Practical Finite Element Simulations with SOLIDWORKS 2022 E-Book

Khameel B. Mustapha

• Herausgeber: Packt Publishing
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 393

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

SOLIDWORKS is a dominant computer-aided design (CAD) software for the 3D modeling, designing, and analysis of components. This book helps you get to grips with SOLIDWORKS Simulation, which is a remarkable and integral part of SOLIDWORKS predominantly deployed for advanced product performance assessment and virtual prototyping.
With this book, you'll take a hands-on approach to learning SOLIDWORKS Simulation with the help of step-by-step guidelines on various aspects of the simulation workflow. You'll begin by learning about the requirements for effective simulation of parts and components, along with the idealization of physical components and their representation with finite element models. As you progress through the book, you'll find exercises at the end of each chapter, and you'll be able to download the geometry models used in all the chapters from GitHub. Finally, you’ll discover how to set up finite element simulations for the static analysis of components under various types of loads, and with different types of materials, from simple isotropic to composite, and different boundary conditions.
By the end of this SOLIDWORKS 2022 book, you'll be able to conduct basic and advanced static analyses with SOLIDWORKS Simulation and have practical knowledge of how to best use the family of elements in the SOLIDWORKS Simulation library.

Leseprobe

Practical Finite Element Simulations with SOLIDWORKS 2022

An illustrated guide to performing static analysis with SOLIDWORKS Simulation

Khameel B. Mustapha

BIRMINGHAM—MUMBAI

Practical Finite Element Simulations with SOLIDWORKS 2022

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To my parents, Hajj and Hajjah Muibideen Mustapha Balogun. Your blessings and prayers comprise the engine that propels me forward. To my wife, Aminah, for her spiritual support, psychological companionship, and emotional connections.

- Khameel Bayo Mustapha

Contributors

About the author

Khameel B. Mustapha obtained his doctorate from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) with a focus on the development of computational methods in the area of micro-continuum theory. He has years of experience working on a variety of finite element analysis platforms. Khameel has provided training to thousands of students and participants on the applications of finite element simulations to the analysis, design, and performance assessments of engineering components. His primary research interest is geared toward the mechanics and modeling of microscale structures, but his wider interest encompasses computational mechanics, engineering teaching philosophy, and mechanics of advanced systems (functionally graded materials, sandwich composites, subcellular biological structures, energy materials, and additively manufactured components). He is currently an Associate Professor with the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus and has previously held a faculty position with the Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak). He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), UK.

I wish to thank the developers of SOLIDWORKS software. This book would not have been possible without the existence of this brilliant piece of engineering marvel.

I acknowledge the institutional support of the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. Notably, I would like to thank the hardworking librarians for their persistent efforts in ensuring that the university's library collection is rich, diverse, and up to date.

I treasure the love and care of my wife, Aminah, and our children, Hibatullah, Abdul Alim, and Hameedah. I express gratitude for your unyielding endurance and endless patience in the sacrifices required to complete this book. Finally, all praise is due to the Owner of The Most Beautiful Names. He is the source of all knowledge and The Most Exalted.

About the reviewer

Paul Anthony has been a working mechanical engineer for over 10 years. He has spent his time practicing his skills in the automotive, solar, radiation monitoring, grinding technologies, machine spindles, and automation equipment fields. Analysis has always been a joy for Paul; it is a great tool for tying both the practical and design worlds together. Many applications for FEA have presented themselves during the course of his career, spanning simple static analyses to much more complex vibration and heat transfer problems. He looks forward to the future and all the opportunities that these skills will present to him.

Paul would like to dedicate his efforts and extend his gratitude to his Aunt Melissa Swenson and Uncle Scott Swenson for an influential conversation they had just before he embarked on his engineering career. Their words have stayed imprinted on his mind to this day, and they cannot begin to understand how grateful he is to these two wonderful people for their influence on the course of his career and life.

Table of Contents

Preface

Section 1: An Introduction to SOLIDWORKS Simulation

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Finite Element Simulation

Technical requirements

An overview of finite element simulation

Background

Applications of FEA

Implementations of FEA

Overview of SOLIDWORKS simulation

What is SOLIDWORKS Simulation?

Basic steps in SOLIDWORKS Simulation

Elements within SOLIDWORKS Simulation

Types of SOLIDWORKS Simulation license

Computing requirements

What are the limitations of SOLIDWORKS Simulation?

Understanding the SOLIDWORKS interfaces

Getting started with the SOLIDWORKS modeling environment

Activating the SOLIDWORKS Simulation environment

What is new in SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2021-2022?

