Design Optimization and 2D Simplification, A Great Combination!

Two common questions from users that are new to SolidWorks Simulation Professional and SolidWorks Simulation Premium are:


 1.How do I create a 2D design study?
 2.Where is the Optimization study located ?


These are both very powerful features that are not available in SolidWorks Premium with Simulation but are included when you upgrade to the Simulation Professional or Simulation Premium packages. However, they may be tricky to find for a new user. These two tools go together like "peas and carrots", "Laurel and Hardy" and of course "chocolate and peanut butter". 2D studies run very quickly, making them a great fit for optimization where we want to optimize around multiple simulations with different boundary conditions.


How do we get started?


2D Simplification:
This option is available for Linear Static Studies, Non Linear and Thermal simulations.


1. Load the simulation plug in via add-ins. 


2. Go to the simulation command manager and create a new study. At the bottom of the Study dialog is a little checkbox for "2D simplification." From here, you will pick an axis of revolution and a plane for axis symmetric problems and a plane and input a thickness for plane strain problems (like a door seal) or plane stress (like a snap fit or latch). 


3. Note: You could even start with only a sketch! 


Design Optimization: 
You may be expecting to find this in the simulation command manager, but in fact...


1. Go the evaluate command manager and choose "new design study." Optimization is an extension of the Design Study tool when you have your simulation add-in loaded with Simulation Professional or Simulation Premium.


2. From here we can create parameters from simulation fields with a "pull down" arrow or from sketch or feature dimensions. 


3. We can use sensors as the feedback to the optimization solver and they can be created in the design study dialog or seperately. 


Take a look at the quick video: 





Here we create a 2D study of a load cell design. We want the stress to be low enough so that we don't deform under operating loads, we want enough strain such that we get a good signal from the strain gauge, and we want to keep the displacement under a specified amount. Lastly, this study is run with a non-linear plasticity curve such that stresses for our "Overload" scenario will be more accurate.


Happy Simulating! 


David Roccaforte
Simulation Sales Engineer