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Can I and How Do I...with
SolidWorks Simulation Tools?
Hawk Ridge Systems Simulation Team
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Agenda
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Introductions
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Presentation Description
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Presentation Format
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Your Questions
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Conclusion
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Wrap-Up
Introductions
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The Hawk Ridge Systems Simulation Team
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Jared Conway, Simulation Services Manager
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Glenn Whyte, Simulation Product Manager
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Damon Tordini, Simulation Applications Specialist
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Chris Ma, Simulation Engineer
Presentation Description
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Can I and How Do I...with SolidWorks Simulation Tools?
Whether you’re looking to bring SolidWorks Simulation tools into
your design process or you’re a SolidWorks Simulation user,
this is the presentation for you. The panel will field your questions
about the tools’ capabilities and how-to type functionality questions.
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Presentation Format
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Start with an example/pre-submit question
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Take a question from the audience (Raise your hand if you have a question)
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Panel will either answer or research
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Take another question, answer a researched question or answer a pre-submit question
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We’re Ready, Time to Take Your Questions
SolidWorks Simulation
(FEA)
•Ground Contact (Cus-DH)
•Dynamic Bolts (Cus-JP)
•Fatigue (Cus-DH)
•Results Convergence (HRS-DT)
•Submodeling (Cus-DH)
•Results Convergence (HRS-DT)
•Convection (SWW-CM)
•Joints (SWW-GW)
•Adhesives (SWW-DT)
•Non-Uniform Pressure (SWWCM)
SolidWorks Motion
(Kinematics)
•Component Intraction (Cus-CD)
SolidWorks Flow Simulation
(CFD)
SolidWorks Plastics
(Injection Molding)
•Model Preparation (HRS-CM)
•Configurations (HRS-CM)
SolidWorks Sustainability
(Life Cycle)
•Enable The Addin (HRS-JC)
Component Interaction, Chase D.
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Can I simulate how hundreds of components interact with each other?
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Software: SolidWorks Motion
Answer: Yes, no hardcoded limit but it will take time.
Explanation:
• Limited by processing power, solver is single threaded.
• Simplify assembly as much as possible in advance.
• Simplify analysis phases, let components settle before moving them.
• When possible use contact groups to minimize number of contacts.
• Start with stiff contact like steel and then move to your selected material.
• Solver suggestions: WSTIFF, low accuracy, low contact resolution,
sufficient FPS to capture contact and Impact contact type.
• Turn off animate while solving option.
Back
Ground Contact, David H.
How do I simulate realistic ground contact?
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Software: SolidWorks Simulation
Answer: A virtual wall is the best option. No meshing required. It allows
separation and interaction the same as no penetration.
Explanation:
• Fixed: Does not allow interface separation vertically
or horizontally.
• Roller Slider: Does not allow separation.
• Model Ground, Bonded: Same limitations as fixed plus additional component
modeled.
• Model Ground, No Penetration: Ground needs to be
modeled.
Back
Configurations, HRS
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Can I use configurations for different process conditions or geometries?
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Software: SolidWorks Plastics
Answer: Yes, but the option needs to be turned on.
Explanation:
• Default settings require 1 file for every configuration or set of
process conditions.
• Enable the option through the SolidWorks Plastics Settings:
Help > Settings > SolidWorks Configuration Integration.
• To copy the process conditions from an existing analysis:
1. Start the Model Manager.
2. Copy and paste the setup.
3. Name the pasted setup with EXACT same name as your new configuration.
Back
Model Preparation, HRS
How do I setup my model for SolidWorks Flow Simulation?
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Software: SolidWorks Flow Simulation
Answer: From http://blog.hawkridgesys.com/
1. Simplify and start simple.
2. CTRL+Q with verification on rebuild turned on.
3. Import diagnostics.
4. Tools > check.
5. Interference detection.
6. Flow simulation > tools > check geometry and leak tracker.
Explanation:
• Common problems: Long solve time, “solver terminated abnormally”, unexplainable results or solver
errors like “face is not lying on boundary between fluid and solid” and “unresolved…”
Back
Enable The Add-In, HRS
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How do I enable the software?
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Software: SolidWorks Sustainability
Answer: Tools > Sustainability or on the evaluate tab.
Explanation:
• Not enabled through tools > add-ins.
• Replaces SustainabilityXpress in the tools pull down menu.
• Sustainability adds the ability to run life-cycle analyses
on assemblies in addition to parts and also offers more
input and output options.
• Data from PE-International of Stuttgart Germany, provider
of software and consulting services in sustainable design and
life-cycle analysis for over 20 years.
Back
Dynamic Bolt, James P.
How do I model a bolted connection in a harmonic analysis?
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Software: SolidWorks Simulation
Answer: Currently not possible, would need to be addressed with a
nonlinear dynamic analysis or simplification in linear dynamic.
Explanation:
• Harmonic analysis is a linear dynamic analysis which inherently
does not include nonlinearities such as the no penetration
contact that is part of a bolt connector definition. Bolts could be
modeled and meshed but contact would be bonded. Springs or soft
components could act as first-order idealization of contact. Preload
would be difficult to include.
