HyperMesh 2023.0 Release Highlights: New Features and Enhancements
Altair EmployeeAs a starter, please keep in mind that if you want the complete details about 2023 updates and new features, you can always have a look at HyperMesh 2023 release notes.
Now, before diving into the changes listed below, let’s have a look at our top 10 new features for 2023:
This TOP10 is the resultant of a survey over a group of 15-20 Altair experts and application engineers. You may have a different opinion. If so, feel free to use comments to share what would have been your TOP10!
And here is the list of the main changes. Please click on "+/-" below each title to expand the corresponding content.
-- Rebranding --
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In the past years, HyperWorks was recognized as a product within Altair's offerings. However, in our recent 2023 release, HyperWorks has returned into a comprehensive platform that serves as the foundation for Altair's design and simulation solutions.
As a consequence, the new interface of HyperMesh now becomes HyperMesh starting 2023 version.
We understand that some users may still prefer the classic user experience, which is available as an option alongside HyperMesh 2023. You can continue to use the classic version of HyperMesh if it better suits your needs. It's important to note that the latest version available for the classic version of HyperMesh is 2022.3.1.
If you want to upgrade with 2023 and still use the classic version of HyperMesh, you need to install:
- HyperWorks 2023 master installer
- HyperWorks Desktop 2023
- HyperWorks Desktop 2022.3
- and any other installation package (eg Mechanical Solvers 2023 if you want to get access to OptiStruct or Radioss 2023)
-- Performances and stability --
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Behind the scene, the new interface ran in the previous versions two process in the background. This was the reason for some performance drops and instabilities. Also, some cases were reported where the new interface could not launch due to conflicts with other applications running two process in the background.
From 2023, HyperMesh is now using a single process. This has significantly reduced the instabilities and increased the performances.
Please note that the new interface relies on a more recent framework than the classic one, and consequently we recommend to make sure your system is up to date. Please review the article hereafter with your IT for checking our recommendations. These recommendations are valid for all HyperWorks versions.
-- General usability --
Ribbon reorganization
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In version 2023, the ribbons are re-organized based on entity (cad and/or mesh) dimension:
2022.3:
2023:
Topology mostly contains the tools for editing either mesh, CAD or FE Geometry, while 1D, 2D and 3D methods contain the methods which are relevant for the respective dimension:
Model name in the header bar
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From 2023, when you load or import a hm file, its name will be displayed in the header bar:
Keyboard shortcuts
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Starting 2023, HyperMesh allows you to customize your shortcuts:
Position tool
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The legacy tool Position is now available under the Move tool:
Quick advanced selection method configurator (ALT shortcut)
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You can now configure in a faster way what is your preferred method for selecting entities when using ALT key by using comma key for changing the default selection mode:
Measure
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In the same way it could be done in the old interface, it is now possible to get the distance between two nodes and to change it with a new target value:
Browsers
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Card image is now exposed by default as an attribute in entity view and can be used for filtering:
Model Checker
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Checking element connectivity, duplicate elements are now under Model Checker in the Validate ribbon. 
Mass/COG/MOI
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As from the Mass tool in the Validate ribbon, it is now possible from the Measure icon to select MOI computation (reference and axis):
In the Mass tool under Validate ribbon, export to csv now supports the assembly levels, and it exports the total values:
Card edit
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A new Entity Editor-style Card Editor includes enhanced functionality for editing solver entities in the solver deck format:
-- Model assembly --
Direct connection between HyperMesh and Altair Material Data Center
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HyperMesh already proposes an integrated Material Library, which allows you to store your material in a centralized library. It allows representations (eg having the same material for different solver profiles) and versioning.
On top of this material library, and for materials that are not available yet in your material library, you can now interrogate directly Altair Material Data Center from HyperMesh and generate the relevant solver card:
User mesh representations
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As for connectors with connector controls, mesh representations are now managed as controls. This allows an easier definition of these representation, and a faster implementation with Model Browser:
Management of parts with multiple thickness
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From 2023, when realizing a representation on a part with multiple thickness, several components will be created, and associated with properties with different thickness:
Library Manager
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For any user working with collaborative workflow, this new utility unifies the three different existing library management tools (part, material and subsystem) in a single location:
Subsytems
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Subsystems are now compatible with Move and Mirror tools, as susbsystem instancing. This new capability opens new perspectives (eg mirror contact, systems, … at the same time than components) for subsystem transformations as soon as your model relies on Part organization:
New PDM connector
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In order to offer a better compatibility with the different PDM systems, we are bringing in a new PDM connector, which continues to support both direct and indirect connexion, but provides more flexibility for indirect connections:
-- Geometry and Mesh --
FE Geometry
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A new Coupled Show/Hide/Isolate mode has been added to bring the Associated Element/Surface to the selected entity.
