GoEngineer Blog

Mesh convergence is often overlooked when running SOLIDWORKS frequency analysis. In this tutorial, we cover what results frequency analysis gives the user as well as how increasing or decreasing the mesh density in the analysis can change the given results of the program. We also briefly cover how using draft-quality mesh instead of high-quality mesh can affect SOLIDWORKS frequency analysis results. 

Did you know that your SOLIDWORKS Simulation software comes with FREE tutorials? You can open the models used in these tutorials and follow along with the step-by-step instructions in SOLIDWORKS. This article will show you how to find and access a large library of free SOLIDWORKS Simulation tutorials that come free with the purchase of SOLIDWORKS Simulation. Practice using SOLIDWORKS Simulation with these tutorials on your own time for free. 

Nikola Tesla invented many things. One of his little-known inventions is the Tesla valve, a one-way valve without any moving parts. SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation is the perfect software to demonstrate how a Tesla Valve works because it can easily calculate the laminar and turbulent flows and show the results of the flow field through the entire device without anything obstructing the flow through the device. 

 

 

Gauss points are the points within each SOLIDWORKS Simulation element where the actual analysis happens. These are the points where the stress and strain outputs of SOLIDWORKS Simulation are calculated. SOLIDWORKS Simulation users can see nodal and element value plots by right-clicking on the plot of his/her choice then clicking edit definition. In the Advancearand Options, you will see node value and element value options.

 

By default, when a SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation user starts a new project under the Input Data folder, there are only a few categories: Computational Domain, Fluid Subdomains, Boundary Conditions, Goals, and Mesh. While these options are the most commonly used in Flow Simulation, they do not represent all the tools available in the software.

At some point, a SOLIDWORKS Simulation user comes across a study that will not solve because there is something wrong with the no penetration contact sets that they have set up. In this article, I cover some of the investigative troubleshooting methods to employ when you suspect one or more no penetration contact sets in the analysis setup is incorrect and something needs to be changed for the study to be solved.

There are four different pressure definitions used in SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation: Static Pressure, Total Pressure, Dynamic Pressure, and Environment Pressure. Static Pressure is the pressure at a single point in the moving flow field as the gas or liquid flow moves through a system. Static Pressure can be measured as the flow passes over a device that introduces no velocity change to the flow or a device moving with the flow field.

Changing units in the SOLIDWORKS user interface could not be simpler. Go to Tools>Options>Document Properties>Units to change the units that are being used within the SOLIDWORKS design environment. There is also the units' popup menu in the bottom right-hand corner of the SOLIDWORKS screen. Changing units within the SOLIDWORKS Simulation environment is a little more involved but still simple.

In our SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional course, I usually get a lot of questions from students when discussing No Penetration Contact Sets and how to set them up correctly. In this article, I'll answer those frequently asked questions and offer tips for no penetration contact setup in SOLIDWORKS Simulation.