Find the Maximum Stress on Specific Areas with SOLIDWORKS Simulation

After your SOLIDWORKS Simulation has finished solving, you can now review the Stress plot to see the overall stresses in the model and narrow down the problematic high stress regions.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Maximum Overall Stress

But in some situations you need to find the maximum stress in a specific area that is not the maximum stress in the model.  Perhaps you have a singularity in the model that is affecting the Max Stress annotation.  Or you have already reviewed the max stress area and now need to review other areas of concern.

While you can use the Probe tool in the approximate location, there is a faster and more precise option.  Edit the Stress Plot definition and enable the option ‘Show plot on selected entities’.  Either select face(s) or bodies/component(s) to show the stresses on just those regions.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation – Show plot on selected entities

Then on the Chart Options tab, select the options ‘Show max annotation’ and ‘Show Min/Max range on shown parts only’.  Then the plots will update the colour bar to update values to only represent the selections.  The Max Annotation can now point to the exact location for the peak stress where you’re looking.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Chart Options

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Maximum Stress on Selected Entities