
  1. From the SnRPre ribbon, Setup group, select the Define Interfaces tool from the Define Interface tool group.
    Figure 1.
  2. Fast create geometric lines.
    1. Optional: From the guide bar, click to define feature options and control Geometrical Lines creation.
      Figure 2.
      The available options are:
      • Feature Angle: The maximum angle allowed between the normals of two connected shell elements. When an angle exceeds this value, a geometrical line is created.
      • Break Angle: The angle to determine points at which to split the line into segments.
      • Min: Minimum length of lines which will be created.
      • Max: Maximum length of lines which will be created.
    2. In the modeling window, select components.
    3. From the guide bar, complete one of the following options:
    • Click to create lines and remain in the tool.
    • Click to create lines and exit the tool.
    • Click to exit the tool without creating lines.
    Geometric lines are created on the selected component edges.
  3. Manually create geometric lines.
    1. From the guide bar, click to create lines manually by node path.
    2. Optional: From the guide bar, click to define controlled line creation.
      This creates controlled lines between locations with the possibility of reducing the number of joints and locations that fall outside the path line.
    3. In the modeling window, create click twice to define the endpoints of the line.
    4. Optional: In the microdialog, click to select a line type.
    5. From the guide bar, complete one of the following options:lick to finalize the geometric line and continue creating lines.
    • Click to finalize the geometric line and continue creating lines.
    • Click to finalize the geometric line and exit the tool.
    • Click to exit the tool without finalizing the geometric line.

Import Geometry File

Import a geometry lines definition file.

You can import an external file containing the geometric lines definition. File formats are standard file formats supported by HyperWorks X.
  1. From the SnRPre ribbon, Setup group, select the Import Geometry tool from the Define Interface tool group.
    Figure 3.
    The Open Geometry File dialog opens.
  2. Browse and select the required file and click Open.
Once the file is opened, the lines in the external files are imported to the session and displayed in the graphics area.

Edit 3D Lines

Edit geometric lines. In the model, you can delete, combine, and split lines.

Delete Lines

Delete required lines from the model.

  1. From the SnRPre ribbon, Setup group, click the Review/Edit Interfaces tool from the Define Interface tool group.
    Figure 4.
  2. From the guide bar, verify Delete is selected.
  3. Click to define the line length criteria.
    Figure 5.
  4. Click Find.
    Tip: If you created lines on all component edges, you can use the find functionality to delete all short lines. This can make line selection at the E-Line creation stage easier.
    All lines within the line length range are found.
  5. Optional: In the modeling window, manually select the required lines.
    The number of lines selected to delete are displayed next to the Line button.
  6. Complete one of the following options:
    • Click to delete the selected lines.
    • Click to delete the selected lines and exit the tool.
    • Click to exit the tool without deleting the selected lines.
    This deletes the selected lines.

Combine Lines

Combine two or more lines to form a continuous line.

Tip: The more accurate and well defined your interfaces (geometrical lines) are, the less time you have to spend editing and updating E-Lines at a later stage. Make sure you have one Geometrical line per interface.
  1. From the SnRPre ribbon, Setup group, click the Review/Edit Interfaces tool from the Define Interface tool group.
    Figure 6.
  2. From the guide bar, select Combine.
  3. In the modeling window, left-click to select lines to combine.
  4. Complete one of the following options:
    • Click to combine lines and remain in the tool.
    • Click to combine lines and exit the tool.
    • Click to exit the tool without combining lines.

Split Lines

Split geometric lines.

  1. From the SnRPre ribbon, Setup group, click the Review/Edit Interfaces tool from the Define Interface tool group.
    Figure 7.
  2. From the guide bar, select Split.
    The Split tool is activated from the Topology ribbon.
  3. From the secondary ribbon, select the Lines tool.
    Figure 8.
  4. From the guide bar, select Lines from the Target selector.
  5. In the modeling window, select geometry.
  6. Optional: On the guide bar, click to define split options.
  7. Select the Trim intersecting lines check box.
  8. Click Split.