The HyperFEA Viewport sits "on top" of the HyperX display. It can be used to configure HyperFEA runs and monitor each iteration in real time.
The options in the HyperFEA ribbon allow the user to configure how HyperFEA runs. Each ribbon button is explained below in detail.
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Iterations - use the dialog box to set a manual number of iterations for HyperFEA to complete. 1 iteration consists of one sizing, FEA solve, corresponding force reimport, and resize.
Note
Either a manual number of iterations, or Convergence Criteria (below) must be set in order to run HyperFEA, as of Version 2026.1.13.
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Convergence - open this form to set Convergence Criteria, if applicable.
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Start - click "Start" to initiate HyperFEA. This dropdown contains options for where to start in the iteration process
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Start with Sizing - selecting this option will immediately kick-off a sizing operation in HyperX. Use this option if sizing has not been performed, or if sizing inputs have changed since it was last ran.
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Start with FEA - this option starts the iteration process by exporting an updated FEM and initiating a FEA solve. Use this option if HyperX sizing has already been run.
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Update FEM and Analyze (version 2026.1.13) - this option, like the one above, starts the iteration process by exporting an updated FEM and initiating a FEA solve. However, instead of sizing to the new FEA loads, existing sizing results will be automatically pushed to Analysis Overrides, and then analyzed to the corresponding loads.
This option is a way to assess the margins of safety for the exact design and loads found in the latest FEM.
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Stop - once iterations have begun, this option becomes enabled. Click this button to stop HyperFEA at the current step (this option will also abort the current FEA run, if applicable).
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Reset - use this option to reset all project iteration history. Once clicked, the HyperFEA Viewport will be cleared of all existing iteration data, and HyperX will automatically be reset to use original FEA loads (rather than any iterated loads).
Tip
The "Use Iterated Loads" flag, found on the FEA Results Import form, can be used to verify which set of loads the Project is currently using for sizing and analysis. If checked, iterated (_i.op2, for example) loads are being used. If unchecked, the loads in the original result file are being used.
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Details - once an iteration has been performed, click this button to view the Iteration Report
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HyperX Run Settings - view or change the HyperX run settings for future HyperFEA iterations. By default, HyperFEA will inherit run settings already applied on the Run tab, unless specified differently here.
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FEA Constraints - use this dropdown to configure Global FEA Constraints. Choose either Manual or Automated Constraints from the dropdown and set inputs accordingly.
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Reset Zones - use this option to remove stiffness requirements (per stiffness term) from all Zones in the Project.
Tip
Use this option to clear stiffness requirements from Zones affected by FEA Constraints and start from scratch.
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Settings - open this form to view and change settings used to generate updated FEMs during iteration and export
These settings affect how HyperX writes Material and Property updates to the new FEM input file.
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Overwrite Linked Materials - A "linked" Material is one that is defined both in HyperX and in the FEM input file, related to one another via the FEM Material ID.
Setting this option to "true" will prompt HyperX to write "new" (as-defined in HyperX) material definitions to the FEM, replacing the original from the FEM input file. This is recommended if you have made any changes to the material definition in HyperX since running FEA, if you'd like to capture a temperature-dependent material case, etc.
If "false," HyperX will not write material definitions for linked materials to the new FEM. Only new materials that did not already exist in the FEM will be exported. Use this option to rely exclusively on the original FEM material definitions.
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Property ID Conflict Behavior - A property ID conflict can arise if a Zone ID - from which HyperX bases property IDs - is the same as an existing property in the original FEM. There are two options:
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Keep Original Property ID - The data corresponding to the original Property will be overwritten with HyperX results for the corresponding Zone, thereby "keeping" the original property ID for the Zone. This could affect regions of the model that reference that property, but were not sized in HyperX.
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Generate New Property ID - The original Property definition corresponding to the conflicting ID is kept in the FEM, and a new Property is automatically generated to define the HyperX Sizing results for the Zone.
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Export Material Density and Non-Structural Mass -If selected, HyperX will automatically include material density and nonstructural mass values in the data written to the exported FEM.
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FEA Solver Setup - set FEA Solver path and optional solver input arguments. See FEA Solver Setup.
The iteration table displays the total mass of all Zones that are grouped into Structures at the time HyperFEA was initiated for each iteration. Use this to monitor the relative weight between iterations.
This table will also display data corresponding to FEA Constraints - such as the minimum eigenvalue - for each iteration.
Tip
This table is a great way to verify how configured Convergence Criteria affects the progression of iterations. For example, in the image below, the setting "No FEA Constraints in First Stage" was used - as evidenced by the lack of minimum eigenvalue being traced for the first three iterations.
The iteration plot graphically plots the total mass values from the Iteration table per iteration - iteration on the x-axis, mass on the y-axis. It contains separate lines for Total Mass, Panel Mass, and Beam Mass in order to more clearly illustrate where mass is being distributed in the structure. If using FEA Constraints, this plot will also show constraint behavior per iteration - such as minimum eigenvalue, in the plot below - on the secondary y-axis. If multiple FEA Constraints are applied, a toggle list will appear in the bottom righthand corner in order to choose which secondary phenomena to plot.
This is useful to visually understand how the mass in the structure is changing per iteration, as well as the corresponding affect on any applied FEA Constraints.