Meshing is an essential step in the finite element analysis (FEA) process, as it helps to discretize the geometry into smaller elements. In SolidWorks, meshing can be done using the Simulation module, which allows engineers and designers to analyze and validate their designs before manufacturing.
Why is Meshing Important?
Meshing plays a crucial role in FEA, as it helps in obtaining accurate results by dividing the complex geometry into simpler elements. These elements are interconnected at nodes, forming a mesh network that represents the physical behavior of the model under analysis.
The Meshing Process in SolidWorks:
To start with meshing in SolidWorks, follow these steps:
1. Open SolidWorks Simulation:
Firstly, launch SolidWorks and open the desired assembly or part file. Then, click on the ‘Simulation’ tab located at the top menu bar.
2. Create a New Study:
In the Simulation tab, click on ‘New Study’ to create a new study for performing FEA on your model.
3. Define Material Properties and Loads:
Before proceeding with meshing, it’s important to define material properties such as Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, etc., along with loads and boundary conditions that act on your model.
4. Mesh Settings:
To access mesh settings in SolidWorks Simulation, navigate to the ‘Mesh’ tab from the Simulation tree located on the left-hand side of your screen.
Tessellation Options:
- Tessellation Density: This option controls how dense or coarse your mesh will be. Higher values result in finer meshes, which can yield more accurate results but may increase computation time.
- Curvature-Based Mesh: Enabling this option allows SolidWorks to automatically refine the mesh in regions with high curvature, ensuring better accuracy in complex geometries.
Element Type:
- Tetrahedral: Tetrahedral elements are commonly used for solid models and are suitable for most analysis types. They work well with complex geometries but may not provide accurate results for thin structures.
- Hexahedral: Hexahedral elements are better suited for structures with a uniform thickness, such as sheet metal components. They can provide faster solutions but might require a simpler geometry.
Mesh Control:
In SolidWorks Simulation, you can refine the mesh locally by specifying faces, edges, or vertices where a denser mesh is desired. This is particularly useful in areas of interest or where stress concentrations are expected.
5. Mesh Generation:
To generate the mesh, simply click on the ‘Create Mesh’ button located in the ‘Mesh’ tab. SolidWorks will automatically generate the mesh based on your defined settings.
6. Review and Refine:
After generating the mesh, it is important to review its quality and refine if necessary.
SolidWorks provides various tools to examine and improve the quality of your mesh, such as ‘Mesh Metrics’ and ‘Equation-Based Mesh Control. ‘
7. Run Analysis:
Once you are satisfied with the mesh quality, proceed to run the analysis using the ‘Run’ button located in the ‘Study PropertyManager’. SolidWorks will solve the FEA problem based on the mesh and provide results accordingly.
Conclusion:
Meshing is a crucial step in the FEA process, and SolidWorks provides a user-friendly interface to generate meshes with ease. By following the steps mentioned above, you can effectively mesh your models in SolidWorks Simulation and obtain accurate results for your analysis.
Remember, a well-structured and refined mesh leads to more accurate simulations, which ultimately helps in making informed design decisions.