Simulation Studies
A model is usually subjected to different service environments and operational
conditions during its life. It is, therefore, important to consider all
possible scenarios of loads and boundary conditions and try different
material properties in the analysis of a model.
A simulation study is defined by the following factors:
To create a study, click New Study
(Simulation CommandManager). Define a study by name,
analysis type, and properties. The properties of the study set options
related to a particular analysis type.
Design studies and fatigue studies use the
mesh of the associated studies. Drop test studies use solid mesh only.
Pressure vessel studies combine results and do not require a mesh.
Mesh Type based on Geometric Features
The program automatically assigns the appropriate mesh type to bodies
based on their geometry features.
Solid Mesh.
All solid models mesh with solid (tetrahedral) elements.
Shell Mesh.
Surface geometries and sheet metals with uniform thickness mesh with triangular
shell elements. Sheet metals defined in a drop test study mesh with solid
elements.
Beam Mesh.
Structural members and weldments mesh with beam elements. You can treat
an extrusion (meshes with solid elements by default) as a beam by right-clicking
on the solid icon and selecting Treat
as Beam.
Mixed mesh.
When different geometries are present in the same model, a mixed mesh
is generated.
Using Simulation Studies
You can use simulation studies to check the safety of existing products
under working conditions or design new ones.
The SolidWorks Simulation line of products offers other types of studies
like nonlinear, dynamic response, fluid flow, and electromagnetics.
Checking an existing
design. When checking an existing product, the geometry is already
determined. The goal is to check the performance of the product under
different working conditions and investigate the possibility of improving
the performance or saving material.
Making a new
design. When using design analysis to make a new design, you can
try different geometric configurations and materials to test the response
of the model in various working conditions.
Quick Tips
Quick Tips are a set of pop-up messages that appear while you define
studies. These messages give you hints and guide you to define the study,
run it, and view its results. Most of the messages have hyperlinks. Click
a hyperlink to see the associated item in the user interface. To activate
Quick Tips, click Help, Quick Tips.
Simulation Advisor
The Simulation
Advisor helps you choose the study type, define loads, fixtures,
and connections, and interpret the results.