Summary

Further reading

Chapter 2: Analyses of Bars and Trusses

Technical requirement

Overview of static analysis of trusses

Strategies for the analysis of trusses

Structural details

Modeling strategy

Characteristics of the truss element in the SOLIDWORKS Simulation library

Getting started with truss analysis via SOLIDWORKS Simulation

Problem statement

Part A – Creating the sketch of the geometric model

Part B – Converting the skeletal model into a structural profile

Part C – Creating the Simulation study

Part D – Scrutinizing the results

Other things to know about the truss element

Summary

Questions

Further reading

Chapter 3: Analyses of Beams and Frames

Technical requirements

An overview of beams and frames

Strategies for the analysis of beams and frames

Structural details

Modeling strategy

Characteristics of the beam element in the SOLIDWORKS Simulation library

Getting started with analyzing beams and frames in SOLIDWORKS Simulation

Problem statement

Part A – Create a sketch of lines describing the centroidal axis of the beam

Part B – Convert the skeletal model into a structural profile

Part C – Create the simulation study

Part D – Examining the results

Analysis of plane and space frames

Summary

Exercises

Further reading

Chapter 4: Analyses of Torsionally Loaded Components

Technical requirements

Overview of torsionally loaded members

Strategies for the analysis of uniform shafts

Structural details

Modeling strategies

Characteristics of the beam element in a SOLIDWORKS simulation library

Getting started with analyses of torsionally loaded members

Problem statement

Part A – Creating a 3D model of the shaft using the extrusion of cross-sections

Part B – Creating the simulation study

Part C – Creating custom material and specifying material properties

Part D – Applying torque and fixtures

Part E – Post-processing of results

Analysis of components under combined loads

Summary

Exercise

References

Section 2: SOLIDWORKS Simulation with Shell and Solid Elements

Chapter 5: Analyses of Axisymmetric Bodies

Technical requirements

Overview of axisymmetric body problems

Strategies for analyzing axisymmetric bodies

Structural details

Modeling strategies

Characteristics of shell and axisymmetric plane elements

Getting started with analyzing thin-walled pressure vessels in a SOLIDWORKS simulation

Problem statement – case study 1

Part A – Creating a model of the cylinder

Part B – Creating the simulation study

Part C – Meshing

Plane analysis of axisymmetric bodies

Problem statement – case study 2

Summary

Exercises

Further reading

Chapter 6: Analysis of Components with Solid Elements

Technical requirements

Overview of components that deserve to be analyzed with solid elements

Structural details

Model simplification strategies

Characteristics of solid elements

Analysis of helical springs

Problem statement – case study 1

Part A: Creating the model of the spring

Part B: Creating the simulation study

Part C: Meshing and post-processing of results

Analysis of spur gears

Problem statement – case study 2

Launching SOLIDWORKS and opening the gear assembly file

Creating the simulation study for the gear and simplifying the assembly

Assigning materials to the gears

Setting up the interaction condition for the gears

Applying the fixture to the gears

The meshing of the gears

Running and obtaining the results

Summary

Exercises

Further reading

Chapter 7: Analyses of Components with Mixed Elements

Technical requirements

Analysis of three-dimensional components with mixed beam and shell elements

Problem statement – case study 1

Part A: Reviewing the structural models

Part B: Creating the simulation study

Part C: Meshing and running

Part D: Post-processing of results

Analysis of three-dimensional components with mixed shell and solid elements

Problem statement – case study 2

Reviewing the model and activating the simulation study

Defining surface thickness and assigning material properties

Updating the default contact/interaction setting

Applying fixtures and loads

Meshing

Running the analysis and post-process

Obtaining the vertical deflection of the building

Extracting the stresses in the components

Summary

Exercises

Further reading

Section 3: Advanced SOLIDWORKS Simulation with Complex Material and Loading Behavior

Chapter 8: Simulation of Components with Composite Materials

Technical requirements

An overview of the analysis of composite structures

An analysis of composite beams

Problem statement

Part A – reviewing the structural model

Part B – defining the laminated composite shell properties

Part C – meshing and modifying the system's options

Part D – the running and post-processing of results

Analysis of advanced composite structures

Summary

Exercise

Further reading

Chapter 9: Simulation of Components under Thermo-Mechanical and Cyclic Loads

Technical requirements

Analysis of components under thermo-mechanical loads

Problem statement

Reviewing the file of the circular diaphragm

Dealing with the thermal study

Dealing with the combined thermal static study

Analysis of components under cyclic loads

Problem statement

The solution to fatigue analysis

Summary

Further reading

Chapter 10: A Guide to Meshing in SOLIDWORKS

Technical requirements

Discretization with beam and truss elements

Mesh control with plane elements

Mesh control with three-dimensional elements

Discretization with h- and p-type solution methods

Summary

Further reading

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Preface

SOLIDWORKS is a ubiquitous software at the forefront of technologies for the three-dimensional modeling and designing of components. SOLIDWORKS Simulation, which is the focus of this book, harnesses the power of finite element simulations within the robust SOLIDWORKS simulation environment. Predominantly deployed for detailed assessments of product performance, SOLIDWORKS Simulation has grown in prominence in recent years among analysts and engineers tasked with taking product designs to a whole new level through the seamless integration of virtual prototyping, performance diagnostics, and failure analyses.

