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Finite Element Analysis in Solid Works

This document provides a tutorial for using SolidWorks to perform finite element analysis. It outlines the steps to [1] create a new static analysis study, [2] apply materials and constraints such as fixing a surface and applying forces, [3] generate a mesh, [4] run the simulation, and [5] review the stress, deformation and strain results graphs and safety factors.

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Marco Mejia Ruíz
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
71 views

Finite Element Analysis in Solid Works

This document provides a tutorial for using SolidWorks to perform finite element analysis. It outlines the steps to [1] create a new static analysis study, [2] apply materials and constraints such as fixing a surface and applying forces, [3] generate a mesh, [4] run the simulation, and [5] review the stress, deformation and strain results graphs and safety factors.

Uploaded by

Marco Mejia Ruíz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Concentración: Biomecánica e Ingeniería Deportiva Agosto-Diciembre 2022

Finite element analysis in Solid Works


This is a tutorial for you to start using Solid Works to do finite element analysis.

First, open the file provided Part1.SLDPRT

In the Command Manager select the “Simulation” tab, and create a new study.

On the property manager type the name of the study, and make sure “Static
analysis” is selected. If you are analyzing a component that can be easily
represented as a 2D figure you could check the “Use 2D simplification”, but for
now, we will be leaving that box unchecked.

Click the green arrow when you have finished.

A new menu will be added under the lateral Manager menu, and the buttons
on the “Simulation” tab will now be enabled.

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Concentración: Biomecánica e Ingeniería Deportiva Agosto-Diciembre 2022

In the “Simulation” tab of the “Command Manager” click on the “Apply Material” button to select the
material of your part.

A new window will open. Solid Works has a wide variety of materials already defined. If you are not able
to find the material you are working with, you can create a new one. To do so, find the “Personalized
material” folder in this window, and select a material from there. Fill the values with as much
information as you have from the material you are adding. For now, we will be using Steel AISI 1020.
Once you have selected the material click on “Apply” and close the material window.

Once the material has been applied to a part, you can see the colour of the part changes.

Now, we will be applying any constraints that the part may have. In the “Simulation” tab, click on the
arrow below the “Fixtures Advisor” button to display the menu. You can find several types of fixtures
there. Select “Fixed geometry”. Then select the bottom surface of the cylinder.

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Click in the green arrow when you have finished

Now select the arrow below the “External Load Advisor”, to display the option menu. Once again you
have several options. Select “Force”, and select the upper surface of the open feature.

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Type a value of 8000N and click on the green arrow when you finish.

Now add a positive torsion of 100Nm on the inner surface of the cylinder.
Select the same surface for the “surface for torsion” and “axis of torsion”. If
you need to invert the direction you can check the box “Invert direction”.
Click the green arrow when you finish.

Now we will proceed to create the mesh for the object. Click on the arrow below “Run”, and click on
“Create Mesh”.

You can find several options for mesh creation. A finer mesh will throw better
results, but the simulation will consume more resources. On the other hand, a
coarse mesh will run faster but throw not-so-good results. You can also modify the
size of the elements in the “Mesh parameters” tab. For now, leave the parameters
as they are, and click the green arrow when you finish. When the software finishes
with the mesh creation. You should be able to see the mesh in the part.

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Concentración: Biomecánica e Ingeniería Deportiva Agosto-Diciembre 2022

Now you can run the simulation, by clicking on the “Run” Button.

When the simulation finishes you will be able to see three options in the
results section, which correspond to the three results you get (stresses,
deformations, and strains). You can open each result by double-clicking on it.
The results have a colour code for the magnitude of the variable you are
visualizing. Usually, the blue colour represents the small values, while red the
high values.

In the stress results colour bar you have the Elastic limit at the bottom, and if
the simulation results in higher stresses than the elastic limit, a red arrow will
appear in the colour bar showing the elastic limit value.

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If you right-click any results and select “Graph options…”, check the
minimum and maximum boxes to show maximum and minimum values on
the part.

In “Results”, right-click and select “Define security factor” to


calculate the security factor.

Leave the parameters as they are and click the green arrow to finish. You will
be able to see the calculated safety factor in the dialogue box next to the part.

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