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EXTENDED: Save 30% on SOLIDWORKS perpetual desktop licenses. Coupon applied in checkout.

Valid on perpetual licenses only. Excludes SOLIDWORKS Standard. Other exclusions may apply. Offer ends Dec. 26, 2025.

SOLIDWORKS Essentials

The SOLIDWORKS Simulation Essentials course introduces participants to SOLIDWORKS Simulation’s core functionalities and methodologies. This course covers the essential aspects of conducting stress analysis on parts and assemblies, enabling engineers to validate design choices, optimize performance, and ensure product durability and safety before manufacturing.


Once you’ve mastered the simulation essentials, consider taking our advanced FEA courses, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional, Dynamics Simulation, and Nonlinear Simulation.

Course Duration

Format

Online (Live, Instructor-Led)

Prerequisites

Course Duration

3 Days (7 hours/day)

Format

In-Person

Prerequisites

– SOLIDWORKS Essentials Course
– Knowledge of SOLIDWORKS
– Basic mechanical engineering knowledge

Skills Learned

Course Examples

Syllabus

Upcoming Classes

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Skills Learned

  • Understanding the analysis process, including stress analysis in plates, brackets, and other components.
  • Learning mesh controls, stress concentrations, and boundary conditions to accurately predict real-world behaviors.
  • Conducting assembly analysis with interactions, understanding symmetrical and self-equilibrated assemblies.
  • Exploring bonded mesh options, analyzing thin components, and employing mixed meshing techniques for shells and solids.
  • Implementing beam elements for the analysis of structures like conveyor frames, and mixed meshing for solids, beams, and shells in complex assemblies.
  • Conducting thermal stress analysis and adaptive meshing to refine results and ensure accuracy.
  • Understanding large displacement analysis for evaluating nonlinear behaviors and permanent deformations.

Course Examples

SOLIDWORKS Essentials Course Syllabus

Lesson 1: The Analysis Process

  • The Analysis Process
  • Case Study: Stress in a Plate
    • Project Description
    • SOLIDWORKS Simulation Interface
  • SOLIDWORKS Simulation Options
    • Plot Settings
  • Preprocessing
    • New Study
    • Assigning Material Properties
    • Fixtures
    • Fixture Types
    • External Loads
    • Size and Color of Symbols
    • Preprocessing Summary
  • Meshing
    • Standard Mesh
    • Curvature-Based Mesh
    • Blended Curvature-Based Mesh
    • Mesh Density
    • Element Sizes
    • Minimum Number of Elements in a Circle
    • Ratio
    • Mesh Quality
  • Processing
  • Postprocessing
    • Result Plots
    • Modifying Result Plots
    • Nodal vs. Element Stresses
    • Show as Tensor Plot Option
    • Average stresses at mid-nodes
    • Managing Result Plots
    • Additional Plot Controls
    • Other Plots
  • Multiple Studies
    • Creating New Studies
    • Copy Parameters
    • Check Convergence and Accuracy
    • Results Summary
    • Comparison with Analytical Results
  • Reports
  • Exercise 1: Bracket
  • Exercise 2: Compressive Spring Stiffness
  • Exercise 3: Container Handle

Lesson 2: Mesh Controls, Stress Concentrations and Boundary Conditions

  • Mesh Control
  • Case Study: The L Bracket
  • Project Description
    • Stages in the Process
    • Run This Study
    • Analysis with Local Mesh Refinement
    • Mesh Controls
    • Results Comparison
    • Stress Singularities
    • Suppressed Configuration
  • Case Study: Analysis of Bracket with a Fillet
    • Result Force
  • Case Study: Analysis of a Welded Bracket
  • Understanding the Effect of Boundary Conditions
  • Exercise 4: C-bracket
  • Exercise 5: Bone Wrench

Lesson 3: Assembly Analysis with Interactions

  • Interaction Analysis
  • Case Study: Pliers with Global Interaction
    • Project Description
    • Stages in the Process
    • Component Interaction
    • Component Interaction: Options
    • Component Interactions: Default Setting
    • Component Contact: Hierarchy and Conflicts
  • Study Properties
    • Viewing Assembly Results
    • Strong Enough?
  • Contact or Bonded Interaction
  • Pliers with Local Interaction
    • Local Interaction
    • Local Interaction Types
    • Self-Contact
    • Required Force
    • Local Interaction Contact Properties
    • Contact Formulation
    • Contact Stresses
  • Exercise 6: Two Ring Assembly

Lesson 4: Symmetrical and Free Self-Equilibrated Assemblies

  • Shrink Fit Parts
  • Case Study: Shrink Fit
  • Project Description
    • Symmetry
    • Defeaturing
    • Rigid Body Mode
    • Underconstrained Bodies
    • Shrink Fit Contact Condition
    • Plot Results in Local Coordinate System
    • Cylindrical Coordinate Systems
    • Saving All Plots
    • What’s Wrong Feature
  • Analysis with Soft Springs
    • Soft Springs
    • Inertial Relief
    • Collapse Tree Item
  • Exercise 7: Bone Wrench Assembly