As a subset of computer-aided engineering skills, finite element simulation was once delegated to specialists within engineering firms. However, as the line between engineering analysts and designers blurs with the proliferation of software such as SOLIDWORKS, many engineers are now required to be both familiar and proficient with complex engineering analysis related to performance evaluations of products. In this vein, learning SOLIDWORKS Simulation will significantly enhance your ability to contribute to bringing products to market faster. This book offers a path for you to acquire a foundation in practical finite element analysis (FEA) using SOLIDWORKS Simulation.

Who this book is for

This book is for professionals working in various engineering fields in which finite element simulation is used heavily. This includes engineers and analysts from areas such as the aerospace, mechanical, civil, and mechatronics engineering fields who are looking to explore the simulation capabilities of SOLIDWORKS. No prior familiarity with the SOLIDWORKS simulation environment is assumed. However, basic knowledge of modeling in SOLIDWORKS or any CAD software is assumed.

What this book covers

The book covers static analyses of engineering systems. Overall, the book provides several cases of static problems, presents a systematic illustration of their solutions, and describes the interpretation of the solutions from the perspective of an engineering analyst. A summary of the chapters is provided next.

Chapter 1, Getting Started with Finite Element Simulation, offers an overview of the finite element method (FEM) and highlights the uniqueness of SOLIDWORKS Simulation regarding the analysis of engineering components. You will learn about the SOLIDWORKS simulation interface, be introduced to the general steps for the simulation of single and assembly-based components, and understand the major families of elements.

Chapter 2, Analyses of Bars and Trusses, commences the proper exploration journey with a problem concerning the static analysis of a crane. It provides an introduction to the use of the weldments tool and explains how to change a beam element into a truss element.

Chapter 3, Analyses of Beams and Frames, focuses on the simulation procedures and strategies for the analysis of transversely loaded members in the form of beams. It expands on the knowledge of SOLIDWORKS's weldment tool and provides a strategy for the application of more complex types of loads (such as concentrated force, moment, and distributed load). It also demonstrates the idea of using critical points along the length of beams to create appropriate line segments.

Chapter 4, Analyses of Torsionally Loaded Components, deals with the static analysis of torsionally loaded members. It showcases the creation of our first custom material and highlights the extraction of the angle of twists following the application of torsional loads.

Chapter 5, Analyses of Axisymmetric Bodies, initiates the treatment of advanced elements. It discusses the attributes of shell and axisymmetric plane elements and applies these elements to two case studies in the form of pressure vessels and a flywheel. Via these examples, you will learn how to apply symmetric boundary conditions, duplicate studies, take advantage of the probe tool, and get exposed to methods of visualizing the 3D plot for a study conducted with an axisymmetric plane element.

Chapter 6, Analyses of Components with Solid Elements, examines the deployment of solid elements and showcases the analyses of helical springs and spur gears. Through the examples provided in this chapter, you will learn about mesh control, an assessment of contact stress, how to set up "no penetration contact," and become familiar with the significance of curvature-based mesh.

Chapter 7, Analyses of Components with Mixed Elements, brings together the major families of elements for the analysis of a multi-story building. This chapter explores the use of the automatic contact pairs detection tool. It also highlights how to deploy the in-built soft spring feature within SOLIDWORKS Simulation to provide stability for non-linear simulation studies.

Chapter 8, Simulation of Components with Composite Materials, taps into SOLIDWORKS's simulation capability for the analysis of components made up of composite materials. Among other things, you will learn how to convert a basic surface body into a composite shell, walk through the procedure to create a custom orthotropic composite material, and assign its properties to a composite laminate.

Chapter 9, Simulation of Components under Thermo-Mechanical and Cyclic Loads, is dedicated to analyses that involve thermal and cyclic loads. It discusses the integration of thermal and static analyses to address the simulation of components at elevated temperatures. You will also learn how to conduct fatigue analysis and get exposure to the optimization capability of SOLIDWORKS Simulation regarding designing components against failure.

Chapter 10, A Guide to Meshing in SOLIDWORKS, culminates in a brief coverage of methods to customize the meshing of structures to achieve reliable results. You will encounter mesh control for different types of elements and learn how to employ convergence analysis to evaluate the accuracy of simulation results.

To get the most out of this book

You will need to have access to a version of SOLIDWORKS that permits the use of SOLIDWORKS Simulation for all chapters.

To benefit from the book's hands-on approach to learning SOLIDWORKS Simulation, you should follow the step-by-step guidelines on various aspects of the simulation workflow as you read.

Further, to get the most out of the book, a basic familiarity with 3D modeling techniques using SOLIDWORKS, even if at a beginner's level, will help you to move along the chapters smoothly. Along with the aforementioned, it is assumed that you have acquired the essentials of elementary mechanics.

SOLIDWORKS Corporation offers three types of licenses for SOLIDWORKS Simulation. You will need the premium license to be able to work through all the chapters without any restrictions.

Download the example code files

You can download the example files for this book from GitHub at https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Practical-Finite-Element-Simulations-with-SOLIDWORKS-2022. If there's an update to the simulation models/files, it will be updated in the GitHub repository.