• Nonlinear dynamic supports bolt connectors but would require
long run times and a simulation at each frequency to obtain the
same results as a harmonic analysis.
Back
Fatigue, David H.
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Can I accurately predict the life of my product?
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Software: SolidWorks Simulation Professional / SolidWorks Simulation Premium
Answer: Yes, using the fatigue study. For better accuracy, consider a nonlinear study for the event.
Explanation:
• Fatigue analysis allows the user to create a standard linear static stress analysis to represent one
loading event, and then define how many cycles of that load the product will endure. The amount of
damage, or product life that’s been used up, is shown.
• The stresses that are calculated in the “event” study can have a major impact on the estimated
product life. Nonlinear may predict this event more accurately.
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Back
Results Convergence, HRS
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How do I know that my results are numerically accurate?
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Software: SolidWorks Simulation
Answer: Using the adaptive mesh capability.
Explanation:
• The h-adaptive mesh capability in SolidWorks Simulation automatically
refines the mesh of your model only in the necessary areas and checks
that an acceptable level of error has been achieved.
• Inaccurate stress results (such as stress singularities) can be discovered
using this tool.
• More information at http://blog.hawkridgesys.com.
Back
Submodeling, David H.
How can I make my complex analysis more efficient?
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Software: SolidWorks Simulation Professional and Premium
Answer: Use Submodeling to enhance accuracy and add more complex
mesh and conditions to a sub-region of the model.
Explanation:
• Submodeling allows us to transfer loading conditions from a master model
into a sub-region of that model. In doing so, we can increase mesh density,
add more complex conditions and run multiple iterations without the
overhead of the large complex model.
• In this example, the master analysis (with coarse mesh, bonded contact
conditions) takes 30 seconds to run, where the bracket submodel takes 15
seconds. I ran a 10-iteration optimization routine on the submodel in half
the time it would have taken in the master model.
• Including bolted connections and no penetration contact? 90 minutes to
run in the master model, 30 minutes using the submodeling approach.
Back
Pressure Distribution, SWW
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How do I specify a pressure distribution that varies with height?
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Software: SolidWorks Premium
Answer: Non-uniform pressure as a function of x and y.
Explanation:
• SolidWorks has the ability to specify a non-uniform pressure
distribution as a function of x and y.
• The equation used is p(X,Y) = V* (A + B*X + C*Y + D*X*Y + E*X^2 +
F*Y^2), where V is the pressure specified in the input box, A, B, C,
D, E, and F are user-specified constants.
• If the non-uniform pressure cannot be described by the above
equation, then the face can be split using split lines, and the user
can apply a non-uniform pressure distribution to each resulting
face.
Back
Convection in Simulation, SWW
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Can you specify cooling due to convection in Simulation?
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Software: SolidWorks Simulation Professional
Answer: Thermal simulation, convection boundary condition.
Explanation:
• In a thermal analysis, the user can specify a convection coefficient
and ambient temperature on a face or set of faces that is used to
calculate heat transfer due to convection.
• Convection can also be imported from Flow Simulation. (FloXpress
does not include this feature but can provide some input on how
the flow behaves)
Back
Weldment Joints, SWW
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How can I address weldment joints?
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Software: SolidWorks Simulation
Answer: Depends on connection type.
Explanation:
• When modeling weldments as beams, the members are
modelled as a line element and the joint is a node
connecting each line. This is a simple, perfect,
approximation.
• When modeling weldments as solids, the true geometry
of the joint is respected, and you can add connecting
components like bolts and welds.
• In a mixed mesh, the shape of the weldment crosssection is imprinted on the solid part, producing
accurate representation of the loading on that joint.
Back
Contact Stresses/Forces, SWW
How can I predict when an adhesive will fail?
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Software: SolidWorks Simulation
Answer: Examine stresses or contact forces
between parts.
Explanation:
• Method 1: Leave interface area as
bonded, and examine difference in
normal or principal stresses across part
boundary. Compare to adhesive specs.
• Method 2: Apply no penetration local
contact set in area of thermal pad and
bonded contacts at edges. Examine
contact/friction forces.
Back
Conclusion
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Always ask the question, there is probably a way.
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What you see is what you get but always ask the question.
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Check the documentation, check the KB, check the forum, talk to your VAR or contact HRS.
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Sometimes you may have to settle on a different approach or relative results but in the long-run it is
unlikely that you can’t get something to help you make a design decision.
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If there is a limitation, submit an enhancement request in the SolidWorks Customer Portal.
Wrap-Up
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Thank You for Attending
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The presentation will be available on our blog at http://blog.hawkridgesys.com in 1-2 weeks
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Contact Information
• [email protected]
• 650-230-7006
• http://dropbox.hightail.com/hrssimulationservices
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SolidWorks Flow Simulation Design Challenge (Hands-On), Tuesday at 2:45pm