Expand IntroductionIntroduction
Expand AdministrationAdministration
Expand User InterfaceUser Interface
Expand SOLIDWORKS FundamentalsSOLIDWORKS Fundamentals
Expand Moving from 2D to 3DMoving from 2D to 3D
Expand AssembliesAssemblies
Expand CircuitWorksCircuitWorks
Expand ConfigurationsConfigurations
Expand SOLIDWORKS CostingSOLIDWORKS Costing
Expand Design CheckerDesign Checker
Expand Design Studies in SOLIDWORKSDesign Studies in SOLIDWORKS
Expand Detailing and DrawingsDetailing and Drawings
Expand DFMXpressDFMXpress
Expand DriveWorksXpressDriveWorksXpress
Expand FloXpressFloXpress
Expand SLDXML Data ExchangeSLDXML Data Exchange
Expand Import and ExportImport and Export
Expand Model DisplayModel Display
Expand Mold DesignMold Design
Expand Motion StudiesMotion Studies
Expand Parts and FeaturesParts and Features
Expand RoutingRouting
Expand Sheet MetalSheet Metal
Collapse SimulationSimulation
Expand SimulationXpressSimulationXpress
Expand SketchingSketching
Expand Sustainability ProductsSustainability Products
Expand SOLIDWORKS MBDSOLIDWORKS MBD
Expand SOLIDWORKS UtilitiesSOLIDWORKS Utilities
Expand TolerancingTolerancing
Expand TolAnalystTolAnalyst
Expand ToolboxToolbox
Expand WeldmentsWeldments
Expand Workgroup PDMWorkgroup PDM
Expand TroubleshootingTroubleshooting
Glossary
Hide Table of Contents

Nonlinear - Solution

The Solution tab in the Nonlinear dialog box sets solution related options. The following are the options you can set on this tab.

Stepping Options

Time information is associated with the definition of time curves for loads and boundary conditions. Time is a pseudo variable for static problems without creep, visco-elasticity, or thermal loading using time-dependent results from a transient thermal study.

Start time Starting solution time. Not used by the Arc-Length method.
Restart Click this check box to restart from the last successful solution step. Available only if restart data exist with option Save data for restarting the analysis activated in the previous run.
You can change any load parameters (Time curve dialog box) when restarting the analysis.
You can change fixture conditions from free to fixed degrees of freedom and vice versa when activating the Restart option.
For example, to change a fixture condition from fixed to free when restarting the analysis:
  • Under Translations (Fixture PropertyManager), type 1 in the direction which you apply the fixture.
  • Under Variation with Time, select Curve and click Edit. In the Time curve dialog box, enter the curve data:
    X (Time, sec) Y Value Fixture condition
    0 0 fixed
    1 1.e8 (restart) change from fixed to free
    2 1.e8 free

To change a fixture condition from free to fixed when restarting the analysis:

  • Under Translations, type 1 in the direction which you apply the fixture.
  • Under Variation with Time, select Curve and click Edit. In the Time curve dialog box, enter the curve data:
    X (Time, sec) Y Value Fixture condition
    0 1.e8 free
    1 0 (restart) change from free to fixed
    2 0 fixed

    During the first run (remember to select Save data for restarting the analysis for the first run ( Start time = 0 < t < End time = 1 sec) the solver ignores this fixture and the selected entity where the fixture is applied is free to move. Activating the Restart option and rerunning the analysis (Start time = 1 sec < t < End time = 2 sec) , the solver applies the fixture and the selected entity is restrained from moving in the specified direction.
End time Ending solution time. Not used by the Arc-Length method.
Save data for restarting the analysis Check this flag before running the study for possible restart. The software takes some time and disk space to save the data required for a proper restart. If you clear this check box, you have to start from the beginning.
Remeshing the study deletes all restart information.
Time increment Sets the procedure for incrementing time at each solution step for the Force and Displacement control methods. For the Arc-Length control method, the program uses this value to estimate an arc-length increment.

Automatic (autostepping)

When checked, the program determines an increment internally for each solution step to improve chances of convergence. This option supports all control techniques. If the flag is checked, the following entries are used:

Initial time increment

The program uses this increment as the initial guess for the time increment.

Min

Minimum time step. The default is 1e-8 seconds.

For nonlinear dynamic studies only, if the specified minimum increment is equal or greater than the initial time increment, the program resets the minimum time step to 10% of the initial time increment.

Max

Maximum time step. Default is the End time for the Force and Displacement control methods.

For nonlinear dynamic studies only, the specified maximum time step is not used. The program resets the maximum value to the initial time increment.

No. of Adjustments

Maximum number of time step adjustments for each solution step.

Fixed

Fixed time step increment. Default is to run 10 steps.

Geometry nonlinearity options

Use large displacement formulation Uses the large displacement formulation.
Update load direction with deflection If checked, the direction of the applied load (normal uniform pressure or normal force) is updated for every solution step with deflection.
Examples
(a) Applied normal load on undeformed geometry.
(b) Flag for Update load direction with deflection is unchecked. Original load direction is maintained on deformed geometry.
(c) Flag for Update load direction with deflection is checked. The load direction is updated, and remains normal to the deformed geometry for each solution step.
When you apply a torque, the program calculates the force and the moment arm that creates the torque, and applies the force to the nodes. These forces retain their initial directions throughout the solution and as a result may cause high unexpected stresses to develop.
Large strain option (For plasticity material models only). Uses the large strain formulation.

Solver

Sets the solver to be used in performing nonlinear analysis.

Direct sparse Use the direct sparse solver. This solver have more chances of convergence for highly nonlinear problems.
FFEPlus Use the FFEPlus iterative solver. This solver is less demanding on memory. It maybe faster for large problems.
Large Problem Direct Sparse The Large Problem Direct Sparse solver, by leveraging enhanced memory-allocation algorithms, can handle cases where the solution is going out of core.

Incompatible bonding options

Sets the solver to be used in performing buckling analysis.

Simplified Applies the node-based bonding contact.
More accurate (slower) Applies the surface-based bonding contact, which results in longer solution time than the node-based contact formulation.
The program stops the analysis if:
  • The number of step-size adjustments in any step exceeds the maximum number of step adjustments.
  • The step increment required for convergence becomes smaller than the minimum step increment.


Provide feedback on this topic

SOLIDWORKS welcomes your feedback concerning the presentation, accuracy, and thoroughness of the documentation. Use the form below to send your comments and suggestions about this topic directly to our documentation team. The documentation team cannot answer technical support questions. Click here for information about technical support.

* Required

 
*Email:  
Subject:   Feedback on Help Topics
Page:   Nonlinear - Solution
*Comment:  
*   I acknowledge I have read and I hereby accept the privacy policy under which my Personal Data will be used by Dassault Systèmes

Print Topic

Select the scope of content to print:

x

We have detected you are using a browser version older than Internet Explorer 7. For optimized display, we suggest upgrading your browser to Internet Explorer 7 or newer.

 Never show this message again
x

Web Help Content Version: SOLIDWORKS 2015 SP05

To disable Web help from within SOLIDWORKS and use local help instead, click Help > Use SOLIDWORKS Web Help.

To report problems encountered with the Web help interface and search, contact your local support representative. To provide feedback on individual help topics, use the “Feedback on this topic” link on the individual topic page.

0.20.21