STRESS ANALYSIS USING SOLIDWORKS SIMULATION

Abstract

Stress analysis using SolidWorks Simulation is a powerful tool for predicting the behaviour of components and structures under various loading conditions. The methodology involves creating a 3D model of the component, assigning material properties, defining boundary conditions, meshing, setting up the analysis, and analysing the results. SolidWorks Simulation includes a wide range of analysis types, such as static, dynamic, and thermal, and provides a comprehensive suite of tools to visualize and analyse the results. The paper focusses on performing Solidworks simulation studies and hence comparing the results with the hand calculated results. The paper is prepared based on the second-year diploma project, in which the students were taught the basics of stress analysis and use of Solidworks 2021 software for performing stress analysis on bars and beams subjected to axial, bending, torsion and combined loads. However, in this paper only bending related problem has been discussed. The concept of stress analysis was also taught to the students and hence an example related to stress concentration has also been discussed. The results of the comparison reveal that the percentage variation between the hand calculated, and simulation results is less than 1%. KEYWORDS: Solidworks, Stress analysis, 3D modelling, Engineering design, Stress concentration, FEA