Top 10 Enhancements in SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2014

A couple of days since the Public Preview release of SolidWorks 2014, I am already thrilled with all the enhancements in this new release. When 2013 was released, I could hardly contain my excitement with all the new features that were introduced in SolidWorks Simulation and now we have more new features added to SolidWorks Simulation 2014.

Over the course of the coming few weeks I will be taking you through the various enhancements in SolidWorks Simulation 2014 and how to make use of these enhancements to be more productive. For now I will go through a list of my favorite enhancements in SolidWorks Simulation 2014.

1. Large Problem Direct Sparse Solver

This had to be my top pick in SolidWorks Simulation 2014. It is direct solver that leverages multicore processing capability and improves solution speed for static and nonlinear studies. This solver also makes use of all the available resources so you can run “Large Problems” with millions of degrees of freedom.

2. Results Comparison Across Configurations

With the Compare results tool, now we can compare up to four results plots that are associated to different configurations within the same SolidWorks model.

3. Contact Visualization Plot

With a new contact visualization plot, you can inspect all the contacts created in the model.

4. More Materials

Users with active subscription have an access to a much larger database of materials available through the SolidWorks materials portal

5. Mesh Parallelization in SolidWorks Flow Simulation

Finally the parallel processing capability has been added to the meshing in SolidWorks Flow Simulation making the meshing process much faster

6. Local Solution Adaptive Mesh

Solution adaptive mesh refinement can now be applied on localized regions in SolidWorks Flow Simulation

7. Automatic Conversion of Toolbox Fasteners to Bolts

SolidWorks Simulation can automatically convert Toolbox fasteners in models to Simulation bolt connectors.

8. Importing Results from SolidWorks Plastics

SolidWorks Simulation can now import temperature and residual stresses from a SolidWorks Plastics study. Couple that with a non-linear simulation and you will have warping analysis.

9. List Connector Force

For spring, spot weld, and link connectors, you can list the output forces after you run a static or nonlinear analysis.

10. Mirrored Results about Planes of Symmetry

More of a delighter than an actual enhancement: models in which symmetry, either plane or cyclic, has been applied, the results can be displayed for the full models. Your manager is not going to ask you what happened to the rest of your model.

If you are interested in What’s new in SolidWorks 2014, the place to get started is Alin’s Favorite Picks for SolidWorks 2014, and to see the enhancements live attend a SolidWorks 2014 launch event in October.