SOLIDWORKS Simulation
Subject your designs to real-world conditions to raise product quality while reducing prototyping and physical testing costs.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Overview
SOLIDWORKS Simulation is a user-friendly suite of structural analysis tools that leverage Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to accurately predict a product’s real-world physical behavior through virtual testing of CAD models. This powerful portfolio offers comprehensive linear, non-linear static, and dynamic analysis capabilities, making it ideal for engineers and designers seeking to optimize product performance and ensure reliability. It helps identify potential issues early in the design cycle, saving time and resources.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Use Cases
Common use cases and integration points into your engineering workflow include:
Design Optimization
Find the best design that meets constraints or goals, such as weight reduction, while maintaining a factor of safety.
Design Validation
Virtually test product designs under various real-world conditions to ensure performance and durability before physical prototyping.
Material Optimization
Evaluate different material properties and their impact on product behavior to select the most suitable materials for specific applications.
Failure Prediction
Identify potential failure points and areas of high stress or strain within a design, allowing for proactive design modifications to prevent issues.
Vibration and Dynamics Analysis
Analyze how designs respond to dynamic loads and vibrations, crucial for products with moving parts or those operating in dynamic environments.
Thermal Analysis
Simulate heat transfer and temperature distribution within components and assemblies to prevent overheating and optimize thermal management.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Features & Benefits
SOLIDWORKS Simulation empowers engineers and designers to make informed decisions early in the product development cycle, leading to improved product quality, reduced development costs, and faster time to market. By integrating seamlessly with SOLIDWORKS CAD, it allows for quick design iterations and comprehensive performance validation, minimizing the need for expensive physical prototypes and extensive testing.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Key Features
Seamlessly analyze designs within the familiar SOLIDWORKS environment.
Evaluate stress, strain, and displacement under static loads to ensure structural integrity.
Simulate the kinematic and dynamic behavior of assemblies to understand forces and movements.
Predict product life under cyclic loading conditions to prevent premature failure.
Determine natural frequencies and mode shapes to avoid resonance issues.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Licensing & Packages
SOLIDWORKS Simulation offers multiple licensing options to fit your team’s analysis and design validation needs:
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Standard
An intuitive virtual testing environment for static linear, time-based motion. It delivers a concurrent engineering approach, helping you know if your product will perform properly, and how long it will last with high-cycle fatigue simulation during the design phase.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional
Enables you to optimize your design, determine product mechanical resistance, ensure product durability, topology and natural frequencies, and test heat transfer and buckling instabilities.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium
Lets you efficiently evaluate your designs for nonlinear and dynamic response, dynamic loading, and composite materials. SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium includes three advanced studies: Non-Linear Static, Non-Linear Dynamic, and Linear Dynamics.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Package Comparison
Quickly compare SOLIDWORKS Simulation packages to find the best fit for your team’s needs:
Comparison Matrix
Features
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Standard
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium
Fully integrated in SOLIDWORKS® 3D CAD
Linear Static Simulation for Assemblies and Multi-Bodies
Loads and Constraints
Interactions and Connectors
Stress Hot Spot Diagnostics
Trend Tracker
Communicate Results with Automated Reports and eDrawings®
Time-Based Motion
Design Comparison Studies
Fatigue Simulation
Automatic Conversion of Toolbox Fasteners to Bolts
Design Optimization
Load Case Manager
Advanced Interactions and Connectors
Topology Optimization Studies
Event-Based Motion Simulation
Frequency Simulation
Buckling or Collapse Simulation
Thermal Simulation
Drop Test Simulation
Pressure Vessel Design
Submodeling Simulation
2D Simplification
Linear Dynamic Simulation
Nonlinear Simulation
Composites Simulation
For more advanced Nonlinear and Dynamic Simulation analysis, check out our SIMULIA Structural solutions powered by Abaqus.
SOLIDWORKS SIMULATION FAQs
What is SOLIDWORKS Simulation Used For?
SOLIDWORKS Simulation is used to test how your designs will perform under real-world conditions like stress, heat, motion, and vibration before building a physical prototype. It helps reduce costly rework and design errors.
Is There Any Training to Help My Company Succeed Using the Software?
Yes, a big part of MLC CAD Systems is being a solution provider, and software is just a piece of that. We offer public SOLIDWORKS Simulation Classes, custom training specific to your organization, and Consulting Services to dive deep into your simulations and develop workflows.
What is the difference between SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional and Premium?
Simulation Premium includes everything in Professional, plus advanced analysis tools like nonlinear stress, dynamic response, and composite material simulation. It’s ideal for complex loading or material scenarios.
How much does SOLIDWORKS Simulation Cost?
Pricing for SOLIDWORKS Simulation varies based on license type, support, and whether it’s bundled with other SOLIDWORKS tools. Most users will need to request a quote for customized pricing.
Is SOLIDWORKS Simulation bundled with other tools?
Yes, some SOLIDWORKS Simulation tools are included with certain SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD packages, but full access like Simulation Professional or Premium typically requires a separate license. Get help choosing the right bundle.
What is the Difference between the Simulation included in SOLIDWORKS CAD Premium and SOLIDWORKS Simulation Standard?
For simulation capabilities, these packages are practically identical. The main difference is that SOLIDWORKS CAD Premium does not come with Fatigue Simulation, while SOLIDWORKS Simulation Standard does
Do you need a SOLIDWORKS CAD License to Run Simulation?
Yes, SOLIDWORKS Simulation acts as an add-on to SOLIDWORKS CAD, so you will also need a SOLIDWORKS CAD license to use the Simulation packages.
