SOLIDWORKS Simulation Matrix
| Ease of Use/Intuitiveness |
| Fully Embedded in SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD | |||
| Learn Fast: Toolbar Menus, Context Sensitive Right-Mouse Menus, Built-In Tutorials, Searchable Help Documentation | |||
| Help Documentation | |||
| Get Help Fast: Local and Worldwide Support Services | |||
| Knowledge Base |
| Concurrent Engineering |
| Fully Embedded in SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD | |||
| Full Associativity with 3D Design Changes | |||
| Support SOLIDWORKS Configurations | |||
| SOLIDWORKS Material Properties Support |
| Finite Element Analysis |
| Solid, Shell and Beam modeling | |||
| h and p adaptive element type | |||
| Mesh control capabilities | |||
| Failure Mesh Diagnostic | |||
| Simplify model tool for meshing | |||
| Customizable Material Library |
| Contacts and Connectors |
| Bonded contact condition | |||
| Node-to-node, surface-to-surface contact condition | |||
| Shrink Fit condition | |||
| Virtual Wall condition | |||
| Connectors: bolt, spring, pin, elastic support and bearing | |||
| Connectors Safety Check | |||
| Self-contact condition |
| Post Processing |
| Contour, Iso-Surface, Surface, Section Result Plot | |||
| Probe tool | |||
| Design Insight | |||
| Compare test data | |||
| List values on selected entities | |||
| Animation of Results | |||
| Overlay Simulation results onto SW graphics | |||
| Hot spot detection (stress singularity) | |||
| Mass properties for simulation models |
| Linear Static Simulation for Assembly |
| Analyze the structural behavior or parts and assemblies under loading | |||
| Fixtures to prescribe zero or non-zero displacements | |||
| Structural loads | |||
| Temperature loading | |||
| Import Flow/Thermal Effects | |||
| Calculation of stress, strain, displacement and FOS | |||
| Calculation of reaction forces and moments |
| Automation |
| Macro recording and available APIs to automate Simulation features creation and repetition |
| Design Comparison Studies |
| What-if scenarios based on defined variables (dimensions, mass properties, simulation data) |
| Fatigue Simulation |
| Analyse the life expectancy of structure under repeated loading | |||
| Theory of Cumulative Damage | |||
| Outputs: life, damage and factor of safety plots |
| Structural Optimization |
| What-if scenarios based on parametric variables (dimensions, mass properties, simulation data) |
| Topology Study |
| Minimum mass design refinement by element removal method | |||
| Stiffness Goal | |||
| Manufacturing Constraints | |||
| Save new shape as STL |
| Frequency Simulation |
| Analyze the natural frequencies and mode shape of parts and assemblies | |||
| Import Flow/Thermal Effects | |||
| Load Stiffening |
| Buckling or Collapse Simulation |
| Analyze slender structure for critical buckling factors and the associated buckling mode shapes | |||
| Import Flow/Thermal Effects |
| Drop Test Simulation |
| Analyse the effect of the impact of a part or an assembly on a target surface | |||
| Inputs: drop height, gravity, velocity at impact | |||
| Outputs: stress, displacement, and strains |
| Pressure Vessel Design Simulation |
| Analyze the structural behavior or parts and assemblies under loading | |||
| Linear combination and square root of the sum of the squares (SRSS) |
| Advanced Contacts & Connectors |
| Thermal contact resistance condition | |||
| Insulated condition | |||
| Edge and spot weld connector |
| Non Linear Simulation |
| Transient (time dependent) loads | |||
| Large component deformation | |||
| Nonlinear materials | |||
| Self-contact for nonlinear analysis | |||
| Real-time visual updates while solving |
