A singularity is a function’s divergence into infinity. Simulation occasionally produces stress (or heat flux) singularities. In this article, we discuss avoiding singularities in SOLIDWORKS Simulation and how and why they occur. How do they singularities occur? Mathematically, the solver uses matrices to represent the elastic field (displacements of the elements).
SOLIDWORKS Simulation uses material properties as the foundation to study designs. The default SOLIDWORKS material has many pre-defined material properties; however, users may need to define some of the material properties of default and custom materials before running a particular simulation study. For example, you may find that Mass Density and Yield Strength are pre-populated in a specific material but Specific Heat and Thermal Conductivity are not.
A creep analysis can only be performed in the SOLIDWORKS Simulation Non-Linear study type which is a SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium product tool. Creep can occur in materials that have been exposed to one or more mechanical stresses in conjunction with higher than room temperature thermal loads over a long period of time.
When simulating large thin objects, it is much simpler computationally to define these types of objects as shell elements rather than solid elements. The problem is that most beginner SOLIDWORKS Simulation users are not comfortable with this element type because they do not know how to define a shell element mesh, and how to connect it to the rest of the parts in the analysis once it is defined.
I should note that this method only works in part files. It will not work in an assembly file. If your assembly file is not meshing correctly then please view this video on Mesh Controls. If you can narrow down your search to a single part that is not meshing correctly, then this document will help you find what in that specific part is keeping SOLIDWORKS Simulation from meshing the part. If a single part will not mesh, there are several techniques that you can utilize to figure out why it will not mesh.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Connectors may be used to simplify behavior without actually including a physical part such as a bolt or pin. This is a primer on the different types of connectors available in SOLIDWORKS Simulation.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2015 introduced a new utility called the Load Case Manager. It is available within a linear static study and is included in the SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional and Premium packages. This utility allows for the creation of secondary load combinations from primary load cases to quickly evaluate the effects of various load combinations on your model. This article will cover how to access and manipulate the settings within the Load Case Manager.