Simulation Solvers

The solution time of linear static studies with many surface-to-suface contact elements is improved. The Intel Direct Sparse solver can handle linear static and nonlinear studies with more than 4 million equations.

The image shows the total solution time in minutes for a linear static analysis of a large model solved with the FFEPlus Iterative solver. The model has 1.0 million tetrahedron elements and 0.5 million contact elements with friction. Because of the FFEPlus solver enhancements in SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2021, the overall solution time for this particular model that has 1/3 surface-to-surface contact elements of all total elements is decreased by more than 50%.

  • FFEPlus Iterative

    The solution time for linear static studies is improved by using parallel multicore processing to calculate the stiffness for surface-to-surface contact elements.

    The transfer of stiffness data to solve the systems of equations is optimized because file-based processing is replaced with function-based processing.

    These performance gains are more apparent for large models that have at least 10% contact elements of the total elements.

    Function-based processing is not implemented for models that include any of these features:
    • Connectors: spring, bearing, bolt, and rigid connector
    • Node-to-surface contact, virtual wall contact, cyclic symmetry, remote load with rigid connection, and beams acting as stiffeners.
    These limitations also apply to the Large Problem Direct Sparse solver.
  • Intel Direct Sparse

    The solver can handle significantly larger linear and nonlinear simulation studies by taking full advantage of available memory. When the solver exceeds the available memory, it uses available disk space to run the simulation.

    The solver can run simulations for linear static and nonlinear studies with more than 4 million equations.

  • Large Problem Direct Sparse

    The solver has limited performance improvement based on improved function-based data transfer of stiffness data and parallel multicore processing to calculate the stiffness for surface-to-surface contact elements for linear static studies.

  • Automatic Solver Selection

    The algorithm that selects the best equation solver for linear static studies is optimized. The selection of the best equation solver (Intel Direct Sparse or FFEPlus Iterative)) depends on: the number of equations, load cases, mesh type, geometric features, contact and connector features, and available system memory.

  • Manual Solver Selection

    The user interface for manual solver selection is improved to provide quick access to the most efficient solvers. To view all available solvers, in the Options dialog box, select Solver > Manual > More Solvers.

  • Multicore Processing

    The table lists the multicore processing specifications of simulation solvers for each Simulation license.

    Solvers Simulation Licenses - Limited to Maximum of 8 Physical Cores Simulation Licenses - No Limit on Number of Physical Cores
    • FFEPlus
    • Intel Direct Sparse
    • Direct Sparse
    • Large Problem Direct Sparse
    • Intel Network Sparse
    • Simulation Xpress
      FFEPlus is the only solver option for Simulation Xpress.
    • Simulation in SOLIDWORKS Premium
    • SOLIDWORKS Simulation Standard
    • SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional
    • SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium