Terminology Updates for SOLIDWORKS Simulation

User interface terms related to contact and mesh are updated to match conventional industry terminology. The term Interaction is introduced to describe the type of behavior between components during a simulation (bonded, contact, or free).

As in previous releases, you specify the type of interactions between components at three levels:

Global Interaction

Defines the conditions that apply to all components. Specify the default global interaction conditions in the new Simulation Options > Default Options > Interaction dialog box.

Component Interaction

Defines the conditions that apply to selected components in the Component Interaction PropertyManager.

Local Interaction

Defines the conditions that apply to selected sets of geometric entities in the Local Interactions PropertyManager.
Local interactions settings override component-level interactions, while component-level interactions override global-level interactions.

The interface term for the No Penetration interaction type is replaced with the term Contact. The term for the Allow Penetration interaction type is replaced with the term Free.

For the Bonded interaction type, the term Incompatible mesh is removed from the user interface. In SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2021, improved algorithms make the bonding formulation for components that mesh independently more robust and accurate (known previously as incompatible bonding). The option to bond components by enforcing common mesh nodes at their boundaries (known previously as compatible bonding) is still available. When you select Enforce Common Nodes at Touching Boundaries, the selected components are meshed as one body. These components behave as if they are welded at their touching boundaries.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2020 - User Interface SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2021 - User Interface








Contact Sets > No penetration

Local Interactions > Contact



Unlimited gap distance replaces legacy option Always ignore clearance.

If gap is less than replaces legacy option Ignore clearance only if gap is less than.

Component Contact > Bonded

Component Interactions > Bonded