Section Library

Use the automotive section library for rapid concept development in the early phases of the vehicle design process.

The automotive focused section library promotes rapid creation of full vehicle architecture concept models. The library consists of various sections from the 2011 Honda Accord Body in White (BiW) model. *
Note: You should be familiar with the Part Browser before using the section library.


Figure 1. Sample Body in White model (2011 Honda Accord)


Figure 2. Sections from Section Library

*source : https://www.nhtsa.gov/crash-simulation-vehicle-models Honda Accord MY 2011

To access the library:

  1. From the Assembly ribbon, click the satellite icon that appears when you hover over the Parts tool.
    The Part Browser opens.
  2. Right-click in the browser and select Library > Libraries.
    The Libraries dialog opens.
  3. Click to add a library.
  4. Set the library template to Sections.
  5. Extract Honda_Accord_Section_Library.zip from <Altair>\hwdektop\hm\examples\libraryTemplates\part_library\ then define the library path and name.
  6. Click Add then Connect.
  7. To access the contents of the library, load Honda_Accord_Section_Library.hm from the newly created library path defined in step 5.
    The .hm contains the file hierarchy library structure.

Sample Section

Each section in the section library contains:

  • A Beam element with a section property
  • 2D elements showing the shape of the section. The 2D element section is welded at the flanges.
  • Geometric lines representing the shape of the section that can be used for concept modeling. The geometric sections are not auto-welded at the flanges.


Figure 3. Sample Section
Although the geometric section lines are not welded, beam sections are auto-welded.


Figure 4. Beam Section with Auto Welds

Numbering Scheme

The section library follows a numbering scheme that is explained in detail below.

Note: The numbering scheme is not mandatory and you can implement any numbering scheme of your choice.

Each section can be identified by a 7-digit number

  • The first digit from the left corresponds to the section’s location. It can take values of 1, 2, or 3.
    • 1: If the section is on the left side of the vehicle (for example, left-side B pillar)
    • 2: If the section is on the right side of the vehicle (for example, right-side B pillar)
    • 3: If the section is in the middle of the vehicle (for example, tunnel)
  • The second digit from the left corresponds to the assembly of the section. It can take values from 1 to 5.
    • 1: If the section belongs to the Side Frame assembly
    • 2: If the section belongs to the Roof assembly
    • 3: If the section belongs to the Front Structure assembly
    • 4: If the section belongs to the Front Floor assembly
    • 5: If the section belongs to the Rear Floor assembly


Figure 5. Second Digit Representing Different Assemblies
  • The third and fourth digits correspond to parts from the assembly. Each assembly has a number of parts; for example, the list of sample parts goes to 11 in Figure 7.
  • The fifth digit corresponds to the FE representation of the section. It can take values of 0, 2, or 5.
    • 0: If the FE representation is PBEAM
    • 2: If the FE representation is Beam Section
    • 5: If the FE representation is PSHELL
  • The sixth and seventh digits correspond to the component number.

An example of the numbering scheme implemented on the left-hand side rocker/sill section can be seen in Figure 6



Figure 6. Numbering Scheme Example


Figure 7. Sample Side Frame Parts


Figure 8. Sample Front Structure Parts


Figure 9. Sample Front Floor Parts


Figure 10. Sample Rear Floor Parts


Figure 11. Sample Roof Parts