Assembly FEA

Guide to running static solidworks studies on assemblies.

Model Setup

1. fully define all parts with mates

2. replace any complex OTS parts (such as bearings, motor, differential) with a simplified solid body (ie, make a disk with the correct outer dimensions instead of a bearing)

3. suppress any threads from parts

4. make sure all parts have materials assigned

5. go to Evaluate > Interference Detection > Calculate

   1. make sure there are no interferences

Simulation Setup

1. if you don’t see the Static tab you need to create a New Study in the Simulation tab at the top

2. Parts:

   1. right click and Make Rigid for parts you don’t care about deformation of/can assume do not deform

   2. make sure all parts have a green check icon

3. Connections:

   1. change the default Global Bonded Interaction that automatically gets created to a Global Contact Interaction

   2. right click Connections and add a Component Interaction for interactions that should be “bonded” rather than the default “contact” interaction (ie. welded parts, press fit parts)

   3. right click Connections and add a bolt connection

4. Fixtures:

   1. right click Fixed Geometry and select whatever faces you want fixed

5. External Loads:

   1. right click and add whatever load is necessary

6. double checks before meshing:

   1. right click Connections > Interaction Viewer > scroll to bottom Show All Interactions > Calculate: make sure all connections are showing up and labeled the correct type (Bonded vs Contact)

   2. right click Connections > Under Constrained Bodies > Calculate: make sure it says model is fully constrained. if not take note of what parts are failing and double check the mates & connections related to that part

7. create mesh

8. run study