Is SOLIDWORKS Simulation Accurate?
Yes, SOLIDWORKS Simulation is as accurate as your inputs to the Simulation. SOLIDWORKS Simulation is validated by NAFEMS (National Agency of Finite Element Methods and Standard), which is an organization that was formed in 1983 to promote safe and reliable use of Finite element software.
Does SOLIDWORKS Simulation include any Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulation capability?
No, SOLIDWORKS Simulation is purely a structural software. CFD capabilities are found within the SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation licensing which is purchased separately. For coupled fluid–structure cases, you can pass one way SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation results straight into Structural simulation
What is the difference between the Thermal Analysis in SOLIDWORKS Simulation and the Thermal Analysis in SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation?
Both allow you to analyze the thermal effects of your products but the main difference is that Thermal Analysis in SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation goes deeper into calculating the convection heat transfer (Heat transfer from Solids to Fluid) and is going to be the more capable solution.
What Hardware is Recommended for Using SOLIDWORKS Simulation?
This will heavily depend on the complexity of the simulations. SolidWorks Simulation will run on any SOLIDWORKS-certified machine (see SOLIDWORKS Hardware Recommendations), but as your simulations get more complex, it can be very useful to have better hardware for faster solving time. CPU and RAM are the primary factors that affect solve speed. For most simulations, having a high clock speed CPU (3-4 GHz or higher) with 8 or more cores, along with 32–64 GB of RAM, will work very well. Understanding and using best simulation practices will be better than throwing more hardware at a problem.
What are the similarities and differences between SOLIDWORKS Simulation and SIMULIA Structural (Powered by Abaqus)?
Both are structural simulation softwares that are owned by parent company Dassault Systèmes and verified for accurate use by NAFEMS. SIMULIA Structural is powered by one of the original FEA solvers, Abaqus, and is designed to solve the toughest Structural Simulations out there. Generally, if your simulations are not nonlinear and not dynamic, SOLIDWORKS Simulation and SIMULIA Structural will give you the same quality results. As your results go into the more Nonlinear and/or highly dynamic range, that is where SIMULIA Structural shines. If you aren’t sure if your simulations are in this realm, check out these videos: Choosing the Right Solver: Linear vs Nonlinear in Simulation & Implicit vs Explicit Solvers: Choosing the Right Tool for Simulations
Related Resources
Blogs & Articles
Elevate your defense design capabilities with MLC CAD’s Comprehensive Fatigue Study with SOLIDWORKS Simulation! Dive deep into fatigue analysis essentials, understanding how stress-life and strain-life methods predict component lifespan under cyclic loading. This guide walks you through setting up load cycles, defining fatigue criteria, and interpreting safety factors—helping you avoid unexpected failures in critical defense applications. Ideal for engineers creating parts that must endure repeated stress, it shows how to validate durability and ensure mission-ready reliability.
Discover the secret to building faster, sharper SOLIDWORKS Simulations with the “Simulation Meshing Guide” from MLC CAD. It walks users through essential strategies—from choosing element types (tet, hex, shell) to fine‑tuning meshes only where it matters and using adaptive techniques that balance speed with precision—empowering engineers to trust their FEA results like never before.
Uncover how to dramatically improve Simulation accuracy without rerunning full models with MLC CAD’s Submodeling Studies guide! Learn how to start with a high-level simulation, identify a critical area, then extract a focused submodel with inherited boundary conditions. This allows you to apply refined meshing and get ultra-precise results in targeted zones—saving both time and computing power. Perfect for engineers looking to optimize efficiency and detail in SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional or Premium users. Ready to sharpen your FEA workflow? Click to dive in!
Streamline your SOLIDWORKS Simulation workflow by setting up default options tailored to your needs. MLC CAD Systems’ guide walks you through configuring default settings for new studies, covering units, mesh quality, plot types, and more. This proactive setup can save time and ensure consistency across your simulation projects. Whether you’re aiming for faster meshing or standardized result plots, this guide provides the steps to customize your simulation environment effectively. Optimize your simulation process today!
Webinars & Videos
Ready to unlock the power of SOLIDWORKS Simulation? MLC CAD Systems’ “Getting Started with Simulation” guide is your perfect starting point. This concise video tutorial walks you through activating the Simulation add-in, navigating the interface, and setting up your first study. Whether you’re new to FEA or looking to streamline your workflow, this guide equips you with the foundational knowledge to confidently run your first simulation.
Unlock the full potential of SOLIDWORKS Simulation with MLC CAD Systems’ expert guide, “Do I Need Non-Linear Simulation?” This resource helps you determine when to go beyond linear analysis and incorporate complex behaviors like material yielding, large deformations, or contact interactions. Learn how to choose the right solver—linear or nonlinear—to match your design’s demands, ensuring accurate and reliable results. Whether you’re dealing with intricate assemblies or advanced material behaviors, this guide equips you with the knowledge to make informed simulation decisions. Elevate your simulation skills and optimize your design process. Explore the guide today!
Unlock the full potential of SOLIDWORKS Simulation with MLC CAD Systems’ expert guide, “Do I Need Non-Linear Simulation?” This resource helps you determine when to go beyond linear analysis and incorporate complex behaviors like material yielding, large deformations, or contact interactions. Learn how to choose the right solver—linear or nonlinear—to match your design’s demands, ensuring accurate and reliable results. Whether you’re dealing with intricate assemblies or advanced material behaviors, this guide equips you with the knowledge to make informed simulation decisions. Elevate your simulation skills and optimize your design process. Explore the guide today!