Static Analysis in SolidWorks

The Static Analysis (in SOLIDWORKS) does not change with respect to time and the load should remain the same then the body is called under static loading.

If a body is subjected to static loading and the stress, strain, and deformation will calculate on each molecule of that body. So the overall results are called static analysis or static simulation.
Static analysis is also known as a static simulation in SOLIDWORKS or other CAE software like CATIA, NX, Creo.

There is some basic terminology will use for static analysis, so we need to make our concept clear for better understanding and complete knowledge will acquire.
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Basic of Engineering

• Stress
• Strain
• Deformation

What is Stress using in Static Analysis in SOLIDWORKS?

Stress is the result of internal forces, or we can say the forces that result when internal particles react to each other. Force is the measure of the amount of energy that’s applied to an object.
These internal forces are induced when a load is applied to an object. The most common loading types include longitudinally-loaded objects, axially-loaded objects, and torsional-loaded, or twisted, objects.

Types of Stress

1. Compression
2. Tension
3. Shear
4. Bending
5. Torsion
6. Fatigue

What is the strain?

The strain is the reaction of a system to applied stress. When a material is loaded with a force, it produces stress, which then causes the material to deform.
Engineering strain is defined as the amount of deformation in the direction of the applied force divided by the initial length of the material.
The strain is defined as the “deformation of a solid due to stress”.
Normal strain – elongation or contraction of a line segment
Shear strain – change in angle between two line segments originally perpendicular

What is Deformation?

Deformation defines how much body displaced from its original position of the displacement can be the entire body or within the molecules of that body.

What is the Finite Element Method?

The finite element method is used to solve the finite element problem which is a numerical technique.

In simple words, if any kind of load will apply on the body then the stress will be induced on the entire body and the resultant stress value can find easily, but if the stress value will be required at a certain point then we need to divide a single body into multiple parts like 100 or 1000 and then we will able to find the stress value on a particular element.
So the process of discretization of the body into multiple elements is called the finite element method and this is performed in CAE software with the name of meshing.

Process of static analysis/ static  simulation

There are few processes to complete static simulation in SOLIDWORKS,

• Define material,
• Apply connection type,
• Apply Fixture,
• External Load,
• Meshing (FEM),
• Run analysis,
• Results analysis,
• Optimization,
• Report,

Define Material in Static Analysis in SOLIDWORKS

Material is a very important parameter for any kind of analysis and every time we need to specify the material type on the body before the start of the simulation.
Basic and industrial-grade material is given in Solidworks and we can apply very easily on a single part or into the assembly.

Apply connections

The connection will be applicable only for assembly or a minimum of two bodies. Connection defines which type of contact exists between the surfaces of two adjacent bodies. Like if a ball bearing is connected with another body then we can specify the “bearing contact”. If there is no movement between two bodies then we can say fixed contact.

Apply Fixture

It defines how the body is placed on location. For example, if a body is fixed with a hinge joint or a body is fixed at two base points as a cantilever beam then we can say the base location of the body is fixed with a hinge joint and fixed base respectively.

External Load

After applying fixture we need to apply the load condition with a numeric value. The load can be any kind like force, pressure, torque, centrifugal force, bearing load, etc. The unit of load can be customized according to requirements.

Meshing

Meshing is the last step before run simulation. As we discussed earlier, meshing works the same as the finite element method in which a single body will be divided into multiple elements and the load will be calculated on nodes of each element. Node is the corner point of the non-spherical shape element.

Run Analysis

After completion of all the above steps then we will able to run the simulation and the results will find out in numerical value with the unit. The basic results are stress, strain, deformation, a factor of safety, temperature, etc. There are lots of resultant values where we can find out according to our requirements.

Result Analysis of Static Analysis in SOLIDWORKS

In this stage, we will analyze the result of stress, strain, and deformation values and will check the body is sustainable or not, if the body can sustain the applied load then the value would be fine and static simulation is completed.
And if the yield value is less than the maximum value then it means the body is failed under applied load and body structure condition.
So in the failure case, we should go for the next step is optimization.

Optimization of Static Analysis in SOLIDWORKS

If the body comes under failure condition then we proceed for optimization, in which we have to analyze the maximum deformation or maximum stress induced area and we can modify the shape of that particular area and re-test with the same load and fixture condition.
After re-test the output result would be under yield value then it’s fine otherwise we can proceed with the same process.

Report Generation

SOLIDWORKS is very smart in analysis, it can also auto-generate the report of entire static analysis including images, dimensions, units, and all engineering parameters.
Click Here to Download CAD File. Analysis File & Report
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Generated report has been displayed below,






Click Here to Download CAD File. Analysis File & Report
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