SOLIDWORKS

Simulation

Subject your designs to real world conditions to raise product quality while reducing prototyping and physical testing costs.

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SOLIDWORKS PCB is focused on bringing the best of both worlds together. Do what you do best in SolidWorks CAD and let SolidWorks PCB handle all your PCB design needs which was engineered specifically for SOLIDWORKS® collaboration. The best technology in PCB design combined with an easy-to-use interface and linked with SolidWorks CAD, gives you an efficient design experience that gets your PCBs done quickly and easily — just what you need when PCBs are only a part of your product design workflow.

Features

Ease of Use

SOLIDWORKS Simulation is fully embedded in SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD for ease of use and data integrity. Using the same user interface (UI) paradigms as SOLIDWORKS with toolbars, menus, and context-sensitive right-click menus, ensures rapid familiarization. Built-in tutorials and searchable online help aid learning and troubleshooting.

Design Data Reuse

SOLIDWORKS Simulation supports SOLIDWORKS materials and configurations for easy analysis of multiple loads and product configurations.

Static Studies

Solve part and assembly structural analysis problems for stress, strain, displacements, and Factors of Safety (FOS). Problems are limited to static loading, elastic linear materials, and small contact displacements. For the solution to be valid, the resulting deformed shape after loading must exhibit small displacements and rotations.

*Premium only: Static studies are extended to incorporate components built up by composites materials. Component setup includes ply orientation and sandwich definition. Results include ply failure index as well as stress and deflections.

Fatigue studies

Estimate components fatigue life under high-cycle varying loads where the peak stress is below the material yield stress. Cumulative damage theory is used to predict locations and cycles to failure.

Motion Analysis

Use a time-based, rigid body kinematic and dynamic motion tool to calculate the velocities, accelerations, and movements of an assembly under operational loads. The motion analysis tool calculates component body and connection loads that can be imported into a Static Study.

*Professional and Premium only: Use an event-based rigid body kinematic and dynamic motion tool to calculate the velocities, accelerations, and movements of an assembly under operational loads where actions and movements are triggered by the location or movement of components. The motion analysis tool calculates component body and connection loads that can be imported into a Static Study.

Design Studies

Perform wide-ranging “what if” analyses. In a design study, both the parameters of a design (model) and simulation setup (materials, loadings, and fixtures) can be varied to assess the impact of change on the model.

FEA Modelling

A customizable material library is included with simulation data:

Parallel computing (multi-core)
Batch Run

*Professional and Premium only:

2D Simplification
Plane Stress
Plane Strain
Axisymmetric
Sub-modeling Simulation
Sub-Modelling: analyze the structural resistance of a sub model from a main assembly
Off-loading computing

Loads and Restraints

Fixtures to prescribe zero or non-zero displacements
Force, pressure, and remote structural loads
Temperature loading
Import Flow/Thermal Loads

*Professional and Premium only:

Load Case Manager: evaluate the effects of various load combinations on your model

Assembly Connectivity

Component contact
Bonded contact condition
Node-to-node, surface-to-surface contact condition
Shrink Fit condition
Virtual Wall condition
Self-contact
Connectors: bolt, spring, pin, elastic support, and bearing -Connectors Safety Check

Professional and Premium Only:

Edge Weld
Thermal contact resistance condition
Insulated condition
Edge and spot weld connector

Results

Study results are dependent upon the type of study but are displayed as Contour, ISO-Surface, Surface, and Section plots.

Quantity point and line distribution given by the probe tool.
The Design Insight plot shows loaded material.
FEA results can be compared to test data.
Deformed shape results can be animated and the animation saved
Overlay Simulation results onto SOLIDWORKS graphics.
Communicate SOLIDWORKS Simulation results to non-SOLIDWORKS users via eDrawings®, a shareable 3D file format.

Help and Support

In-product tutorials, online help, and knowledge base.

Communication

Customizable simulation report -eDrawings of Simulation results

Thermal Analysis

Solve steady-state and transient part and assembly thermal problems for temperature, temperature gradient, and heat flux.

With the Thermal Analysis completed, you can import temperature loads into a Static Study.

Frequency Studies

Frequency Studies determine a product’s natural modes of vibration which is important for products that experience vibration in their working environment.

Buckling Studies

A possible failure mode for long and slender components is by collapse at a load below material yield stress. The buckling study predicts the components buckling load factor.

Pressure Vessel Studies

Linearized stress, a key for safe pressure design, is calculated in the Pressure Vessel Study.

Topology Studies

Enables you to discover new minimal material design alternatives under linear elastic static loading while still meeting component stress, stiffness and vibrational requirements.

Linear Dynamic Studies

Builds upon the Frequency Study to calculate the stresses due to forcing vibrations and calculating the effects of dynamic loads, impact or shock loading, for linear elastic materials. Study types are:

Modal Time History Analysis
Harmonic Analysis
Random Vibration Analysis
Response Spectrum Analysis

Non-linear Analysis

Non-Linear Analysis lets you analyze complex material behavior, such as post-yield metals, rubbers, and plastics, as well as to account for large deflections and sliding contact-in components.

Non-Linear Static Study assumes static loads with loads can be sequenced so that the dynamic effects of the varying load do not affect the study. The complex material models in Non-Linear Static Studies can be used to calculate permanent deformation and residual stresses due to excessive loads, as well as predicting performance for components, such as springs and clip fasteners.

Non-Linear Dynamic Study accounts for the effect of real-time varying loads that are included in calculations and results. In addition to solving non-linear static problems, Non-Linear Dynamic Studies can also solve impact problems.

Available packages

Improve your productivity with
certified training

Improve your productivity and knowledge of SOLIDWORKS solutions with instructor-led certified training, delivered online, at one of our training facilities, or on-site at your company’s premises.

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