I seem to be getting errors with my simple beam structure simulation. Hopefully someone can shed some light as to why? It worked before I connected the two with cross-beams...I have attached the new assembly for viewing
thanks!!!
I seem to be getting errors with my simple beam structure simulation. Hopefully someone can shed some light as to why? It worked before I connected the two with cross-beams...I have attached the new assembly for viewing
thanks!!!
all components are missing in that zipped folder; pack&go
Seems like Pack & go isn't working for me as I attempted to use it. I will add components seperatly.
Updated original post with all parts in assembly attached.
Problem solved! use curvature based mesh, instead of standard!
GREAT! Thank you for your help! In what other instances would I opt for curved over straight?
Personal strong advise: ALWAYS!
Hello Evan,
There are several reasons why you might be having dificulties with such a simple study and model. I'm listing out some recomendations you could take to model and simulate this far easier. In case you already want to scroll downt to the end because of this post length, here you've got a Too Long, Wont Read for your peace of mind:
- Take a look into using SolidWorks Weldments, it then becomes a lot easier to model and simulate this kind of strucutres. HIT YOUTUBE!!!
- Not using weldments screws SolidWorks Simulation ability to formulate the correct set-up for this kind of problems. So you gotta make it manually if you keep using this 3D Model, or even modeling method in the future.
- Since SW-Sim is not formulating the correct set-up, this isn't only harder to make the simulation work properly, it also becomes hihgly innacurate without a HUGE bump in computational time & effort.
1- Take a look at solidworks Weldments. From the start, the way you modeled this structure isn't optimal in both terms of time spent doing the actual 3D model and simulation analysis prep time aswel. With weldments you could easily make the entire model from the ground up in less than 3 minutes with virtually no prep neded for the simulation, and all knwoledge required could be mastered in 1 hour of study.
2- Your model is considering your beams as solids, so it meshes them 'accordingly' but that definition in itself its wrong. Since you didn't model it with weldments, SW Simulation it's having a hard time automatically recognizing this elements as beams and applying the appropiate mesh to them. But thankfully, since they do comply with requirements for beam meshing (longitud/area > 20) you can change this option manually, as I did in this picture.
Using a solid mesh wouldn't be an option, it doesn't matter the kind of mesh you use (standard, curvatured based or blended), it would take an ENORMOUS amount of computational effort & time to achieve some decently accurate results with this. So I wouldn't recommend Siavash's solution to your problem.
3- Because of the way you model it, the model appears to be unstable and not recognizing that all of these bodies all welded together. Basically because your upper plane beams don't mitter together normally (and again, not trying to sound like a broken record, but they aren't modeled as weldments). A solution to fix this up is to use this settings on your joint group (which will automatically appear after treat all members as beams). Take a look at the next two picture to guide you through this steps.
Input this options and hit calculate.
4- I would re-do the fixture to use nodal fixtures AT THE JOINT instead of face fixtures. Just in case.
From step 2 through 4, you can do it with your current model, and it would basically be the same process with weldments modeling but SW would recognize everything from the get-go and it becomes so much easier. Let me know if you keep runing into problems after following the steps that I provide, but I then ran the simulation and got no problems at all. Posting a picture down bellow for reference.
Let me know what you do regarding this project, I'll keep checking this post.
Regards,
GF
Hi GF,
Thank you so much for your response, it is very informative. I used to use this program more back in University while doing my Engineering undergrad, but working in Automation ever since, these are occasional side projects for my company.
I see the weldments folder in the Design Library but is the function itself an add-on to the program? We are using Solidworks Premium 2013 with no intent to upgrade as we do not use the program often enough.
As for your suggestion, I attempted to follow your directions and still seem to be getting an error. I first changed all the parts to beams via the 'Treat as Beam, option.
I then defined the joint group as you mentioned above (created 8 joints total like in your picture).
When I clicked 'Run', it seems the mesh worked well (and quickly) but there was still an error generated. The error was as follows;
''The Iterative solver stopped. The solver has numerical difficulties. Model may not have adequate fixtures. No results saved''.
Again I much appreciate your help!
Evan
Look up SolidWorks Weldments in youtube first. And I dont mean in the Design Library... I mean in the CommandManager, like a Sketching and Features..
Then I'll help you out on the next phase.
It makes sense, I was able to start a weldment profile and get the S-beams working but the problem is the S-beam option does not have the correct size (trying to model W6-20 beam but only gives me like 3 unrelated options). I assume I would have to download the extra content to have correct size but I cannot find this content (or I just do not have access perhaps anymore)...
You can modify weldment profiles or create them out of thin air. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtttDmEjLaY
Solidworks 2011 - Tutorials - How to make Weldment profile - YouTube
Check that video out.
Regards,
GF
No luck.
I cannot seem to do what needs to be done to create the profile. When I attempt to save in the folder that the video has saved to, I find the folder does not exist. This has taken up far more time than I had envisioned just to get this set up. Kind of frustrating, as I have other unrelated work to complete, I may just abandon this...