This allows for the "classic" FE Geometry mode. It extends to both CAD Geometry and FE Geometry:
Sketch
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Sketching allows to display geometry in the background
Harmonization of geometry legacy functions
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Several Geometry tools that were still available through the panels have been updated to the new user controls (see the 2 videos below):
Circle 3 nodes
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For cases where snap points were not enough to capture geometry or mesh circle center, circle three nodes have been reintroduced in the new user interface.
1D Criteria
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1D Criteria is now available through the criteria editor, and as a contour with legend
Specific 1D checks such as free 1-d’s, free 1-d nodes, rigid loops and dependency have been moved to Validate ribbon:
Batchmesher and features
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Batchmesher is now able to create features:
Performances
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Performances have been significantly improved for Midmesh extraction and Rebuild:
-- Morphing --
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Several Morphing tools that were still available through the panels have been updated to the new user controls:
-- Solver interfaces --
General
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1D creation tools that were still available through the panel have been updated to the new user controls:
An option has been added to allow master node automatic from Entity editor:
Abaqus
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Abaqus 2023 is now supported for post-processing
New keywords/options in *CONTACT and *CONTACT_PAIR:
OptiStruct
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NSM entities have been moved to HyperMesh entity Solver Mass.
HyperMesh now offers the possibility to plot SN curve from MATFAT definition:
Solver conversion
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Improvements in Abaqus to OptiStruct hard conversion
Radioss
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HyperMesh 2023 supports Radioss 2023.
When dealing with //SUBMODEL, nested submodels are now supported.
The mass tool in Validate ribbon can now return elemental solver time step and the time step mass ratio.
LS-Dyna
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Multiple keywords have been added or updated with regards to LS Dyna R13.1
Penetrations can be read from LS Dyna output file:
Safety solutions
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We now support positioning files for LS-Dyna following GHBMC and THUMS models:
-- Design Explorer --
Create responses from session files
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Response types that were not yet supported by Design Explorer can now be extracted from HyperGraph session files. It leaves opportunity to rely con complex Templex, Compose or Python functions:
Automatic design variable link
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For any parametric study where similar where parameters are applied to similar parts, it is now possible to identify these matching parameters and link them together:
Curve prediction
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Prediction is now extended to Curves, in addition of existing contour and field predictions:
ExpertAI
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Additional Machine Learning mechanisms have been added to Design Explorer to guide optimization classify results and leverage them as constraints of a new optimization:
-- HyperMesh Post --
General
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Results loaded in HyperMesh post are now saved with a relative path with respect to the HyperMesh database file.
We also improved memory management for querying results.
Legend
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Legends can be displayed with categories instead of numerical ranges. These legends can be assigned to any contour plot.
FreeBody workflows
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Freebody workflows have been improved for improving efficiency for such post-processing:
-- Automation --
Panel removal
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As panels have been discontinued in 2023, any automation that was relying on panels need to be updated. Such scripts need to be redirected to Contexts:
New tcl console
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A new Tcl console has been added in version 2023, improving ease of use of this console:
Extensions
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Some changes have been brought in 2023, such as client naming convention and auto loading:
Python
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The switch to a single-process architecture behind the new interface allowed us to expose the modern IPython console. You might recognize it from other applications such as Compose, Inspire or SimLab. It gives users access to the build-in Python interpreter 3.8.10 as well as the extensive library of packaged modules. If you are interested in knowing which modules we packaged with the new generation of HyperMesh, we encourage you to open the console and execute the line below. It will take a minute or so to gather all the information and then you will see a list of modules printed out in the console.
The support of specific application Python API is driven by individual clients. In version 2023, customers will be able to use Python API for the MotionView client. Python API for HyperView and HyperGraph is scheduled for the next point release, followed by the HyperMesh client in the next major release.
Comments
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Will you keep/support Tcl/Tk API after introducing Python API for HyperMesh? Thank you!
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Will you keep/support Tcl/Tk API after introducing Python API for HyperMesh? Thank you!
Hello Vladimir,
yes we intend to provide both a tcl and a Python interpreter in HyperMesh
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