SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2017 Focuses on Ease of Use

SOLIDWORKS has just announced the 2017 release of its portfolio. The release is filled with quite a few additions to the simulation division of the software.

Design and simulation engineers will note that, compared to previous releases, these simulation improvements focus on usability and the further democratization of computer-aided engineering (CAE) and simulation tools in CAD.

Simulation Results Overlaid on Assembled Geometry

SOLIDWORKS Simulation results can now be displayed with other CAD geometry. (Image courtesy of SOLIDWORKS.)

One addition to SOLIDWORKS Simulation that will likely be used extensively by engineers is the ability to display simulation results with other parts in the CAD assembly.

This feature will be especially useful to engineers working in multidisciplinary teams as they can better demonstrate their results to non-engineering peers.

“By leveraging RealView and PhotoView 360, I can bring my simulation results right in and clearly show what is happening with my design,” said Kurt Anliker, director of Product Introduction at SOLIDWORKS.

Additionally, the results look rather cool. Therefore, don’t be surprised if the marketing team requests for the image so they can use it in their promotional materials.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2017 Usability Changes

Convert geometry for static, nonlinear and dynamic simulations in a few clicks. (Image courtesy of SOLIDWORKS.)

A significant time-saver in SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2017 is the way that engineers can copy and convert a model for use between a linear static, nonlinear or dynamic simulation.

Engineers need to only select the appropriate simulation and right-click on their part to convert the geometry. This will ensure that engineers no longer have to reinput parameters, loads and boundary conditions for multiple simulation types.

Once these various simulations are completed, SOLIDWORKS 2017 also has a function that makes it easier to compare various results and share them with others.

“You can look at all the results you want and compare them,” said Anliker. “Rotating the models [in all the simulation results] happens all at once simultaneously, and then you can save the image off into a design report.

“Another great advancement is stress hotspot,” said Anliker. “It’s great for both new and advanced users of simulations. It lets you understand the setup of your model to find where and why you are getting the results you are getting.”

Using the stress hot spot diagnostic tool, engineers can find regions in their model that require their focus. The engineer will then strategize how to verify the results in those regions or minimize the stress if the results are accurate. This can be a good way to discover sharp edges in the model that need to be smoothed out to improve the simulation’s accuracy.

“So if you isolate places where stresses seem too large, you might have made a mistake in the design like not modeling the fillets yet in that edge,” clarified Anliker.

Dude, Where’s My Input? SOLIDWORKS Guesses Simulation Input Blanks

SOLIDWORKS Simulation will use internal intelligenceto skip the need for warnings like the one pictured above. (Image courtesy of SOLIDWORKS.)

One feature update to SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2017 to keep note of is its automated simulation solver.

In short, instead of offering the user a warning message during the solve, SOLIDWORKS will use its internal logic to fill in the gaps and run the simulation anyway.

Some engineers might worry about how much control this feature might have on their simulations in fear of garbage in, garbage out results. However, according to SOLIDWORKS, the feature was heavily requested and will not change simulation parameters.

“Many of our users requested to skip warning messages while solving,” said Nicolas Tillet, product manager of SOLIDWORKS Simulation at Dassault Systèmes. “Many of these messages give a warning and simply ask to ‘continue or not’ to the user, but meanwhile stop the computation until there is a manual interaction from the user. [SOLIDWORKS now] selects the most accurate solution by default. If users do not want this new automatic solver setting, they can simply turn it off in the options. This setting does not modify the simulation model or input parameters.”

A similar feature in SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2017 is the Intelligent Solver Switch. This feature will select a nonlinear solver for the user based on the model’s size, its type and the RAM available for computation.

“Before, the user had to know which solver would be the best fit for a given simulation,” explained Tillet. “[The software now] selects the most appropriate solver for the desired simulation.”

Anliker noted how these features can potentially save a lot of time for engineers. Engineers can walk away from their software confident the solver will run.

“In SOLIDWORKS 2017, the software helps you to do the right things,” he said. “You set up your problem and are all ready to run. Most people that do simulation expect this to run for 5 minutes or 10 minutes, and go off to a meeting. Click ‘okay,’ and the automatic decision maker will tell you that it has made a decision for you. Previously, you would come back from the meeting and [the simulation would] be sitting there for you to add the input manually.”

Seasoned engineers will note that although these features will help them save time, it will still be a good idea to review the decisions the software has made for you. A common mistake for people new to CAE is assuming that if the solver runs it will be correct. This isn’t always the case as the solver may not run the way you intended. As a result, it is always important that engineers verify and validate their simulations, doubly so when the software has made some decisions for you.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Improves Compatibility and Optimization Tools

SOLIDWORKS 2017 has also improved its ability to collaborate with both in-house and third-party tools. For instance, users can bring in their board heating results from SOLIDWORKS PCB into their SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation.

Once that is done, they can perform a simulation in SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation to ensure that the board is receiving enough air flow to cool it down. If this isn’t the case, engineers can use the multi-parameter optimization function to search the design space for optimized air flow and fan placement.

Multi-parameter optimization simulations come to SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation 2017. (image courtesy of SOLIDWORKS.)

“Imaging not knowing your parameters or where you want your fan to be in a PCB,” said Anlicker. “You can set them up one time and hit go. Then based on the analysis results, from the PCB board to the mechanical assembly, gives you an optimal design and the airflow you need. All of this can be solved simultaneously in SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation 2017.”

Another key compatibility improvement to SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2017 comes in the form of an extended materials library.

Thanks to a licensing relationship with Matereality, engineers will be able to download the company’s material list and then use these properties within their designs. As a result, engineers will no longer be limited to the materials in the SOLIDWORKS database or those they can input themselves. This will help to increase the types of products an engineer can simulate within SOLIDWORKS Simulation.

These new features in the list are but the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of other improvements to SOLIDWORKS 2017 that couldn’t be listed here. To learn more about what’s new in SOLIDWORKS Simulation, please read this EngineersRule.com article.