Structural Analysis in SolidWorks
SolidWorks works as a base platform for many other useful engines like COSMOSWorks - Finite Element Analysis (FEA) engine for SolidWorks. In this workshop we will cover how to set up the following:
- Solid Mesh (monocoque body)
- Beam Mesh 1 (moment connection structures, ex. beam)
- Beam Mesh 2 (pin connection structure, ex. truss)
Global Setup
Loading COSMOSWorks
COSMOSWorks needs to be loaded
- Tools > Add-Ins...
- Check the box for COSMOSWorks
Formatting Geometry
As the name "Solid" Works suggests a very specific type of geometry in order for it to run these analysis. Fundamentally the properties of "Solid" means the geometry is informed with properties of materiality (weight, density, strength, etc.) Rhino, Maya, 3dMax, etc, any visualization software do not consider but the surface + texture. Our geometry must be "air tight", meaning an enclosed volume considering the thickness of the material. SolidWorks has many useful functions to realize these properties.
Required geometry for the following analysis:
- Solid Mesh NURBS surface
- Beam Mesh 1 NURBS lines
- Beam Mesh 2 NURBS lines
Setup for Solid Mesh Analysis
Importing NURBS Surface
Open your IGES file. It will ask you to run Import Diagnostics. Click Yes. If you are bringing in multiple surfaces that should be a closed object, in your tree PropertyManager click on "Attempt to Heal All". This should allow SW to recognize it as a solid object. If your object should be a open surface, just click on the check.
Giving Thicknes
if surface is a closed object skip this step
- Select your surface in the FeatureManager design tree.
- Insert > Boss/Base > Thicken...
Give it an appropriate thickness. Side Note: Finite Element Analysis (FEA) can only be worked on SOLID OBJECTS (e.i. closed volumes)
Setup for Beam Mesh Analysis
Exporting/Importing lines from Rhino to SolidWorks
In order for SolidWorks to run structural analysis, it requires us to build the model in its native geometry. Importing .iges lines files from Rhino will NOT WORK. We will export the lines by using our custom line exporter. We will then use a macro script in SolidWorks to reconstruct the geometry in SolidWorks.
- Grasshopper 3D Truss
- This module creates an offset truss from a given surface.
- Download Grasshopper definition Example-Truss.ghx
- Download example file (with surface) Example-Truss.3dm
- Rhino Script to export line geometry to SolidWorks
- Download Rhino Script Rhino2SolidWorks_Line_Exporter_.rvb
- SolidWorks Line Importert Macro
- Download SolidWorks Macro SolidWorks_Line_Importer.txt
Giving Structural Members
- Import line geometry from Rhino using the macro.
- Insert > Weldments > Structural Members...
FEA Setup
Start your Study
In your COSMOSWorks tree manager, right-click on your Part and click on "Study...". Your options are
- Solid Mesh
- Beam Mesh
Assign Material to Solids
- Right-click on "Solids" and assign material. Select material source to "From library files". You should then have a drop menu that has Iron, Steel, Aluminium Alloys, etc.
Assign Loads and Restraints
- Right-click on your "Load/Restraint" and select Restraints...". Select faces, edges or points to restrain. For basic studies, Type should be Fixed.
- Right-click on your "Load/Restraint" and select "Forces...". For basic studies, Type should be Apply force/moment. Select faces, edges or points to apply forces. Then select a construction plane to indicate the direction of the force.
- Use Units that you are familiar with, English(IPS) will be in pounds. Set your Force (Per entity) and direction.
Run Analysis
- Right-click on the name of your study and click on "Run".
FEA Results
Result Types
If your analysis runs successfully, you should have a Results folder with the following:
- Stress1 (-vonMises-)
- Displacement (-Res disp-)
- Strain1 (-Equivalent-)
Result Modification
for each result, right-click and click on show to see the results. Once you see the result in your work space, right-click again and you will have the following options to farther modify the result:
- Edit Animation...
- Section Clipping...
- Iso Clipping...
- Setting...