HyperX provides a myriad of options for viewing and interrogating results directly on the model and in the Viewport. Find these options on the Results tab of the Ribbon. The sections below briefly summarize several of these tools.
In addition, any stress data of interest can be exported in the form of a Word-or-Excel-based stress report. See Stress Reporting.
The Legend is the main data visualization feature of the HyperX interface. It allows for the display of nearly all data values both imported from the FEM as well as generated by the software during analysis. The Legend can also be used to plot analysis inputs, panel settings, custom data, and more.
The Legend window, launched from the Results tab on the Ribbon, contains the Legend key, the name of the active data category, and the units if applicable. Left-clicking on any given color bin will cause the model entities with results in that bin to become selected, for a more interactive visual verification tool.
At the highest level, the Legend is divided into three tabs. Each features dropdown menus and lists to select data to plot on the model:
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Plot - Select what data to view on the model as a contour.
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Visualize - Modifying display settings of the Legend and selecting color palettes for the contour plots.
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Deform - Displaying the deformed shape of the model by Design Load Case or subcase.
Plot Tab
The 'Plot' tab is used to facilitate what data is plotted by the Legend at any given time. Within this tab, there are two drop-down lists. The first contains categories of data, the second contains data types that fall in the selected category. Once each of these is selected, a list of all data values that fall in that type is enabled for selection.
Seven different categories of data can be plotted on the model:
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FEA Forces and Moments – Element-level forces and moments taken directly from the FEA output file and plotted in terms of both original FEA subcase as well as HyperX Design Load Cases.
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FEA Displacements – Translation and rotation data from Design Loads and subcases.
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FEA Pressure and Temperature – Pressure and temperature data from the FEM.
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Analysis Results – Margin, Design Loads, failure method, panel and beam properties results.
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Sizing Results – Dimensions, Laminates, and Material results.
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Discrete Fields – Imported Discrete Fields for display on the model (will only appear after custom data has been imported).
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CAD Geometry - Highlights the geometry of CAD Entities on the model.
Also contained on the Plot tab are various contour display options. In other words, for the selected data to plot, how should it be plotted? While not every option is available for every data category, the primary four display options are as follows:
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Load Convention – Selecting the coordinate system in which loads are plotted.
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Units – Toggling between Display and FEM units.
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Mode – Selecting the active eigenvalue mode shape for buckling and frequency cases.
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Entity Type – Switching between the four data types for the contour.
Very few data values can only be plotted in multiple different display options (ex. Minimum Margin of Safety), and non-applicable display options will be greyed out, thereby rendering them unable to be selected. See the example highlighted in the image below.
Visualize Tab
The 'Visualize' tab is used to control the format and color options available in the Legend.
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Window Opacity - Slider-bar to control the opacity of the Legend window.
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Legend Font - Slider-bar to control the size, color dropdown to control the color of the text within the Legend.
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Bin Details - As of version 2025.1.4, optionally display the number or percentage of Zones that fall into each bin/range of MS values in the results window. Checkbox to additionally display that information as a histogram alongside each bin.
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Colors for Summary - Dropdown to select a color gradient for plots.
Note
Any of the gradients in the list can be set as a default (i.e. automatically used each time the Legend is opened) using the 'Set default' option.
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Adjust Decimal Precision - Increase or reduce decimal precision on your display.
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Bounds Adjustment - Adjust the upper and lower bounds of your color bin.
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Discrete Data Sort Order - Select if you want the data to be sorted Alphabetically or By Count.
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Colors for Summary - Select the color palette you would like to use to represent your data visualization. This is also where users can set default palette schemes with the "Set default" button.
Deform Tab
The Deform tab is used to plot the deformed shape of the model for any selected Load Case.
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Undeformed/Deformed Selector - Toggle between showing the undeformed and deformed shape of the model.
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Factor - User-input value to define multiplicative factor applied to deformations - used to exaggerate model deformations to enhance understanding of loads.
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Design Load Type Selector - Select which load type is desired to plot - Static Design Loads (HyperX defined), Static (directly from FEA subcase/load step), Buckling, or Frequency.
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Load Case Selector - Based on the Load Type selected above, select the Load Case for which to plot deformations. Load Cases listed are based on the Load Type defined in the previous selection.