We also have other code bundles from our rich catalog of books and videos available at https://github.com/PacktPublishing/. Check them out!

Download the color images

We also provide a PDF file that has color images of the screenshots and diagrams used in this book. You can download it here: https://static.packt-cdn.com/downloads/9781801819923_ColorImages.pdf.

Conventions used

There are a number of text conventions used throughout this book.

Code in text: Indicates code words in the text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles. Here is an example: "You should check to see that it comprises a SOLIDWORKS part file named Diaphragm."

Bold: Indicates a new term, an important word, or words that you see on screen. For instance, words in menus or dialog boxes appear in bold. Here is an example: "With the Simulation tab active, create a new study by clicking on New Study."

Tips or Important Notes

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Section 1: An Introduction to SOLIDWORKS Simulation

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In this same vein, this first section of the book introduces you to the interface of SOLIDWORKS Simulation and unveils how to conduct basic analyses of engineering components. By the end of this section, you will have acquired knowledge of simulation with one-dimensional elements in the SOLIDWORKS simulation library.

This section comprises the following chapters:

Chapter 1, Getting Started with Finite Element SimulationChapter 2, Analyses of Bars and TrussesChapter 3, Analyses of Beams and FramesChapter 4, Analyses of Torsionally Loaded Components

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Finite Element Simulation

This chapter lays the groundwork for what is to come in the later chapters. It gives a high-level discussion of the finite element method (FEM), tracing its historical origin, emphasizing its application, and outlining its implementations. Some of the key concepts regarding FEM (such as discretization, types of elements in FEM, nodes, and more) are briefly highlighted, and a snapshot of the SOLIDWORKS Simulation interface, license, and computing requirements are discussed. To this end, this chapter covers the following major topics:

An overview of finite element simulationUnderstanding SOLIDWORKS Simulation Getting started with the SOLIDWORKS interfacesWhat is new in SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2021–2022?

Technical requirements

You will need to have access to SOLIDWORKS software with a SOLIDWORKS Simulation license.

You can find the supporting files for this chapter here: https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Practical-Finite-Element-Simulations-with-SOLIDWORKS-2022/tree/main/Chapter01

An overview of finite element simulation

This section offers a short account of the historical origin, importance, application, and implementation of finite element simulation.

Background

The pervasiveness of computer-aided engineering (CAE) has grown in parallel with the progress in the development of digital computers. Historically, CAE was predominantly used for the solid and surface modeling of engineering parts and assembly. However, in recent years, a glaring inroad of this progress has manifested in the simulation of various forms of engineering systems. Indeed, simulation is at the heart of the progress for advanced product development across different industries. Specifically, in the area of engineering product development, finite element simulation, which is based on the rich theoretical framework provided by the finite element analysis (FEA), represents a crucial toolkit for the following:

A smarter and efficient design of engineering systems throughout the product development life cycleMinimizing product recall through rigorous analyses and examinations of the fidelity of product performanceFacilitating iterations of virtual prototypes before incurring the cost of building physical prototypes

Information

Simulation is a word that has many definitions. Its use in this book orients toward its definition as the representation of a real physical system with a virtual prototype to study, analyze, and predict its response under external effects.

These days, FEM can be regarded as a standalone subfield of activity within the larger CAE. However, historical records place its root in the field of applied mathematics. The first documented application of the method is linked to the technical attempt to solve design problems from the aerospace industry in the 1950s. Nonetheless, the method rose to fame in the 1960s with the work of Clough[1] (please refer to the Further reading section) and the publication of the first book on FEA by Zienkiewicz and Cheung[2]. Since these events, FEM has recorded many successes, and there has been an upswing of applications spreading from the automotive, aerospace, biomedical, civil, consumer products, nuclear, and mechanical fields, to the space industry.

FEA entails transforming physical processes/products into some approximate mathematical equivalents called mathematical models. Afterward, the models are solved with appropriate computing resources via numerical solution algorithms. Now, the notion of approximation here might evoke a feeling of inferiority of finite element simulation. However, it does not in any way detract from the excellent accomplishments of FEA, some of which will be demonstrated in this book. By the virtue of their complexities, most physical objects or practical products cannot be reduced to perfect mathematical models. As a result, the process of approximation has become a time-honored trade-off that engineers have accepted and should be willing to interrogate its consequence. Viewed through this lens, being aware of the approximate nature of simulation requires analysts to be mindful of errors that arise from simulation and others closely linked with using finite element simulation software as an engine of inquiry to analyze and predict the behavior of physical entities. Nonetheless, we will explore methods of minimizing errors in finite element simulations (through convergence analysis, verification, and validation) in subsequent chapters of this book.

Meanwhile, as a subset of the CAE skills, finite element simulation was once delegated to specialists within engineering firms. However, as the line between engineering analysts and designers blurs with the proliferation of software such as SOLIDWORKS, many engineers are now required to be both familiar and proficient with complex engineering analyses related to the performance evaluations of products. It is hoped that this book serves you in the journey to acquire proficiency in this regard or will, at the very least, point you in this direction.

