3 REASONS TO CHOOSE SOLIDWORKS FLOW SIMULATION

SolidWorks FlowSimulation is known to take out the complexity from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) – a technology which when put into software enables mechanical engineers in stimulating fluid flow and heat transfer applications using intuitive and powerful simulation tools.

There are numerous key benefits of using SolidWorks Flow Simulation which sets it above the rest and gives you enough reasons to choose it over others. Such reasons are what we will discuss in this blog today.

With the help of SolidWorks Flow Simulation Technology, you can save a lot of time as in comparison to other traditional CFD Programs. Where a traditional CFD program would take about two weeks to cover the process of transfer and analysis, SolidWorks Flow Simulation Technology does it in under fraction of days.

Reason number two is the possibility of analyzing complex geometry with ease. With SolidWorks Flow Simulation you can easily handle CAD geometries carrying tight crevices as well as sharp angles without having to defeature the model. However, do note, if you happen to decide in favor of simplifying your model you would need to access power simplification geometrical features in order to prepare your model for CFD analysis.

Reason number three is the effortless ease with which this software meshes. As you might have seen in standard CFD packages, getting an optimum mesh is not easy. SolidWorks Flow Simulation, on the other hand, provides robust automatic mesher for those fluid and solid regions.

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These reasons provide a solid statement in favor of SolidWorks Flow Simulation and why you must go for a SolidWorks Flow Simulation Training right away.

Understanding the Simulation Flow Wizard

Flow Wizard - How to Set up your Flow Anlaysis:

SolidWorks Simulation is a versatile software that allows a user to conduct analysis of a part in a virtual environment.  In order to help the user set up a problem correctly, SolidWorks has a built-in Study Advisor functionality that guides the user through the process of setting up an analysis. 

 Simulation is a large branch that includes static analysis, thermal analysis, frequency analysis, and also flow.  Flow simulation uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to enable the user to run liquid and gas analysis to understand fluid flow, heat transfer, and forces on component parts.  SolidWorks Flow Simulation has the Flow Wizard functionality, similar to the Study Advisor, to help users set up the flow analysis.

Consider a simple pipe as shown below.  To begin, let’s select the Flow Simulation tab and select Wizard at the top left.

A pop-up window should appear for Project Name.  This is where you will be able to enter the project name, comments and where you can select which configurations you’d like to add to the project

The next tab allows you to select and set your unit system.  You are able to control the unit of measurement as well as the number of decimal places shown for each measurement.

The next tab allows you to choose the analysis type.  This is an important choice.  With regards to the pipe we have modeled, are we interested in fluid flow within the pipe or are we interested in fluid flow over the pipe?  An internal analysis would be considered for an enclosed flow such as inside the pipe.  An external analysis would apply for an unbounded flow, or blow over an object.  Once you have decided on which type of analysis you may input additional physical features such as time dependence, gravity and rotation.

The next tab allows you to set your working fluid, it may be liquid, gas, compressible, non-compressible, etc.  

SolidWorks Flow simulation can analyze up to ten fluids of different types provided that you separate the areas of different fluids from each other.  

The next tab indicates the wall conditions where you can treat them with different roughness or thermodynamic parameters such as adiabatic. 

The next tab allows you to set the initial conditions of your fluid flow including pressure, temperature and velocity.

The last tab allows you to set the result resolution for your flow simulation.  This determines the accuracy of the result.  Higher accuracy generally requires longer runtimes.

The last step is to complete the wizard which should put you in a good position to start your flow analysis.

Enhanced Turbulence Modeling in SolidWorks Flow Simulation

SolidWorks® Flow Simulation is a powerful, intelligent, and easy-to-use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program that facilitates the work of product engineers who use SolidWorks 3D CAD software for 3D design creation. This paper details the approach and theory behind turbulence modeling as used in SolidWorks Flow Simulation to simulate complex industrial turbulent flows with heat and mass transfer.

Download the Whitepaper to learn more:

SolidWorks Flow Simulation Tutorials

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation has some great tutorials to quickly learn how to use the software and then work your way up to getting up and going on your own projects.  If you are signed up for training at our office, it’s also a great way to get prepared in order to ask more detailed questions from your instructor.

To access the Tutorials, you first would need to have Flow Simulation enabled as an add-in, and then from the Help menu, under the SOLIDWORKS Simulation  (Also Read: SolidWorks Simulation Standard) submenu item, you will see a listing of FlowSimulation topics including the Tutorials.

