The Simulation Collaborator role is built for the engineer or engineering manager who doesn’t need to set up simulations or get into a deep level of post processing. The purpose of this role is to review and manage simulation runs and simulation data from a higher level.

Below are the apps included with the Simulation Collaborator Role.

You can see it contains a couple of apps that are duplicates of those included with the prerequisite Collaborative Industry Innovator role, namely the “Change Action” and the “Product Finder” apps. This is no mistake. Unlike their Collaborative Industry Innovator counterparts, these duplicate apps can be installed natively onto a PC, so the user does not need to access these apps through a web browser. Installing natively gives the user more stability and capabilities when performing tasks in these apps.

There are a few apps related to station administration and job monitors. These apps allow for management of simulation jobs and workstations. Simulation jobs can be submitted to remote workstations through these apps.

The flagship apps of this role are the “Performance Trade-Off” and “Physics Simulation Review” apps. We will cover these in more detail here.

Performance Trade-off

This app allows for comparing results between simulations via performing trade off studies between competing objectives.

Here you can see 3 separate simulation studies in columns with rows that display various results like maximum stress, displacement, etc. The “Performance Trade-off” app allows the user to add design requirements and measure these requirements against various individual simulations.

You can see the pencil icon next to each simulation result. We can add requirements by clicking that icon.

These requirements can each be given a priority, an objective, and threshold values.

After adding appropriate requirements in, you can see visual comparisons of the simulations in question and highlight those that best fit the added criteria.

This app can assist engineers in making data-driven decisions between multiple different designs and loading scenarios.

Physics Simulation Review

Physics Simulation Review is my favorite app included with the Simulation Collaborator role. It is a lightweight browser-based simulation results post-processor, but don’t let that fool you. It is quite robust.

Here are a few included capabilities.

• Rotate, pan, and zoom your model (touchscreen supported)
• View created plots (stress, displacement, etc.)
• Animate results
• Take probes/measurements
• Make annotations
• Share model and annotations to file or 3Dswym community

The reason this is my favorite app is because I can annotate and share my simulation data with anyone on any device. I think this app shows best if you can see it in action. I took a screen recording of reviewing simulation data using this app on my cellphone for a recent webinar. You can find the link and timestamp in our SIMULIA For SOLIDWORKS Video. In this video you can see how easy view manipulation is on a touchscreen device, and furthermore you can see how easy it is to switch to different results, add annotations, etc.

I hope this blog has given you an understanding of the capabilities of the Simulation Collaborator role. The “Physics Simulation Review “and “Performance Trade-off” apps are a huge value add to anyone managing or coordinating simulation workflows. If you have other questions or would like to see more of the Simulation Collaborator role in action, reach out to your local CATI representative today!

Matt Sherak
Elite Application Engineer, Sr Simulation Product Specialist
Computer Aided Technology

The first step is to export our SOLIDWORKS part file into the platform. The dataset we are using is two plates that are connected via numerous bolted connections; the bolted connections must be applied in our FEA scenario. The top and bottom views of the CAD model are shown in Image 1 below.

Image 1: SOLIDWORKS Dataset

The process to import files into the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform is easy and can be done either via the direct import option or through the SOLIDWORKS connector. For more information on how to import files into the platform, check out my colleague’s blog that goes over both the connector and direct import option in more depth. In our case I am going to utilize a direct import within the platform itself (See Image 2) to bring the file into the platform.

Image 2: Direct Import of SOLIDWORKS Part File

Once the file is imported into the platform, we can go through the process of setting up our simulation study. In our case we are going to focus solely on the automated meshing options, thus the technique I am showing can be applied with either the SFO or SSU roles. Once we are active in either an SFU or SSU simulation scenario, we can go through the process of meshing our system. To mesh our system in the platform we need to create a finite element model (FEM) representation of our cad geometry. We can create a FEM representation through selecting the Automated FEM option and then selecting the Advanced FEM option as shown in Image 3.

Image 3: Automated FEM

In our case the reason we want to utilize an Automated Advanced FEM option is because we have numerous bolt holes where we need to apply a connection, and the advanced option automates this process. If we do not use the advanced FEM option, we will spend much more time manually creating all the bolted connections. After clicking on the Advanced FEM Icon, the advanced settings dialogue will pop up (Image 4).

Image 4: Advanced FEM Options

Within the advanced FEM options there are options for automating the overall mesh, and also options for automating the connections (Image 4). In our case we want to automate all bolted connections in our model, so we select the bolt connection option. Within the connection’s options, we can enter the settings to search for all the bolts in our model. It is important to key in values within the max and minimum values of the bolt sizes. After all these options are entered, we hit ok and update our model to show our updated mesh (Image 5) with bolted connections.