Applications of FEA

Although FEA gained tremendous traction from its attempts to solve the problems of structural mechanics, today, the successful applications of the methods span numerous subfields of engineering, ranging from flow analysis to thermal, electric, and magnetic fields. A non-exhaustive list of domains of the applications of FEA are presented in Table 1-1:

Table 1-1: Domains of applications

Implementations of FEA

Meanwhile, for simple problems, the FEA can be coded in almost any programming language. However, such programs are usually limited in scope and are often less useful for engineers dealing with the performance analysis of complex parts or assemblies. As a consequence, there are many commercial implementations of FEA.

Two categories of FEA-related software have emerged from the implementation by various corporations and entities:

Analysis-oriented FEA software Design-oriented FEA software

The first category encompasses commercial implementations of FEM such as ABAQUS, ADINA, DEFORM, ANSYS, MSC NASTRAN, and COMSOL, among others. Each piece of software in this category predominantly exists as an analysts' tool. They have a comprehensive set of libraries and elements for the advanced analysis of multiphysics engineering systems. However, they tend to have a rather steep learning curve. In contrast, the software in the second category, under which SOLIDWORKS Simulation belongs, is principally developed for three-dimensional (3D) CAD modeling. However, they offer simulation suites that can be used for various analyses using the FEM. Due to the close integration between the modeling and analysis environments, the latter category generally does the following:

It facilitates faster learning of the intricacies of FEA.It has a familiar and less intimidating interface for beginners. It has a relatively shallow learning curve for most engineers that are already familiar with the modeling interface.

Nevertheless, there are elements of overlap in both categories. For instance, a majority of the specialist FEA applications in the second category are also conferred with CAD interface for part modeling. Moreover, all implementations of FEM conceptually follow and require these three phases for product simulations:

A preprocessing phaseA solution phaseA postprocessing phase

The preprocessing phase involves idealization (which translates to the transformation from a physical world to a computational domain), model generation (that is, defining the geometric domain), mesh generation (that is, creating elements and nodes), and the supplying of input data (for example, material properties, loads, and physical constraints).

In the solution phase, the governing algebraic equation in matrix form that maps to the behavior of the computational domain is solved using a numerical method. For this phase to happen, the application software will often require the user to provide details (specifically, sufficient boundary conditions) that ensure the satisfaction of compatibility and equilibrium conditions.

The postprocessing phase involves evaluations and interpretations of the computed solutions generated by the simulation and possibly an examination of the correctness. In specific terms, activities that fall under this phase encompass things such as the plotting of results, the retrieving of deformed shapes, the examination of critically-stressed areas within the components, and more.

Now that we have covered the background, applications, and some of the basic steps necessary for general finite element analyses, we will move on to introduce the SOLIDWORKS simulation.

Overview of SOLIDWORKS simulation

This section introduces the SOLIDWORKS Simulation, highlights the basic steps required for most simulations, discusses the type of finite elements provided by SOLIDWORKS Simulation, and covers the SOLIDWORKS Simulation license, its computing requirements, and its limitations.

What is SOLIDWORKS Simulation?

SOLIDWORKS Simulation is the implementation of the FEM in the SOLIDWORKS CAD environment by SOLIDWORKS Corporation (whose parent company, Dassault Systèmes, makes the SOLIDWORKS CAD software). The SOLIDWORKS CAD software has a reputation for being user-friendly, and it is clearly a leader in the 3D design modeling market.

Riding on the wave of popularity of SOLIDWORKS as a design modeling tool, SOLIDWORKS Simulation was developed in the same spirit to provide an easy, one-stop platform for design analyses. In addition to this, SOLIDWORKS Simulation is established on the backbone of fast numerical solvers. It simplifies the workflow for obtaining a detailed solution for stress, thermal, frequency, flow, transient, buckling, pressure vessels, and optimization analyses, among others. Fully embedded within the SOLIDWORKS environment, SOLIDWORKS Simulation helps product designers to do the following:

Reduce the cost of prototyping by facilitating a virtual testing platform in place of costly early-stage physical tests.Shorten the concept-to-product timeframe and the time to market.Accelerate the analysis of design iterations.Evaluate the optimal design with parametric analyses.Analyze complex parts and assemblies with support for different material behavior (such as linear or nonlinear).Conduct simulation on subassemblies with support for contact and interaction involving machine elements such as bolts, pins, springs, and bearings.