The tutorials are a PDF manual with examples beginning with first steps to learn the interface, with a Ball Valve for example, then move on to Intermediate examples, such as Heat Exchanger Efficiency, to learn how to use design goals and properly construct your computational mesh.  And by this point, you’d be ready for more Advanced examples, such as a rotating Textile Machine.  All of these example models are loaded onto your hard drive in the installation directory under a folder called “Examples,” where the default location is C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp\SolidWorks Flow Simulation\Examples.  (Note that the models should not be used directly from here but copied to another location to preserve the originals.) 

You might have caught in the first image above that there is also an option for Flow Simulation Technical Reference.  This PDF is another great resource to learn how to use the software, and at the end of this document there are even more examples that are provided as Validation examples.  The 2015 release includes one new validation example based on a Buice-Eaton diffuser, used as a turbulence modeling test case.  Those models are similarly located in a folder named “Validation Examples,” and all are setup and ready to solve.

Note that a direct route to the PDF documents mentioned in this post is to go to the source files in this location: “C:\Program Files\SolidWorks Corp\SolidWorks Flow Simulation\lang\english\Docs”, where you can substitute “english” for 1 of 6 languages of your choice.

Please contact us for more information on SolidWorks Flow Simulation Software or Flow Simulation Training

SolidWorks Flow Simulation - Breathe a little easier

Breathe a little easier when designing, by using SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation.  

Contact our CFD experts at FEA-TC to find out how.

What's new in SolidWorks Simulation 2014

With every year's major release in SolidWorks, the enhancements that is made in all modules of  SolidWorks Simulation 2014 (SolidWorks Simulation Professional, SolidWorks Simulation Premium and SolidWorks Flow Simulation) is truly outstanding.

The SolidWorks Simulation 2014 release focus on four important theme:

Boost Productivity with Intelligent Tools

• Automatically convert Toolbox Fasteners to bolt connectors
• New Bolt Connectors Symbol

Benefits :

• Easier Simulation setup time
• Leverage CAD Simulation
• Improve productivity of Product Engineers

Perform comprehensive simulations across consistent solution

Leverage ECAD thermal properties

• Import thermal properties from Circuit Works in SolidWorks Flow Simulation
• Import PCB layers definition from Circuit Works in SolidWorks Flow Simulation

Benefits:

• Streamline product development process
• Enhance the user experience with SolidWorks Solutions.

Import Residual Stress from SolidWorks Plastics

• Import In-Molding Residual Stress (the stress generated before ejection) from SolidWorks Plastics.
• Perform Structural Analysis taking in account molding stresses.

Benefits:

• Provide complete performance test capabilities.
• Consistency of the global simulation tools.

Acheive greater insight with Simulation results

Mirror results about planes of symmetry

• Allows user to mirror results about planes of symmetry (planar,cyclic)

Benefits :

• Ease post processing of Complex symmetrical models
• Facilitate the sharing of simulation results with people unfamiliar with Simulation.

 

Results Comparison Across Configurations

Allow the user to compare simulation results across different configurations.

Benefits :

•  Ease comparison of design scenarios 
• Enable user to focus on his research to best design

Better eDrawings support of CFD results

Save multiple SolidWorks Flow Simulation output charts in a single edrawing.

Benefits:

• Ease Communication with CFD results 
• offer consistency with solidworks simulation

Performance

SolidWorks Simulation Performance Enhancements to :

• Faster file open with Simulation Active
• Large problem with Large problem direct sparse solver - Multi -Core Support
• Direct Sparse solver - upto 40% seep up for in-core problems
• Large speed up in the Interactive Solver (FFE +) - Multi-Processor, Contact convergence

Solve Heat Transfer problems Quickly and Cost-Effectively with Flow Simulation

Finding effective solutions to heat transfer problems has become an increasingly important part of new product development. Almost everything experiences heating or cooling of some kind, and for many products, such as modern electronics, medical devices, and HVAC systems, managing heat is a critical requirement for avoiding overheating and achieving functional success. Manufacturers who can efficiently resolve heat transfer issues will have a distinct competitive advantage. With an easy-to-use, fluid-flow analysis application like SolidWorks Flow Simulation software, you will have the tools that you need to solve even the most difficult heat transfer problems, while saving time and money in the process.  

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