Image 5: Meshed Model with Bolted Connections

Without utilizing this automated bolt option, the process to create bolt connections would have required us to manually specify each hole edge within our entire model. Thus, the automated method saves us significant time while still applying all accurate connections in our system. The other great thing about the automated method is that it still creates separate bolted connections in our design tree, and if we ever need to edit or change an individual connection, we can do that by editing directly in our tree (Image 6).

Image 6: Bolt Connections in Tree

I hope you can use this tip the next time you mesh an assembly or part file on the platform! If you have any further questions on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, please reach out to us to see how you can utilize the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform to streamline your design processes.

Drew Buchanan
Sr. Application Engineer Specialist, Simulation
Computer Aided Technology

This article has been created to help document the most direct way of importing a SOLIDWORKS model into Structural Performance Engineer, or Structural Mechanics Engineer.

Step 1: Open Structural Mechanics Engineer or Structural Performance Engineer Role. Choose Structural Scenario Creation, or Mechanical Scenario Creation App. Note Structural Scenario is related to Structural Performance Engineer, and Mechanical Scenario is related to Structural Mechanical Engineer.

Step 2: After the App opens proceed to the Plus Sign in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

Step 3: Choose Import and specify the file type and location.

Step 4: Switch to the Structural Model Creation App.

Step 5: Select the Standard FEM REP Creation option.

Step 6: Note this step is not necessary but does help in finding the file set later. RMB on the Finite Element Model in the design tree and choose Properties. Rename the FEM Rep to the model name.

Step 7: Create the Mesh. Select the mesh section from the ribbon bar. Mesh according to geometry and study output requested. NOTE: a mesh was created on import and may need to be deleted from the Feature Manager.

Step 8: Assign Section Properties to the model. With the Model option on in the ribbon bar choose Properties and select the SOLID Section. Choose the Import Body from the screen or the tree.

Step 9: Assign Material Choose “Search for Materials”. Choose the appropriate material and exit the Solid Selection.

Step 10: Switch Back to Mechanical Scenario, or Structural Scenario Creation App.

Step 11: Continue assigning boundary conditions etc. like normal using the assistant or ribbon bar.

I hope this article helps streamline the SOLIDWORKS part file import into SIMULIA for SOLIDWORKS. If you are interested in the advanced capabilities of SIMULIA for SOLIDWORKS or FEA in general do not hesitate to reach out to us here at Computer Aided Technology.

Robert Warren
Simulation Specialist, Elite Application Engineer
Computer Aided Technology

Let us look at the setup for the model and the desired output. In this model we have a metal tube, and a die set (Stations 1 & 2). The intention is to press the tube into the first die station forming the end of it to a smaller diameter (Step 1). Retract the tube from the first station (Step 2). Index the die to the second station and repeat the forming process at station 2 (Step 3).

STATIONS 1&2

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Using SIMULIA for SOLIDWORKS the application of analysis steps is a simple process. Navigating to the Procedures tab in the ribbon bar choose the Static Step icon. The new step property manager opens allowing you to name the step and adjust its properties.

The new step can be found at the bottom of the screen, and in the Feature Manager window.

For each step the additional loads, and fixtures can be used in combination to achieve the desired output of the analysis.

In the Feature Manager tree boundary conditions can be turned off for specific steps. Highlighted below is step 1 of the forming sequence.

Once combined the result is a multi-step operation that keeps the stress from step to step. This method gives a complete picture of the loading process. Please see figure (Formed Tube End) for the cold forming result.

Formed Tube End

For more information reach out to your friendly CATI account manager. Check out the CATI YouTube page, and additional Simulation Blogs.

Robert Warren
Simulation Specialist, Application Engineer
Computer Aided Technology

Figure 1

The Fluid Cavity feature is used to simulate the response of a structure when it is filled with a fluid under pressure. Today we will demonstrate this feature with a blow molded plastic bottle. The simulation consists of 3 parts: the preform, the forming rod, and the mold wall. The forming rod will be forced down into the mold, drawing the preform into shape. While this happens, the inside of the preform will be under pressure, expanding it to fill the inside of the mold wall.

The fluid cavity feature is located under the Abstractions tab in the Structural Model Creation app. Once clicked, select the surfaces exposed to the fluid cavity and apply the appropriate material properties. We will discuss these properties later.

Figure 2

Notice in figure 2 that there are options to add ambient pressure and select other reference points, if desired. Now that the abstraction for the fluid cavity is defined, we must enter the pressure applied by the fluid. This is done through the Mechanical Scenario Creation app under the drop down for a Pressure load. See figure 3.

Figure 3

We will now apply a 2 MPa pressure to the cavity, but we want it to ramp up throughout the simulation. To do this, we can simply apply a tabular amplitude to control the magnitude of the load. A smoothing function is applied to this table to prevent sharp changes in the loading. This can help with convergence.