Basic steps in SOLIDWORKS Simulation

In this section, we will highlight the steps required for the analyses of a single-member component and a multi-member assembly using SOLIDWORKS Simulation. The steps are summarized in Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2, representing the expansion of the phases in FEA that were briefly mentioned in the Implementations of FEA section :

Figure 1.1 – Flowchart for the static analysis of a one-member component

Figure 1.2 – Flowchart for the static analysis of an assembly

A couple of comments regarding the steps indicated in Figure 1.1 and Figure 1.2 are provided as follows:

The first step to the simulation of a product (such as a part or an assembly) is to create its CAD model. At this stage, all geometric properties are defined. For complicated geometries, the geometry of the structure to be analyzed might have to be defeatured and fine-tuned. Next, the SOLIDWORKS Simulation interface is launched. Discretization of the part or assembly is carried out. Often, discretization is called meshing. This refers to the crucial process of dividing a part or assembly into smaller pieces (similar to LEGO pieces). A few concepts need to be known regarding meshing:Meshing creates elements and nodes. An element describes a finite-sized division created from the original component to be analyzed. Elements are joined by common points called nodes.Each finite element is characterized by a specific number of degrees of freedom. A degree of freedom is the fundamental field variable calculated during the FEA. For instance, for static analysis problems, the displacement vector is the main degree of freedom during the computation. However, in the case of simulations related to thermal analysis problems, the degree of freedom is temperature. The size and type of elements created during meshing are key to getting accurate results. Typically, the types of elements to be used for analysis become obvious from the nature of the problem. This concept will be developed further throughout the book.After the discretization step, we will specify the following:Material properties. For static analysis, this will generally include stiffness information such as Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio. Loads. A variety of loads can be applied within the SOLIDWORKS Simulation interface, ranging from axial load, transverse load, torsional load to pressure load. Fixtures. In the language of SOLIDWORKS Simulation, the word "fixture" is used to indicate boundary conditions. Meanwhile, boundary conditions generally refer to physical constraints on the movement of specific joints or segments of a load-bearing structure. They arise from the presence of supports used to ensure that a structure being analyzed is properly constrained to prevent rigid body motion during the application of external loads. Connections. In the language of SOLIDWORKS Simulation, the connections settings comprise the contact condition that is required anytime two or more components touch each other before or during the simulation process. This might arise from welding, bonding, riveting, or various other types of joining of a practical nature. SOLIDWORKS Simulation provides a variety of contact types that will be explored as we progress in our exploration of the software.Finally, we run the analysis, then obtain and interpret the results.

Information

In FEA, elements of different shapes, degrees of freedom (DOF), and complexity exist. In principle, when the term DOF is used in mechanics, it denotes the number of independent quantities required to describe a displaced or perturbed state of a structure. For static problems that are the focus of this book, we will be using DOF to refer to the number of possible displacement components at nodes of a specific finite element. Note that a comprehensive account of the mathematical derivations for a wide variety of elements is not addressed in this book. Such derivations can be found in many of the books on the mathematical foundation of the FEM such as [3] and [4].

Elements within SOLIDWORKS Simulation

SOLIDWORKS Simulation has three major families of elements that are used in the performance analysis of components:

Continuum elements:Solid elementsTwo-dimensional (2D) plane elementsStructural elements:Beam elementsTruss elementsShell elementsSpecial elements

While these elements will be rigorously explored in subsequent chapters, Table 1-2 highlights three representative cases of when to use these elements.

Generally, a solid element is used for bulky models with considerable thickness and volume. 2D plane elements are employed for the 2D analysis of members (such as axisymmetric, plane stress, or plane strain problems). Beam and truss elements are used for the analysis of structural members that have one of their dimensions far greater than the dimensions of their cross-sections. Shell elements are deployed for thin-walled members. The special elements mostly connect elements such as springs elastic supports, and more:

Table 1-2: Discretization and the major types of elements

Types of SOLIDWORKS Simulation license

SOLIDWORKS Corporation offers three types of license for SOLIDWORKS Simulation:

SOLIDWORKS Simulation StandardSOLIDWORKS Simulation ProfessionalSOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium

Of these three, the premium license is the most comprehensive in terms of capability. The professional license does not support nonlinear and composite analyses. The standard license is even more limited in terms of the scope of analyses it supports. For this book, the premium license is employed.

Information

To read more about the kinds of analyses that can be carried out with each of the previously mentioned licenses, please visit https://www.solidworks.com/product/solidworks-simulation.

Computing requirements

SOLIDWORKS is a memory-hungry application. This is understandable given the functionalities that are packed into this amazing piece of software. For best performance, the recommendation listed in Table 1-3 is suggested for PCs or laptops to be used for basic analysis with the SOLIDWORKS Simulation:

Table 1-3: System requirements

Information

For further information about system requirements, beyond the details in Table 1-3, head over to https://www.solidworks.com/support/system-requirements.

What are the limitations of SOLIDWORKS Simulation?

While SOLIDWORKS Simulation is a powerful tool that can be used for numerous kinds of analyses of products and components, it is worth mentioning that it has a limited number of elements in its library. This point should be borne in mind while dealing with multiphysics problems for which a suitable element for the analysis might not exist in the SOLIDWORKS Simulation library. Besides, you should always find alternative methods to determine the accuracy of the results retrieved from the SOLIDWORKS Simulation. This is known as validation, and it can be done via experiments or analytical techniques at one stage of the product development phases. The approach to such methods of validation through experimental stress techniques is not covered in this book (a classic reference is a text by Dally and Riley[5]).