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Limit vs. Ultimate Factor - Toggle between Limit and Ultimate to determine which factor is applied to the deformations plotted.
The Probe allows a user to dynamically query and label any data that is being plotted on the model. This is a particularly useful tool for interrogating negative margins and for creating useful screenshots for reports.
This section outlines the process of probing data (live data query) and labeling (creating callouts) data points directly on the model.
Labeling
Labels can be applied to the model viewport either (1) manually or (2) automatically.
Manually:
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(Optional) Open the Legend and select data to plot.
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Enable the Probe Tool.
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This action also opens the Labels Form.
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Toggle ON the 'Label' button of the Label Form.
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Mouse over the model and left-click to commit a data query to a label.
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To stop creating Labels, toggle the 'Label' button on the Label Form to OFF.
Automatically
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(Optional) Open the Legend and select data to plot.
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Enable the Probe Tool.
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This action also opens the Labels Form.
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Select any number of zones in the Viewport.
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Make sure selected entities belong to Structures.
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Click 'Auto Label' on the Label Form.
Measuring
Within the Probe tool, there is also the option to enter Measuring Mode, in which the distance between two selected points on the model can be measured in the current Database units.
Upon selecting 'Measure,' the user can use the mouse to select two points - after the second point is selected, the distance between those two points is displayed. Notice that the displayed distance follows the number of decimals prescribed by the Decimal dialog box in the Probe Tools window. As long as the Measure Icon is enabled, the Measuring Tool can be used.
The Watch Window shows a tabular snapshot of data for selected Zones. Any input, Analysis result, and Sizing result can be shown here. Use this real-time, interactive data to trace through analysis calculations and supplement reports. The Watch Window is used to query input and output data values for Zones and Joints.
This window is launched from the Results tab of the Ribbon:
To display data in the Watch Window, simply add data columns to the table and select Zones/Joints of interest from the Viewport.
Managing Templates
The data types that have been added as columns to the Watch Window can be saved as a template for future use. Click the Save button to save the current column headings into a template. Any saved template can be accessed by selecting it in the template drop-down. Templates can be deleted by clicking the Delete button next to the template drop-down.
The Analysis Watch Window is a dynamic data table that shows all margins of safety calculated for a selection of Zones. Use it to understand the margin of safety results and directly access specific method documentation and Analysis Detail Reports.
An example Analysis Watch Window for a group of composite stiffened panels is shown above. Each row represents an active analysis criterion, each column represents a Zone, and each data value is the corresponding margin. Notice that each Zone is further broken up by object (i.e. span, web, cap, etc.) to add another level of detail for interrogation and understanding.
To display data in the Analysis Watch Window, simply select Zones or Joints of interest and open the window - either from the Ribbon or by right-clicking on the selection and selecting "Analysis Results" from the dropdown.
The Design Result (i.e. the selected candidate from the design space that satisfies given failure methods) can be viewed for any Zone or Joint. This allows the user to see individual dimension results for each Sizing variable at once, while directly connecting to corresponding material forms for review, in a familiar form that resembles the Design Property defining the sizing parameters.
The Design Result form can be opened for any Zone or Joint by right-clicking > and selecting 'Design Result' from the menu.
Features of the Design Result Form
The key features of this form are indicated in the screenshot below. Each is further defined in the list that follows.
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Zone and Design Property Information- Review the Zone name, assigned Design Property, and corresponding concept. Notice that the Design Property row is a link, which will open the corresponding Design Property form from the Library.
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Show Inputs - Display the inputs for each Sizing variable directly in-line with the design result for immediate comparison.
In the example below, the dimensional inputs taken from the assigned Design Property are indicated. Notice they are shown directly next to the values resulting from Sizing.
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View all Designs - If the user has requested more than one design be stored per Zone (if Req. Designs > 1 on the original Design Property Form), an additional form can be launched to review not only the optimum result, but the additional stored designs as well. This allows the user to review additional viable candidates within the design space, sorted by unit weight from lightest to heaviest.
Tip
This form is particularly useful when it comes to sequencing composite laminate results across zones.
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Link to Materials for Review- The Material selection can also be reviewed from this window. This allows the user to review the exact discrete laminate selected - for example - for the case of Composites Sizing. In other cases, such as a honeycomb core material selection, this window provides a link directly to the corresponding Material form.