Static - Options

The Static dialog box specifies the analysis options for static studies.

To open the Static-Options PropertyManager, do one of the following:

  • From the Simulation CommandManager, select New Study > Study Properties.
  • In a static study tree, right-click the top node, and click Properties.

Solver

Specifies the solver to use for the simulation of the static study.

Automatic The software selects the best equation solver (Intel Direct Sparse or FFEPlus Iterative) based on the number of equations, load cases, mesh type, geometric features, contact and connector features, and available system memory. Some options and conditions apply only to either the Intel Direct Sparse or FFEPlus solver.
Manual Select the solver to use for the simulation.
Direct sparse solver Selects the Direct Sparse solver. Activate the Direct Sparse when you have enough RAM and multiple CPUs.
For every 200,000 degrees of freedom, you need 1GB of RAM for linear static analysis. The Direct Sparse solver requires 10-times more RAM than the FFEPlus solver.
FFEPlus Selects the FFEPlus solver to run the study. This solver uses advanced matrix reordering techniques that make it more efficient for large problems.
For every 2,000,000 degrees of freedom, you need 1GB of RAM.
Large Problem Direct Sparse By leveraging enhanced memory-allocation algorithms, the Large Problem Direct Sparse solver can handle simulation problems that exceed the physical memory of your computer.

If you initially select the Direct Sparse solver and because of limited memory resources it has reached an out-of-core solution, a warning message alerts you to switch to Large Problem Direct Sparse.
Intel Direct Sparse The Intel Direct Sparse solver is available for static, thermal, frequency, linear dynamic, and nonlinear studies. By leveraging enhanced memory-allocation algorithms and multicore processing capability, the Intel Direct Sparse solver improves solution speeds for simulation problems that are solved in-core.
The Direct Sparse and Intel Direct Sparse solvers are more efficient at taking advantage of multiple cores.
Contact penalty stiffness scale factor Specifies a scale factor for the penalty stiffness for contact to use in linear static studies.

To reach a precise solution for linear static studies with contact interactions, use 1.0 for the penalty stiffness factor.

To assess design iterations and the overall behavior of a model, specify a value lower than 1.0 to obtain an approximate solution faster.
Large displacement When this option is checked, the program applies the loads gradually and uniformly in steps up to their full values performing contact iterations at every step. The number of steps is internally decided by the program. This option is not available for 2D simplification studies.
Compute free body forces Select this check box to instruct the application to prepare the grid force balance at every node. After running a study with this flag on, right-click the Results folder and select List Result Force to list forces that act on faces, edges, and vertices. The forces can come from contact, external loads, restrains, or connectors. This option is not available for 2D simplification studies.

Solver

Lets you specify the solver to be used to perform static analysis.

Automatic Solver Selection The software selects the solver based on the study type, analysis options, contact conditions, etc. Some options and conditions apply only to either Direct Sparse or FFEPlus.
Direct sparse solver Selects the Direct Sparse solver. Activate the Direct Sparse when you have enough RAM and multiple CPUs.
For every 200,000 degrees of freedom, you need 1GB of RAM for linear static analysis. The Direct Sparse solver requires 10-times more RAM than the FFEPlus solver.
FFEPlus Selects the FFEPlus solver to run the study. This solver uses advanced matrix reordering techniques that make it more efficient for large problems.
For every 2,000,000 degrees of freedom, you need 1GB of RAM.
Large Problem Direct Sparse

By leveraging enhanced memory-allocation algorithms, the Large Problem Direct Sparse solver can handle simulation problems that exceed the physical memory of your computer.

If you initially select the Direct Sparse solver and due to limited memory resources it has reached an out-of-core solution, a warning message alerts you to switch to the Large Problem Direct Sparse.
Intel Direct Sparse The Intel Direct Sparse solver is available for static, thermal, frequency, linear dynamic, and nonlinear studies. By leveraging enhanced memory-allocation algorithms and multicore processing capability, the Intel Direct Sparse solver improves solution speeds for simulation problems that are solved in-core.
The Direct Sparse and Intel Direct Sparse solvers are more efficient at taking advantage of multiple cores.
Use inplane effect Check this option to consider the effect of in-plane loading on the calculation of the stiffness.
Use soft spring to stabilize model Check this option to instruct the program to add soft springs attached to the ground to prevent instability. If you apply loads to an unstable design, it will translate or rotate as a rigid body. Apply adequate restraints to prevent rigid body motion.
Use inertial relief When this option is checked, the program automatically applies inertial forces to counteract unbalanced external loading. This option is particularly useful when you import loads from a motion package (SOLIDWORKS Motion) where external loads can be slightly unbalanced. When you select this option, you can solve structural problems without having to apply restraints or activate the soft spring option to stabilize the model against rigid body motions.
Large displacement When this option is checked, the program applies the loads gradually and uniformly in steps up to their full values performing contact iterations at every step. The number of steps is internally decided by the program. This option is not available for 2D simplification studies.
Compute free body forces Select this check box to instruct the application to prepare the grid force balance at every node. After running a study with this flag on, right-click the Results folder and select List Result Force to list forces that act on faces, edges, and vertices. The forces can come from contact, external loads, restrains, or connectors. This option is not available for 2D simplification studies.

Save Results

Save results to 3DEXPERIENCE

Saves the simulation results with the associated SOLIDWORKS model on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform in a storage area known as a collaborative space.

After saving SOLIDWORKS Simulation results along with the associated SOLIDWORKS model on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, you can search for these database objects in the collaborative space in which they are saved, and download them directly in SOLIDWORKS.

See also Saving SOLIDWORKS Simulation Results on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

The option to save simulation results (.cwr) files on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is available only when you activate the appropriate 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS role.
Save results to disk drive Saves the simulation results (*cwr) file to your local disk drive.
Save results to SOLIDWORKS document folder Saves the simulation results (*cwr) file to the same local folder where the associated SOLIDWORKS model is stored.
Select a folder to store the results file Selects a folder path to save the simulation results (*cwr) file. The selected folder path is shown in Results folder.
Validate and link the results file (*.cwr) to this study Links the current simulation results (*.cwr) file to the active static study.
Average stresses at mid-nodes (high-quality solid mesh only) Calculates the stresses at the mid-side nodes by averaging the stress values of the nearest corner nodes. This option gives better stress results when irregular high stresses occur at mid-side nodes of high-quality solid elements that are located at areas with steep curvature.

Available for a high-quality solid mesh.
  • Stresses at corner nodes (1, 2, 3, and 4) globally averaged over the shared elements.
  • Stresses at mid-side nodes (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) averaged over the nearest corner nodes. For example, stress (node 5) = (stress (node 1) + stress (node 2)) / 2