This wraps up our presentation of the overview of the SOLIDWORKS Simulation. In the next section, we will do a cursory examination of the SOLIDWORKS interfaces.

Understanding the SOLIDWORKS interfaces

The main focus of this section is to briefly introduce the SOLIDWORKS interfaces. Since we are going to be interacting with the interface in the rest of the book, only a few of the features are examined. Nonetheless, it is worth pointing out that the SOLIDWORKS Simulation interface is closely linked with the SOLIDWORKS modeling environment, and both require that you have the correct license. With SOLIDWORKS installed on your PC or laptop, the interfaces are accessed by following the steps laid out in the subsections that follow.

Getting started with the SOLIDWORKS modeling environment

This subsection illustrates a brief interaction with the SOLIDWORKS 2021-2022 modeling environment. The steps focus on the use of a single-part component to reveal the simulation environment. Let's start by launching the SOLIDWORKS application and then navigating to the modeling environment by following these steps:

Choose File from the main menu.Click on New.Select Part and click on OK:

Figure 1.3 – The steps for launching the modeling environment

The modeling environment is launched after completing the preceding steps, as shown next. Generally, the modeling environment features many items, as shown in Figure 1.4. This includes the following:

Menu Bar: This provides access to different kinds of commands that the software offers. Command Manager Tab: This encompasses a series of tabs segregating the commands for many specialized tasks. Feature Manager Tree: This acts as a record of features that are created in the graphics window, often representing these features in the order in which they are created.Document Window: This is used to navigate between different windows in the graphics area.Graphics area: The major area for modeling and simulation activities:

Figure 1.4 – The SOLIDWORKS 2021-2022 user interface

With the basic information about the interface detailed, let's now take a brief look at how to activate the simulation environment. We will come back to this activity in subsequent chapters in more detail.

Activating the SOLIDWORKS Simulation environment

Launch the SOLIDWORKS Simulation interface by following these steps:

Activate the simulation add-in by performing the following:Clicking on the SOLIDWORKS Add-Ins tab (please refer to Figure 1.5).Selecting SOLIDWORKS Simulation:

Figure 1.5 – Activating the SOLIDWORKS simulation add-ins

The Simulation tab becomes active, as shown next. However, notice that when the SOLIDWORKS Simulation becomes activated, most of the icons are gray, as shown in Figure 1.6. This arises from the fact that no analysis has been defined yet.

Start a new analysis by performing the following:Open a CAD model of a part or a component to be analyzed.Click on New Study, as shown in Figure 1.6:

Figure 1.6 – Starting a new simulation study

Select a Study type (in this book, we will be restricted to static analysis).Supply a descriptive name for the simulation study, as shown in Figure 1.7.Click on OK:

Figure 1.7 – Supplying the details of the simulation study

In response to the preceding steps, the simulation study environment is activated, as indicated in Figure 1.8. There are a few things to pay attention to in this screenshot. For one, the different icons that were previously gray underneath the Simulation tab in Figure 1.6 are now active in Figure 1.8. Further, the simulation tree manager and the study tab (at the base of the screen) have both appeared:

Figure 1.8 – Simulation study tree

The SOLIDWORKS Simulation environment is better explored within the context of simulation problems. Accordingly, rather than detailing all the features here, we will further examine them comprehensively in subsequent chapters and reveal the power of this simulation engine for the analysis of various types of problems.

In the next section, we will briefly highlight some of the important updates in SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2021-2022.

What is new in SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2021-2022?

SOLIDWORKS 2021-2022, upon which this book is based, is the latest version of SOLIDWORKS with significant improvement in functionality and performance. In terms of its look, SOLIDWORKS 2021-2022 appears similar to the previous version of SOLIDWORKS (specifically, the 2020-2021 version). However, there are important differences across many phases of the software. Nonetheless, when it comes to the 2021-2022 version of SOLIDWORKS Simulation, a few of the updates are highlighted here:

Change in terminology for the items under the Connections folder within the simulation study tree: For instance, if we import the model of an assembly into the modeling environment and then launch a New Study (as done in Figure 1.6), the look of the Simulation study tree in the 2021-2022 and the 2020-2021 versions will be similar to Figure 1.9:

Figure 1.9 – A highlight of the difference in the Simulation study tree

As you can see, Component Contacts is now known as Component Interactions, while Global Contact becomes Global Interaction.

Update to the Static Options dialog box: After launching a new study environment, you can examine the Static Options dialog box by following Figure 1.10:

Figure 1.10 – Initiating the static options dialog box

After clicking on Properties…, the Static options dialog box appears. As shown in Figure 1.11, the Static options dialog box for the 2021-2022 version has a more streamlined interface for modifying various study properties.