Evan,
Can you open options > go to File locations > then select Weldment profiles from the dropdown menu? Like in this picture!
That should give you the location to save your custom weldment profile. I know it seems time consuming but I guarantee you, it's gonna pay off in the end!
PM me before you give up... I might be able to help you faster through some other form of comunication.
The weird thing is that I found the file location through the options menu, as you posted in the picture above, but that folder does not exist when I try to find it? I am guessing a bad install or something. There may have been some errors when I upgraded to 2013???
Screenshot both my picture and the location it states!
Hi Gian,
I figured out why it was not working. Basically, the solidworks program was referencing the English name of the file location, but whne I am actually navigating through, I had to go into 'Programme' and not 'Program Files' because Windows 7 automatically displays them in the french name, even though solidworks was able to see that file location using the English named file folders. Quite the annoying problem! Working in two languages can get complex I suppose.
I was able to get the first weldment profile defined and into my model. Working on the 6x6 square tube profile now, shouldn't be long before I complete the model with weldments like you suggested. Will link back soon and let you know how it goes
Again, your help is much appreciated. I feel that once I learn this once, next time will be much, much quicker.
Evan
Evan,
Tell me about double languages! I work for a VAR in Venezuela. I'm supposed to keep my SW in Spanish so I do get the same version as my clients (in the past SW has had some lang-specific bugs, english is suspiciously never hurt by this) but I just can't stand it! I actually know just like 25% of the commands names in spanish although it's my mother language!!!!
So, sometimes I get some problems with libraries like you just did. What a pain in the ass!
Let me know how it goes!
Regards,
GF
Another question - how come my corner treatment cannot be chosen to be symmetric? It makes me pick one type of end butt for my top beams which makes one side different than the other for each beam, as opposed to having the two cross members cut to fit into the two end members (symmetrically)
I don't completely get what you say. My english isn't that great.
Screenshot please!
For example the steel square tube is off centered; how do I center the tube to the top node so it properly fits Under my other two beams? See screenshot below. Also, you see the two beams, how they intersect? Well the other side, is the opposite (the other beam is longer and the transverse beam is cut).
PM ME
If you wanna center the squared beam, just put a sketch point in the middle of the profile you design and select ALIGN PROFILE when actually putting it.
For how the upper plane meets, just play around with the end conditions until it shows what you want.
Hello Evan,
There are several reasons why you might be having dificulties with such a simple study and model. I'm listing out some recomendations you could take to model and simulate this far easier. In case you already want to scroll downt to the end because of this post length, here you've got a Too Long, Wont Read for your peace of mind:
- Take a look into using SolidWorks Weldments, it then becomes a lot easier to model and simulate this kind of strucutres. HIT YOUTUBE!!!
- Not using weldments screws SolidWorks Simulation ability to formulate the correct set-up for this kind of problems. So you gotta make it manually if you keep using this 3D Model, or even modeling method in the future.
- Since SW-Sim is not formulating the correct set-up, this isn't only harder to make the simulation work properly, it also becomes hihgly innacurate without a HUGE bump in computational time & effort.
1- Take a look at solidworks Weldments. From the start, the way you modeled this structure isn't optimal in both terms of time spent doing the actual 3D model and simulation analysis prep time aswel. With weldments you could easily make the entire model from the ground up in less than 3 minutes with virtually no prep neded for the simulation, and all knwoledge required could be mastered in 1 hour of study.
2- Your model is considering your beams as solids, so it meshes them 'accordingly' but that definition in itself its wrong. Since you didn't model it with weldments, SW Simulation it's having a hard time automatically recognizing this elements as beams and applying the appropiate mesh to them. But thankfully, since they do comply with requirements for beam meshing (longitud/area > 20) you can change this option manually, as I did in this picture.
Using a solid mesh wouldn't be an option, it doesn't matter the kind of mesh you use (standard, curvatured based or blended), it would take an ENORMOUS amount of computational effort & time to achieve some decently accurate results with this. So I wouldn't recommend Siavash's solution to your problem.
3- Because of the way you model it, the model appears to be unstable and not recognizing that all of these bodies all welded together. Basically because your upper plane beams don't mitter together normally (and again, not trying to sound like a broken record, but they aren't modeled as weldments). A solution to fix this up is to use this settings on your joint group (which will automatically appear after treat all members as beams). Take a look at the next two picture to guide you through this steps.
Input this options and hit calculate.
4- I would re-do the fixture to use nodal fixtures AT THE JOINT instead of face fixtures. Just in case.
From step 2 through 4, you can do it with your current model, and it would basically be the same process with weldments modeling but SW would recognize everything from the get-go and it becomes so much easier. Let me know if you keep runing into problems after following the steps that I provide, but I then ran the simulation and got no problems at all. Posting a picture down bellow for reference.
Let me know what you do regarding this project, I'll keep checking this post.
Regards,
GF