SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation Highlights

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation Highlights

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation is our full computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Solution that simulates fluid (liquid or gas) flowing through or around objects. It enables quick, efficient simulation of the flow field and includes heat transfer effects. The program is directly integrated within the familiar SOLIDWORKS interface and can communicate with the Simulation finite element analysis (FEA) tool to allow inclusion of pressure and/or temperature effects of fluid flow within thermal/structural FEA simulations.

An efficient wizard interface guides problem setup and makes starting your project very easy.

Internal/External flow problems can be solved under steady or time dependent conditions. Special considerations such as compressibility, non-Newtonian fluids, humidity and cavitation can be included.  An extensive engineering database is included and can be expanded with user-defined parameters, including materials, fan curves and virtual components such as perforated plates, porous media and contact resistance.

Goals can be set up and then monitored in a robust Solver Monitor window that permits direct control of the solution. Information about the size of the problem and the remaining solution time along with real time progress updates via cut plots allow for decisions to be made about continuing the calculation, thereby reducing the time to get useful results. The screen shot below shows a cook house thermal simulation during solution. The Solver Monitor window shows the status of goals and a velocity cut plot.

Here’s a velocity cut plot at the same location and solution step within a transparent model of the cook house. Note the three 1kW heat sources simulating stove-top burners adding heat to the environment and generating an upward draft in the room.

Multiple additional post-processing capabilities such as trajectories and surface plots allow complete visualization and interpretation of results with direct export to Microsoft Office products.

Add-on specialty modules are available that enhance the program’s capabilities related to the solution of heating, ventilation, and A/C (HVAC) and electronics cooling (EC) problems.

Finally, new for SW2018 is the ability to simulate a free surface. This enhancement has been asked for by customers for a long time and is useful for analysis of practical applications like vessel filling and drainage times and flow nozzle spray distance. It allows combining two immiscible fluids in the same domain. Allowed combinations are any pair of fluids belonging to gases, liquids or non-Newtonian liquids (except gas-gas).

If you need a great CFD simulation package, look no further than SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation and its add-on modules. I know you won’t be disappointed! Thanks for viewing these highlights. Keep on Flowing!

Kurt Kurtin

CATI Technical Manager – Simulation and Electrical Products