New Version Capabilities

This page briefly summarizes recently developed new capabilities within HyperSizer version 5.3. The Version History Page » describes in more detail the differences in HyperSizer prior release versions including enhancements and corrections.

Analysis Capabilities

• Orthotropic Material Bending Correction Factor is now active
• A common observation in composite analysis is that laminate plies exhibit higher strength in bending than in membrane only loads. That is, if the stress in a ply is caused by laminate bending, that ply will fail at a higher stress/strain than if that stress was caused by laminate membrane loads
• A material based correction factor is now included that will adjust the strength allowables for plies in bending

• The process consists of two steps.  First, midplane membrane strain for the laminate is calculated and applied to each ply.  Composite analyses are then calculated based on this strain using non-adjusted allowables.  Second, ply strains based on combined membrane and bending loads are calculated and composite analyses are calculated using allowables adjusted using the Bending Correction Factor.  The reported margin-of-safety is the lower of these two values.
• User now has a choice whether HyperSizer will use tension/compression elastic properties
  (E1T, E2T  vs. E1C, E2C, etc.), depending on the sign of the load, for all strength calculations or to use an average “design” stiffness [ED = (ET + EC) / 2].
• All strength failure modes allowables will continue to use either compression or tension strength allowables (Ftu1, Fcu1, etc.), depending on the load.
• All buckling calculations will continue use compression stiffness properties (E1C, E2C).
• User can now select the NASA SP-8007 buckling knockdown factor for global panel buckling of curved panels as an alternative to specifying a static value.  HyperSizer will automatically compute the knockdown factor based on r/teff ratio and return this value to the interface.

• Layup/Laminate Editor
• All references to ply numbering have been re-ordered to correspond to industry standard ply numbering
• Ply numbering now starts with ply 1 at the bottom with numbers increasing in the positive z direction
• Form indicates (B)ottom and (T)op plies of laminate
• Existing laminates in HyperSizer databases will not need to be changed
• Ply angles can now be typed in (to accommodate angle increments smaller than 0.1°)
• Laminate Editor is now much more intuitive and conforms with Microsoft Windows standards for left click, right click, keyboard shortcuts, etc.
• Click on any column for any ply to select that ply (or drag to select multiple plies)
• Right-click on any ply selection to get options

• Commonly used functions are now included as toolbar buttons

• Laminate Analysis Form
• Equivalent Orthotropic G13 and G23 Calculations added.
• Stress Plot/Strain Plot and Margin of Safety Plot now display values at the inner/outer and midplane fibers rather than just a single point at the midplane.
• Stress and Strain Plots include an export to Comma Separated Value (CSV) file.

• Right click in Database Explorer Tree to create a new material in a particular family
• Right click in the Database Explorer Tree to delete a material

• Custom Material Families
• Right click in the tree to access a new Material Family dialog
• Create/delete/rename new material families
• Re-assign materials to different families

The material forms have been reorganized to make them more intuitive

• Material Name fields have been widened so that full material names can be seen
• Isotropic/orthotropic/honeycomb/foam – material properties grouped based on function (e.g. all stiffness properties are now on the same tab)

• All metric and english units and property descriptions are now consistent between data entry, plot, and stress reports, labels and tooltips.

• Commonly used functions are now included as toolbar buttons

Workspace Setup form

• The Setup form is now available for Workspaces.  This allows for load sets and load cases to be re-named and workspace units to be set.

Graphics form

• Shortcut keys were added to quickly change from one data item to the next or from one load set to the next.  For example, if plotting FEM loads, press PageUp/PageDn to go from Nx to Ny to Nxy, etc.  Press <Shift>-PageUp/PageDn to go from Load Set 102 to Load Set 103 to Load Set 104, etc.

Project Setup form

• Project Display units added to Options tab
• Right click on any text box, dropdown box, option to assign database defaults for FEM Format and Units, project units, Import/Export Options, etc.  These database default will be used for any new projects created in this database

General

• Starting with Version 5.3, database default settings can now be imported from one database to another.  For future HyperSizer versions, default settings will be imported from one database version to another.
  
  
• When importing projects or workspaces from one database to another, the user now has the option to import analysis results.  In previous HyperSizer versions, analysis results were not imported, requiring the user to re-analyze the project or workspace.  Note:  This capability will only be available if the source and target database versions are the same.
  
  
• When copying projects or workspaces within a database, analysis results are copied along with project or workspace setup parameters.  In previous HyperSizer versions, analysis results were not copied requiring the user to re-analyze the copied project or workspace.
  
  
• Efficiency of element based analysis been greatly increased.  Speed increases up to a factor of 10 have been reported, depending on the number of elements and number of load cases.  The more elements and load cases, the greater the speed increase.
  
  
• HyperSizer’s security has been updated to the latest Macrovision/FLEXnet licensing.
  
  
• FLEXnet is the industry standard for IT administration of floating licenses.
  
  
• Node-locked licenses no longer have issues that require users to be connected to a network to obtain a license.
  
  
• HyperSizer Version 5.3 is Microsoft Vista Compatible.
  
  
• If User Access Control (UAC) is turned on, the HyperSizer process with a node-locked license may need to run with Administrative Privilege
  
  
• Tooltips for all forms can be turned on and off via Preferences | Options.
  
  
• All major forms can now be re-sized up to full-screen.
  
  
• Forms will remember their positions and sizes even after the software is closed and re-opened.