Lesson 5: Assembly Analysis with Connectors and Mesh Refinement

  • Case Study: Cardan Joint
  • Remote Load/Mass
    • Load Location
    • Reference Coordinate System
    • Types of Loads
    • Connection Type
  • Connectors
    • Connector Types
    • Automatic Conversion of Toolbox Fasteners to Bolts
    • Distributed Coupling
    • Bolt Strength Data
    • Bolt Pre-load
    • Bolt Tight fit and Diameter
    • Interaction Viewer
    • Automatically Find Local Interactions
    • Local Interaction Contact Properties
    • Pin Connectors
    • Rotational and Axial Stiffness
    • Virtual Wall, Axial and Tangential Stiffness
  • Mesh Control in an Assembly
    • Required Number of Solid Elements in Thin Features
    • Pin/Bolt Force
  • Mesh Plots
    • Quality Plot
    • Factor of Safety Plot
  • Exercise 8: Chain Link
  • Exercise 9: Lift Assembly
  • Bearings
    • Bearing Connectors
    • Bearing Fixtures
    • Bearing Loads
  • Exercise 10: Spot Welds-Solid Mesh
    • Interaction Between Parts
  • Exercise 11: Bolt Connectors
  • Exercise 12: Wood Splitter

Lesson 6: Bonded Mesh Options

  • Bonded Mesh Options
  • Case Study: Rotor
  • Centrifugal Force
  • Cyclical Symmetry
  • Bonding Options
    • Gap Range
    • Common Nodes
    • Automatic Switch
  • Bonding Formulation
    • Node to Surface
    • Surface to Surface
  • Exercise 13: Vise Grip Pliers
    • Spring Connector Types
    • Spring Connector Options

Lesson 7: Analysis of Thin Components

  • Thin Components
  • Case Study: Pulley
  • Part 1: Mesh with Solid Elements
    • Symmetry Fixtures
  • Part 2: Refined Solid Mesh
  • Solid vs. Shell
  • Creating Shell Elements
  • Part 3: Shell Elements – Mid-plane Surface
    • Thin vs. Thick Shells
    • Shell Mesh Colors
    • Changing Mesh Orientation
    • Shell Element Alignment
    • Render shell thickness in 3D
    • Applying Symmetry Restraints
  • Results Comparison
    • Computational Effort
  • Case Study: Joist Hanger
  • Convergence Check Plot
  • Exercise 14: Bracket
  • Exercise 15: Shell Mesh Using Outer/Inner Faces
  • Exercise 16: Edge Weld Connector
  • Exercise 17: Container Handle Weld

Lesson 8: Mixed Meshing Shells & Solids

  • Mixed Meshing Solids and Shells
    • Bonding Shells and Solids
    • Mixed Mesh: Supported Analysis Types
  • Case Study: Pressure Vessel
    • Project Description
    • Analyze the Assembly
    • Preparing the Model
    • Material
    • Steel Identification Systems
    • UNS Index
    • Other Indices
    • Bulk and Shear Moduli
    • Shell to Shell Bonding
    • Shell to Solid Bonded
    • Failure Diagnostics
    • Meshing Small Features
    • Incremental Meshing
  • Exercise 18: Mixed Mesh Analysis
  • Simulation Evaluator

Lesson 9: Beam Elements-Analysis of a Conveyor Frame

  • Project Description
    • Element Choices
    • Beam Elements
    • Truss Elements
    • Stages in the Process
    • Slenderness Ratio
    • Section Properties
    • Connected and Disconnected Joints
    • Sphere Diameter Defining Beam Joint
    • Beam Joints: Locations
    • Beam Joint Types
    • Render Beam Profile
    • Beam Stress Components
    • Cross-section 1st and 2nd Directions
    • Bending Moment and Shear Force Diagram

Lesson 10: Mixed Meshing Solids, Beams & Shells

  • Mixed Meshing
  • Case Study: Particle Separator
  • Beam Imprint
  • Exercise 19: Cabinet
  • Exercise 20: Frame Rigidity

Lesson 11: Design Study

  • Case Study: Suspension Design
  • Part 1: Multiple Load Cases
    • Design Studies
    • Parameters
    • Design Study Results
    • Design Study Options
  • Part 2: Geometry Modification
    • Design Study Graph
  • Exercise 21: Design Study

Lesson 12: Thermal Stress Analysis

  • Thermal Stress Analysis
  • Case Study: Bimetallic Strip
    • Project Description
    • Material Properties
    • Importing Temperature and Pressure
  • Saving Model in its Deformed Shape

Lesson 13: Adaptive Meshing

  • Adaptive Meshing
  • Case Study: Support Bracket
  • h-Adaptivity Study
    • h-Adaptivity Options
    • h-Adaptive Plots
    • Convergence Graph
    • Review h-adaptive Solution
    • Strain Energy Error is NOT Stress Error
  • p-Adaptivity Study
    • p-Adaptive Solution Method
    • h vs. p Elements
    • Method Comparison
  • h vs. p Elements – Summary
    • Which Solution Method is Better?

Lesson 14: Large Displacement Analysis

  • Small vs. Large Displacement Analysis
  • Case Study: Clamp
  • Part 1: Small Displacement Linear Analysis
    • Results Discussion
    • Contact in Small and Large Displacement Analyses
  • Part 2: Large Displacement Nonlinear Analysis
    • Permanent Deformation
    • SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium
Download Syllabus PDF

Upcoming Dates For This Course

December 19, 2025 @ 4:54 am – 4:54 am CST

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Essentials Course

Instructor-Led
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