SIMSOLID FastStartTrainingGuide
SIMSOLID FastStartTrainingGuide
Table of Contents
Section 1 Introduction
Section 2 My first analysis
Section 3 User interface basic concepts
Section 4 Processing design geometry
Section 5 Creating an analysis
Section 6 Interpreting results
Section 7 Additional topics and sources for more information
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Section 1
INTRODUCTION
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Welcome to SIMSOLID
The next generation of design engineering structural analysis
ANALYZE ON CAD GEOMETRY DIRECTLY SIMSOLIDs unique technology completely eliminates geometry simplification and
meshing, the two most time consuming, expertise extensive and error prone tasks done in traditional FEA. With SIMSOLID,
model preparation is done in minutes.
HANDLE REAL WORLD DESIGN COMPLEXITY SIMSOLID has been performance tuned to analyze complex parts and large
assemblies not practical with traditional FEA and do it efficiently on a desktop class computer. SIMSOLID is tolerant of
imprecise geometry. Its assembly connections are industry best at handling ragged contact surfaces with both gaps and
overlapping geometry.
ACCURACY IS BUILT-IN SIMSOLID controls solution accuracy using smart functions and a unique automatic adaptive process.
In contrast to FEA, the adaptivity is driven by absolute measures of approximation errors. In SIMSOLID, adaptivity is not an
option, it is always active.
DIRECT CAD INTEGRATION SIMSOLID is directly integrated with both the SOLIDWORKS and Onshape CAD systems. With
SOLIDWORKS, a SIMSOLID add-in provides a fast and efficient shared memory approach which integrates the full hierarchical
assembly structure. With Onshape, an embedded cloud browser directly connects to the online assembly structure and part
topology data. In both cases, since geometry simplification is not required, both CAD and SIMSOLID share an identical view of
the design, making it fast and easy to do structural performance simulation. Dont have Onshape or SOLIDWORKS? No
problem, SIMSOLID can also read standard STL files from any CAD system.
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SIMSOLID technology
SIMSOLID is based on an entirely new technology approach.
Similar to traditional FEA, SIMSOLID uses implicit solution methods. But
in contrast to traditional FEA, does not use a mesh and instead applies
higher order functions on a part and CAD feature basis.
SIMSOLID is an adaptive solver that automatically iterates to improve
accuracy on both a local and global basis.
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SIMSOLID Editions
SIMSOLID comes in two configurations:
SIMSOLID Standard Edition
Static, modal, thermal and thermal stress analyses
Large assembly solver with advanced connection technology
Limited to 150 parts and 8-cores for parallel processing
SIMSOLID Power Edition
More analyses geometric nonlinear static analysis
More connections spot and laser welds
More boundary conditions rotational/translational inertia loads, hydrostatic loads
More capacity no limit on number of parts or number of cores for parallel processing
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Section 1
MY FIRST ANALYSIS
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My first analysis
As an introduction, we will do a quick modal analysis to calculate the first 3 flexible
modes of a 30-part assembly of a bridge
More explanation coming, but for now this will provide a view of how few inputs
are actually required
Our 4 steps to accomplish this are:
1. Import STL geometry, create connections
2. Apply material property
3. Create modal analysis & run
4. Examine frequencies and mode shapes
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Select apply
material
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Section 3
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Main toolbar
Graphics Area
Bookmark Browser
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Mouse buttons
Model Rotation: left mouse button (LMB) click
+ drag to rotate model
Model Translation: right mouse button (RMB)
click + drag to pan model.
Model Zoom: rotate the mouse wheel to zoom
the model. Alternatively, a box zoom operation
can be done using the "Box zoom" button from
the main window toolbar and click and drag box
using LMB
Model Zoom Extents (Fit): either pick the fit to
window button on the main toolbar or click the
window background with RMB and select Fit
geometry to window
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Graphics window
Immovable constraint
on part face
Loaded part
face
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Project tree
Select Assembly to
set workbench focus
Workbench toolbars
Workbench toolbars
Linear and non-linear structural toolbar
Immovable
constraint Run the
Sliding analysis
constraint
Hinge
constraint
Pressure load Create result
contour plot
Uniform load or Result point
displacement probe
Gravity load
Create XY plot
Inertia load Bolt/nut
Power Edition only forces
Reaction
Remote
forces
load
Thermal load
Bearing
load
Hydrostatic load
Power Edition only
Bolt tightening
Nut tightening
Bookmark browser
Save images and
Saves the current graphics state along animations to media
files
Create new
bookmark
RMB select thumbnail to
with any overlaid windows (such as display context menu
summary dialogs)
Increase/decrease
Great way to document your work thumbnail size
To save animation,
create new bookmark Select any thumbnail to
while animation is restore graphics view
active
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Interface Synchronization
The project tree,
bookmark browser and Project tree workbench
graphics window states will synchronize as well
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Section 4
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Design studies
Design Studies allow you to quickly evaluate and BASELINE Study this is the
source for all material
compare the structural performance from different properties, connections and
geometric configurations. A single SIMSOLID Project file analysis conditions
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Inside of SOLIDWORKS,
make sure SIMSOLID
add-in is activated TIP: Install SIMSOLID on same machine as SOLIDWORKS
and installer will also load SIMSOLID SOLIDWORKS add-in
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Select Import
from cloud
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Auto create
connections
Manually create
connections
Show disconnected
groups of parts
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Visualization Examples
Random colored parts Translucent parts Results plot with hidden parts shown
as ghosted
Edge only display Hidden parts shown as ghosted (light Edges on (undeformed), deformed
transparent) shape with continuous contour plot
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Specifying units
Set the format of result output
text here engineering, scientific
or concise mix
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Select
material
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Double-click here to
open materials dialog
NOTE: Default materials will be
applied to any parts without
material when an analysis is run.
TIP: This only needs to be set up
one time. Will be saved as a user
preference.
Pick OK
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Section 5
CREATING AN ANALYSIS
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Creating an analysis
Create new analysis
Specify contact conditions
Create boundary conditions
Specify solution settings
Run the analysis
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Select
boundary
condition
Enter load or
displacement value
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Select Spot as rectangle, circle, triangle
location
Using Spots
Many traditional FEA systems require
faces to be split to create localized
loads and constraints
SIMSOLID has a better way Spots Select existing or pick
here to create new spot
Define shape
attributes
Spots can be rectangular, circular or
triangular. They can even be points,
lines or arcs.
Spots are projected onto parts normal
to the screen.
Pick part face to orient part and If necessary, fine Pick OK to
center view tune location project onto
part(s)
Spots can be projected onto more
than one face or more than one part
Specify what to
project Spot onto
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Pick analysis
workbench
Pick here
to run
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Section 6
INTERPRETING RESULTS
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Interpreting results
Creating a contour plot
Fast results switching
Other display results
Safety factor plots
XY plots
Point probes
Reaction forces
Spot weld forces
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Animation Speed
Animation
Steps
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controls
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Section 7
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Next Steps
Go ahead and try SIMSOLID for yourself.
Compare it with an analysis done using traditional FEA methods. But when using
SIMSOLID, use the full CAD geometry and not the geometry that has been
simplified for FEA.
Next, try it on an large assembly. Remember, never merge parts. Just leave them in
their original design state and use SIMSOLID connections.
Then, create a design study and modify the geometry. See how fast and easy it is to
evaluate change on actual CAD designs.
And finally, have a question, please post it in the User forum or just contact us
directly. We love to hear from our customers.
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