The rest of the setup is simple; we apply a few fixtures to restrain the components and setup the explicit dynamic solver. For more on the explicit solver, take a look at my blogs using the links below.

SIMULIA for SOLIDWORKS

What is the Next “Step” in 3DEXPERIENCE Simulation?

Once the solution has completed, we can view the results with the Physics Results Explorer app. See figure 4, the animation shows a section view of the bottle in which you can see the forming rod guiding the expansion as it moves down into the mold cavity.

Figure 4

The Fluid Cavity allows for use of the CVOL (Fluid Cavity Volume) solver variable that allows us to plot the fluid pressure and the volume of fluid. Figure 5 plots the fluid volume vs time.

Figure 5

Fluid cavities are a great way to account for fluid pressure effects on a structure. This feature is reserved for incompressible or nearly incompressible fluids because the only properties considered are density and bulk modulus. The fluid cavity does not take other fluid properties into account (like thermal properties or equations of state).

Like SPH particles, the Fluid Cavity does not replace a full FSI problem, but it does fill a niche. It can be useful in any application that may have an internal fluid meant to deform the structure via hydraulic pressure such as bottles, balloons, and other encapsulated incompressible fluids.

I hope that this blog has enlightened you further to the capabilities of SIMULIA for SOLIDWORKS on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. There is a lot of power behind this product, and we would be happy to discuss any of your applications to see if one of our great simulation products is a fit.

Matt Sherak
Sr Simulation Product Specialist, Elite Applications Engineer
Computer Aided Technology

In today’s simulation industry, FSI (Fluid Structure Interaction) is a big buzzword. It allows simulations of structures that deform due to fluid flow, which then changes the profile of the fluid flow, which then changes the deformation of the structure further, etc. This two-way interaction between FEA and CFD solvers can be incredibly complex and time consuming. Luckily, there are a couple of features built into SIMULIA for SOLIDWORKS that can ease this process: SPH Elements and Fluid Cavity domains. This Blog will focus on SPH Elements.

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic Elements, or SPH elements for short, are a way to model the effects of a fluid on a solid structure without coupling the structure with a CFD solver. In basic terms, this feature converts a solid part mesh to a lattice of rounded, smoothed, particles that represent a discrete volume of the fluid. Unlike traditional elements, these particles can move freely between each other and separate from each other. I like to think of it as describing a fluid like a ball pit that your kid’s might play in. The smaller the balls in the pit, the more the pit acts like a fluid.

Figure 1

I’ll demonstrate SPH elements by simulating water sloshing around in a tank. In the figure above, you can see the highlighted solid body- representing the initial level of the fluid.

Adding SPH elements into your SIMULIA for SOLIDWORKS simulation study must be done through the structural model creation app. Select SPH from the Properties tab of the command manager, see figure 1.

NOTE that you must have a mesh created prior to converting to SPH elements and only reduced integration solid elements C3D8R, C3D6, and C3D4 can be converted to SPH particles.

Next, we will have to define the properties of the SPH particles.

Figure 2

We can give the definition an optional name. From there we select the body that we wish to convert to SPH, assign a material, and determine the generation method. There are two options here:

• On background grid– This creates a background lattice in the model. The particles are then placed at the grid intersection points. You can then determine the grid spacing size and the order formulation of the SPH elements added (second, third or fifth order). See figure 2 above.
• Per element– See figure 3 below. This option converts the FEA mesh element directly into SPH particles. You can insert one to seven SPH particles per FEA element using the particles per isometric direction box. The SPH will be divided as seen below in figure 4. This definition also benefits from second, third or fifth order formulations.

Figure 3

FIgure 4

(Image courtesy of Dassault Systèmes)

Finally, once the remainder of the fixtures, loads and contact definitions are complete we can run the study. For the example we are working with, I am going to follow the procedure for setting up a drop test using the explicit solver. You can find more information on drop test setup using the Structural Mechanics Engineer role.

Figure 5

You can see SPH particles as calculated with the explicit solver. The stress profiles of the tank are transparently rendered over the movement of the SPH particles interacting with the solid. SPH particles are perfect for fluid sloshing problems like this, and other cases where the dynamic interaction of the fluid on the structure is important. They are not limited to fluids, though. It can be used in cases like bird impacts on wings, scooping dirt or other debris, and even dynamic interactions like water and clothes in a washing machine! The limitation to SPH elements is that you cannot post-process the fluid properties like turbulence, pressure, etc.

I hope this blog has shown you the incredible power that SIMULIA for SOLIDWORKS brings to the table, coupled with the power of cloud computing it truly is a great tool to help you and your business make better products!

Matt Sherak
Simulation Product Specialist, Application Engineer
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.