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I want to learn simulation in SolidWorks !!

Question asked by Hardik Patel on Dec 25, 2018
Latest reply on Dec 27, 2018 by Ryan Navarro

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Hello,

I want to learn the Solidworks simulation thoroughly. I can find many videos on youtube, explaining basics of SW simulation and other stuff. Is there anyone on the forum who can provide me step by step videos so that I can practise it and make a model/assembly and do the simulation on it.

Also, I want to know the very basics of Simulation as well. So, if you have any material or website it will be a great help.

I have already put this question on forum under Simulation category, but didn't get any reply. So, I'm posting same in general tab, hopping someone give some ideas.

Hardik =]

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Deepak Gupta Dec 25, 2018 12:25 PM
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I can recommended following learning sources:

MySolidWorks
SolidProfessor.com
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Dan Golthing Dec 26, 2018 1:37 PM
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It's assumed that you understand stress analysis. "Anyone" can use simulation, but it really does require a thorough understanding of the science behind it to use it correctly. Von Mises, Mohr's Circle, and other fun topics like that.

Most people in the know will tell you that you should probably verify all of your simulation results with at least some hand calcs as a minimum benchmark.

That being said, you bring up a good point. It's difficult to thoroughly learn this product. There are some white papers floating around that discuss the underlying "STAR" program and how it works. Knowing all of the different settings such as what are the different mesh types and so on is imperative to understanding how to properly use the program. Understanding the solution convergence and when to apply mesh refinement, etc.

I've been using it for close to 20 years and am still learning stuff.

If you run into specific questions, there are a lot of people here on the forums that can help.

Sadly, this product is marketed to anyone and everyone with a checkbook.
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- Hardik Patel @ Dan Golthing on Dec 27, 2018 12:53 AM
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  Hello Dan,
  Thanks you so much for your valuable advise on this topic. However, I even do not basics of stress analysis. Yes, I have run simulation in SW, but that is just a software point of view. I do not know basics of analysis.
  
  So, can you please help me with some examples or material or videos to understand what actually analysis is ? It will be the great help for me as well as other members on forum.
  
  Hardik =]
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  - Dan Golthing @ Hardik Patel on Dec 27, 2018 5:44 PM
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    It's not really something you can learn from a video. It takes years of study to even begin to appreciate the magnitude of this discipline. That's why good structural engineers make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
    
    I'm degreed in Mechanical Engineering and have thousands of hours running Simulation, but still I'm learning and always try to lean on the experts (many here on the forum) when I'm in doubt. I've found numerous ways the software gives faulty results, yet the beautiful graphics on the screen would lead someone to believe it is correct.
    
    being able to click the buttons and run a computer simulation does in no way guarantee that they results are correct.
    
    besides understanding stress analysis, you need to have a strong comprehension of material properties, how to properly set up an analysis which may involve statics and/or dynamics, etc.
    
    It can be dangerous to run this software and trust the results without being able to understand and verify if the results are accurate or not.
    
    Let's put it this way, anyone can use a scalpel, but do you want anyone operating on you or do you want a trained doctor? Anyone can hang on to your money, but do you want anyone or a professional bank?
    
    If you are interested in this subject and have an aptitude for math and science, then I would recommend working towards an education in Mechanical Engineering, which will give you the proper tools to understand this complex software.
    
    Shame on SolidWorks for not making this more understood as well as you engineers out there.
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  - Ryan Navarro @ Hardik Patel on Dec 27, 2018 6:15 PM
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    For the fundamentals as Dan pointed out a proper education is required.
    That being said there are still some great resources publicly available to get started, I'm a big fan of MIT's OpenCourseWare
    
    Mechanics & Materials I | Mechanical Engineering | MIT OpenCourseWare
    Finite Element Procedures for Solids and Structures | MIT OpenCourseWare
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Ryan Navarro Dec 27, 2018 6:08 PM
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There are many free resources.

I've always liked this website for beginners:
SimulationXpress: Learning Center

It's a bit old (uses Flash) so nowadays seems to be best viewed using Chrome and clicking the link to Allow Flash. They are tutorials that work through a couple simple problem setups in SimulationXpress which is appropriate for a total beginner.

If you have the ability to take a formal training course that will always be the way to get up to speed fastest.

In the absence of that I would recommend working through the built-in Simulation tutorials, accessible from within the software under Help -> SOLIDWORKS Simulation -> Tutorials. There are also some really useful documents in there, "Introduction to Simulation" and "Theoretical Manual" PDFs which I would definitely recommend. Also don't forget to check the actual help files.

You can take a deeper dive into the functionality of various aspects of Simulation in this YouTube series SOLIDWORKS created
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Step-Up Series: Introduction - YouTube

You can work through the built-in Simulation Validation examples under Help -> SOLIDWORKS Simulation -> Verification and Validation. These have you compare your simulation setups to analytical hand calculations.

You could also take the SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional practice exam: http://www.solidworks.com/sw/docs/CSWSP_FEA_Sample_Exam.zip
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I want to learn simulation in SolidWorks !!

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