Computer-Aided Design Solidworks Simulation Tutorial Tips

ME 37100/ I 6500: Computer-Aided Design SolidWorks Simulation Tutorial Tips

Overview: The basic tutorials for learning SW Simulation include one on-line SolidWorks Simulation tutorial, Static Analysis of a Part, as well as the following chapters of Engineering Analysis with SolidWorks Simulation 2012, by Paul Kurowski: 2 & 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 18 & 21 (except for the section on E- drawings). These notes will help to get you started, and provide tips and hints for the on-line tutorial, plus Chapters 2 & 3 of Kurowski.

Getting started with SolidWorks Simulation

Select File > New and click on Part. If the Simulation menu doesn't appear load it by using Tools>Add-ins, then click on the check boxes to the left and right of the entry that says SolidWorks Simulation, fifth from the bottom under SolidWorks Premium Add-ins.

Warning: The computers in ST-213 will delete your files when you log out. To avoid losing your work, change the destination for you results to your jump drive. There are two ways to do this:

1. Before starting a study, change the default directory by using Simulation>Options> Default Options, click Results near the top left, select User defined under Results folder on the right, , and then enter the destination of your jump drive after clicking in the box below that shows ... to the right of the current directory.

2. After you have begun a study, right-click on the Study name in the Simulation tree, and select Properties. This will put you in the Options window. At the bottom, under Results folder, the destination of your jump drive after clicking on the box that shows . . . to the right of the current directory.

General Guidelines for using SolidWorks Simulation:

1. In the Mesh property manager, DO NOT check the box that says "Run (solve) the analysis." Look at the mesh first; then use the Simulation > Run command to perform the analysis. Otherwise you will not see what the mesh looks like before running.

2. After changing the mesh by using Apply Mesh Control, use Create Mesh before running. Otherwise, your mesh will not change.

3. Do not use a Factor of Safety (FOS) plot. The FOS is a constant in engineering practice, and therefore the plot showing variable FOS does not make sense.

Accessing the on-line SolidWorks Simulation tutorials:

Open the Tutorial window by using Help>SolidWorks Simulation> Tutorials or Simulation>Help>Tutorials. A window should open called SolidWorks Simulation Online Tutorials. Under Tutorials, Click on Static. The tutorial you should do is Analysis of a Part (top left). Notes and tips appear below.

1

Analysis of a Part

Frame

Tip

Creating a Static Analysis Study

1. Use the menu system: Simulation > Study

Applying Fixed Restraints

1. Use the menu system: Simulation > Loads/Fixtures > Fixtures

2. Zoom in to see the hole faces clearly; make sure to select the cylindrical faces, not the circular edges.

Applying Pressure

1. Use the menu system: Simulation > Loads/Fixtures > Pressure

Setting Meshing Options

1. Use the menu system: Simulation > Mesh > Create...

2. Click on following settings, and follow the directions below. Do not change the existing settings for Global size or tolerance.

Viewing resultant displacement

In order "To animate the resultant displacement plot," use the menu system: Simulation > Result Tools > Animate

Assessing the Safety of the Design

Omit both of these last two frames.

Generating a Study Report

Kurowski Tutorials

Most of the tutorials you will need to learn SolidWorks Simulation can be found in Engineering Analysis with SolidWorks Simulation 2012, by Paul Kurowski. The recommended chapters are 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 18 & 21 (except pp. 389-398). The files needed for these tutorials are available on the Course web site under Course Documents. The notes below provide tips and tricks for Chapters 2 & 3.

Chapter 2: Static Analysis of a Plate

Pages

Location

Tip

32

top

The file HOLLOW PLATE is available from the course website, within SW Simulation tutorials, under Course Documents. Download the Zip file Kurowski 2012 files, click once to unzip it, and open the folder labeled "02" which corresponds to Chapter 2. All other files for Kurowski's book are available the same way.

36

top

To open a new study, select Simulation > Study. Ignore references to the Study Advisor, which no longer exists.

39

bottom

To leave the Material window, click Apply, then Close.

42

There are two errors in the table, which are based on an earlier version of SolidWorks. Roller-Slider has been moved to Standard fixtures, and Cyclic Symmetry has been renamed Circular Symmetry.

2

Pages

Location

Tip

44

Apply 100,000 N (100 KN) to the face opposite the restrained face.

45

middle