Import from Company Database
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Choose ‘Import Database Data’ from the Database tab of the Ribbon.
Navigate to the Company Database:
C:\HyperX\Training\Templates\CompanyDB_FuseWing_[Version#].hdb3
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Use the ‘Toggle All’ to select everything for import.
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Select ‘Update Existing Materials’, 'Update Existing Palates', and ‘Import Database Defaults’.
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Click ‘Import’.
Tip
Review Property Tree and Database Defaults to understand what was imported from the Company DB.
Create Structures for Each Part
The FEM Include files allow us to quickly create Structures for each part of this model:
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Switch to Include View on the FEM Tree.
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Select the Fuse and Wing Collectors.
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Right-click > Create Structures.
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Select ‘Create Structures per Include File’.
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Click ‘Create’.
Review created Structures by scrolling through the Structures Tree. You can use the Color Mode options to color by Structure.
Set Up Enterprise Database Manager
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Open the Enterprise Manager.
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Point to the Company Database - "C:\HyperX\Training\{HyperX_Version}\Templates\CompanyDB_FuseWing_v2026.1.13.hdb3".
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Select the folder in which to create Engineering Databases. Can be anywhere but a folder is provided at: "C:\HyperX\Training\{HyperX_Version}\Engineer Databases".
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(optional) Set password – which will be required to unlock created Databases.
Add Engineering Databases to Manager
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Select ‘Add Databases’.
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Name the Database.
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Click ‘Add Structures…’.
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Add Aft stringers and skin Structures to the Database.
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Include Forward and Center Structures as ‘read-only’ for context.
Tip
There is a search function that can help you find the Structures more easily.
Repeat the previous steps to create Engineering Databases for remaining fuse sections (Center and Forward). Ensure each Database includes the other fuse sections as "Readonly". Click "Apply" to save changes.
Open and Review Aft Engineer Database
Notice the Center and Forward Structures are included for reference but cannot be edited (read-only enforced). Property Tree is pre-populated with all Property and Library entities from the Company Database Template
Set Up Aft Skin Zones
Apply Design, Load, and Analysis Properties as shown below.
Note
Notice the Design Property references a Laminate Family containing Non-Traditional Laminates (NTLs). The Analysis Property uses principal strain methods (from the Composite Strength Plugin) to better assess failure of NTLs.
Size and Review Results
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Click ‘Legend’ to start reviewing results.
Majority of Zones are controlled by buckling – with the exception of those in the bottom corner.
One of the strength-controlled Zones has a drastically higher ply count than its neighbors.
Interrogate Results
Show the Analysis Watch Window to review margins of safety for the suspect Zone. Sort margins from lowest to highest. You will notice the CAI margin is drastically lower than other criteria.
Print an Analysis Detail Report for the controlling criterion. The shear strain for Design Case 100900 is very high.
Note
The Plugin Developer controls which details are printed to this Report.
Plot the Nxy loads for Case 100900. Use the Data Probe to label the min and max loads. Notice that both the minimum and the maximum Nxy value occur in the problem Zone.
Note
Recall: This is where the under-wing keel punches load into the aft skin
Exclude "Bad" Elements from Force Summation
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Click ‘Exclude Elements’ button from the Model tab of the Ribbon.
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Select the elements with the min/max Nxy values.
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Click ‘Apply’.
Set Up Stringers
Auto-generate Panel Segments out of stringers and adjacent skin panels.
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Select ‘Autogenerate Panel Segments’ from the Structure Tab of the Ribbon.
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Choose Technique 2.
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Select all stringer boundaries.
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Click ‘Create.
Assign Design, Load, and Analysis Properties.
Review Design and Analysis Properties. Recall that these are coming directly from the Company Database and are read-only.
Size Stringers and Review Results
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View margin of safety results with the Legend.
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Turn on cross-section view to see the hat mandrel cross-sections.
Fix Negative Margin
Opening the Analysis Watch Window for the negative stringer shows negative margins for analytical buckling of the panel as a whole. The stringer needs to be sized up to correct this margin. However, all stringers in the same row should be sized up as well, to ensure manufacturability.
The Company Database Template contained an additional hat mandrel design – which is slightly bigger. Apply this Design Property to the entire bottom row and Re-Size.
All stringers are now showing positive margins. These results are ready to be rolled back into the Group Database for a FEM update.
Review Changes
HyperX will track and categorize any changes between the Analysis Results you are importing and the original Engineering Database created.
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Review changes.
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Click ‘Import’.
View Aft Results in Group Database
Further verify that your results have been added to the Group Database by:
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Enabling the Legend to review Analysis Result data.
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Turn on the Ply Display to see the aft fuselage Plies.
Export Updated GFEM
This exported FEM will contain updated properties and materials corresponding to the AFT fuselage Sizing results.
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Open the ‘Export FEM’ window.
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Review FEM export options and settings.
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Click ‘Export’.
The new GFEM will be exported into the specified folder.
(Optional) Use DiffMerge to Compare GFEM Versions
Verify that the Aft Sizing results have been incorporated into the newly printed GFEM by comparing it to the original.
If DiffMerge is installed on your machine…
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Open File Explorer and navigate to the FEA folder.
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Select both the old and new FEM directories.
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Right-click and select ‘DiffMerge’.
Note
The DiffMerge tool detected differences in the AFT Skn and Str files, which contain the Zones we Sized.