Figure 1.11 – Partial views of the static options dialog box

Additionally, as you will note from Figure 1.11, in the 2021-2022 version, the Automatic Solver is selected by default within the static options dialogue box. And talking about the static options dialog box, the number of solution Solvers available in the 2021-2022 version is the same as the earlier version, as shown in Figure 1.12. However, the FFEPlus solver, which is based on an iterative technique is now more powerful (this is true for the other solvers as well):

Figure 1.12 – The Solver options within the static options dialog box

Apart from the aforementioned update, we can now shift our attention briefly to the update to the Connections folder's sub-items.

Update to the Connections folder context menu. It is shown in Figure 1.9 that there is a change in terminology concerning the Connections folder sub-items under the Simulation study tree. The update is deeper than what was highlighted in Figure 1.9. To see another update, you should right-click on the Connections folder. From the right-click context menu, you will notice that the items named Contact Set... and Component Contact... are now referred to as Local Interaction... and Component Interaction... , as depicted in Figure 1.13:

Figure 1.13 – Highlight of the update to the Connections folder context menu

We will expand on this change in more detail in Chapter 6, Analyses of Components with Solid Elements, and Chapter 7, Analyses of Components with Mixed Elements.

Update to the Mesh PropertyManager: If you right-click on the Mesh folder within the Simulation study tree and then select Create Mesh, you will observe a difference in the arrangement of the meshing engines, as shown in Figure 1.14:

Figure 1.14 – Highlight of the change for the Mesh PropertyManager

While the names of the meshing engines remain the same, as shown in Figure 1.14, the Curvature-based mesh and the Blended curvature-based meshing engines have undergone serious updates to facilitate enhanced accuracy of the simulation results. Again, we will revisit the issues around meshing in the second and third sections of the book.

This ends our discussion of a few of the differences that exist in the 2021-2022 SOLIDWORKS Simulation. So far, we have primarily focused on the updates that will be discussed in the later chapters of the book. For a more detailed look at the significant enhancements across all aspects of SOLIDWORKS, in general, and SOLIDWORKS Simulation, in particular, you should check out https://www.solidworks.com/product/whats-new.

Summary

This chapter provided a short overview of the importance, applications, and basic concepts of finite element simulation (such as discretization, elements, the types of elements, nodes, the main phases in finite element simulation, and more). We also initiated our exploration of the theme of this book by introducing the SOLIDWORKS general interface and the SOLIDWORKS Simulation interface.

Subsequent chapters of the book will take a detailed look at the use of SOLIDWORKS Simulation for the analyses of different kinds of structures. In the next chapter, we will examine the analysis of bars and trusses.

Further reading

[1] The finite element in plan stress analysis, in Proceedings of the 2nd ASCE Conference on Electronic Computation, R. W. Clough, Pittsburgh, PA, 1960, [2] The finite element method in structural and continuum mechanics: numerical solution of problems in structural and continuum mechanics, O. C. Zienkiewicz and Y. K. Cheung, London; New York: McGraw-Hill (in English), 1967.[3] Introduction to the Finite Element Method, J. N. Reddy, McGraw-Hill Education, 2019.[4] Fundamentals of Finite Element Analysis, D. V. Hutton, McGraw-Hill, 2003.[5] Experimental Stress Analysis, J. W. Dally and W. F. Riley, McGraw-Hill, 1978.

Chapter 2: Analyses of Bars and Trusses

This chapter demonstrates the SOLIDWORKS simulation procedure for structures that primarily support axial loads. The simplest form of this type of structure is known as bars or rods. In the more complex form, they are known as plane and space trusses (which are just the two-dimensional and three-dimensional arrangements of bars, respectively). By the end of this chapter, you will be familiar with the procedure for the simulation of the aforementioned structures. Against this backdrop, the focus of this chapter is anchored on the following topics:

Overview of static analysis of trussesStrategies for the analysis of trusses Getting started with truss analysis via SOLIDWORKS Simulation

Technical requirement

You will need to have access to the SOLIDWORKS software with a SOLIDWORKS Simulation license.

You can find the sample files of the models required for this chapter here: https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Practical-Finite-Element-Simulations-with-SOLIDWORKS-2022/tree/main/Chapter02

Overview of static analysis of trusses

This section provides basic background information about bars and trusses. It highlights the objectives of analyzing these structures and their applications.

Let’s start with some basic definitions. A bar is a structure that is designed to support simple forces along its axis (such as tensile and compressive loads). On the other hand, a truss represents a collection of bars that are arranged as one or more units of triangulated frameworks. Discussions on the analysis of either of these types of structure (that is, a bar or a truss) often deserve separate standalone chapters. Nonetheless, since the analysis of bars is simpler than that of trusses, we shall allocate more time to the simulation of trusses with the understanding that the same knowledge carries over to the analysis of simple bars.

Note

Within the subject of mechanics, a structure broadly refers to a body or a collection of bodies designed to carry loads. Most structures are three-dimensional (3D) in nature. But for ease of analysis, engineers often leverage approximations that facilitate the use of one-dimensional (1D) members (such as a bar, a shaft, a beam, a column, and so on) or two-dimensional (2D