Finite Element Analysis
Pressure vessel stress analysis
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Efficiently optimize and validate each design step using fast-solving, CAD integrated SolidWorks Simulation to ensure quality, performance, and safety.
Tightly integrated with SolidWorks CAD, SolidWorks Simulation solutions and capabilities can be a regular part of your design process—reducing the need for costly prototypes, eliminating rework and delays, and saving time and development costs.
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Overview
SolidWorks Simulation uses the displacement formulation of the finite element method to calculate component displacements, strains, and stresses under internal and external loads. The geometry under analysis is discretized using tetrahedral (3D), triangular (2D), and beam elements, and solved by either a direct sparse or iterative solver. SolidWorks Simulation can use either an h or p adaptive element type, providing a great advantage to designers and engineers as the adaptive method ensures that the solution has converged.
Integrated with SolidWorks 3D CAD, finite element analysis using SolidWorks Simulation knows the exact geometry during the meshing process. And the more accurately the mesh matches the product geometry, the more accurate the analysis results will be.
The majority of FEA calculations involve metallic components, just as the majority of industrial components are made of metal. The analysis of metal components can be carried out by either linear or nonlinear stress analysis. Which analysis approach you use depends upon how far you want to push the design:
- If you want to ensure the geometry remains in the linear elastic range (that is, once the load is removed, the component returns to its original shape), then linear stress analysis may be applied, as long as the rotations and displacements are small relative to the geometry. For such an analysis, factor of safety (FoS) is a common design goal.
- Evaluate the effects of post-yield load cycling on the geometry, a nonlinear stress analysis should be carried out. In this case, the impact of strain hardening on the residual stresses and permanent set (deformation) is of most interest.
The analysis of nonmetallic components (such as, plastic or rubber parts) should be carried out using nonlinear stress analysis methods (link to SolidWorks Nonlinear Stress Analysis capability page), due to their complex load deformation relationship.
SolidWorks Simulation uses FEA methods to calculate the displacements and stresses in your product due to operational loads such as:
- Forces
- Pressures
- Accelerations
- Temperatures
- Contact between components
Loads can be imported from thermal, flow, and motion Simulation studies to perform multiphysics analysis.
