DIGITAL INDUSTRIES SOFTWARE

Solid Edge Simulation

Embedded finite element analysis for design engineers

Benefits Summary
• Enables innovation through virtual design Siemens Solid Edge Simulation software provides design engineers with powerful
exploration tools to digitally validate designs, allowing them to build better products in less
• Provides immediate feedback on design time by frontloading the simulation process. A best-in-class simulation tool,
performance Solid Edge Simulation is an easy-to-use, built-in finite element analysis (FEA) tool
that enables design engineers to digitally validate part and assembly designs
• Accelerates the speed of simulation
within the Solid Edge environment. Based on proven Simcenter Femap™ finite
studies
element modeling technology, Solid Edge Simulation significantly reduces the
• Optimizes material usage and minimizes
need for physical prototypes, reducing material and testing costs, while saving
product weight
design time.
• Reduces the need for costly physical
prototypes Use analysis rather than physical prototypes
Solid Edge Simulation uses the same underlying geometry and user interface as all
• Evaluates designs for deformation, stress,
Solid Edge applications. It’s easy enough for any Solid Edge user with a fundamen-
resonant frequencies, buckling, heat trans-
tal understanding of FEA principles, yet robust enough to service almost any
fer thermal stress and vibration response
analysis need. By enabling engineers to perform their own simulation, more analy-
sis can be performed in less time – improving quality, reducing material costs and
minimizing the need for physical prototypes – without incurring the high costs of
outsourced analysis. The layout of the user interface is designed to guide the user
through the entire analysis process, with help available if needed, which makes it
easy to learn initially, and revisit if necessary.

solidedge.siemens.com/en/solutions/products/simulation
Solid Edge Simulation SOLID EDGE

Features
• Automated, high-quality mesh generation
controls mesh without need for parame-
ters, allowing structural and thermal
simulations to be run on mesh bodies
• Automatic finite element model creation
with optional manual override
• Perform simulation on convergent models
without the need for conversion to b-rep
• Fast performance simulation display
• Automated beam creation for quick and
better frame model definition
• Realistic operating environment modeling
with full complement of loads and Automatic finite element model creation
constraint definitions Solid Edge Simulation supports solid meshes (using tetrahedral elements),
• Embedded advanced motion simulation two-dimensional shell element meshes on mid-surfaced sheet structures, hybrid
models that contain both 2D shell and 3D solid elements, as well as 1D beam
elements for frame structures. Users can create and refine finite element meshes
where required to improve accuracy of results.

Automated beam creation enables quick frame simulation definition. Manual rigid
link creation and removal are also available to define a specific connection
between beams.

Automated processes validate design performance

Simulation-driven design helps designers get immediate feedback on design
performance by embedding simulation into the CAD environment and designers’
processes. Solid Edge Simulation includes an automated high-quality mesh genera-
tion process that accelerates the speed of, and provides confidence in, simulation
studies. The new, industry-unique Body Mesh process provides a high-quality mesh
with minimum effort, controlling mesh without the need for parameters, which
allows structural and thermal simulations to be run on mesh bodies. Body Mesh
also supports assembly and sheet metal simulation. The automated, high-quality
Solid Edge Simulation SOLID EDGE

mesh generation process reduces meshing

errors and accelerates the speed of simulation
studies.

A mesh size slider bar that makes element size

adjustments to the overall finite element mesh
is available with additional control of the
number of elements on individual edges and
faces. With Solid Edge Simulation, you can
leverage a mapped mesh capability to take
advantage of certain geometry topologies and
create a more orderly and well-shaped mesh. In
addition, the mesh size will automatically adjust
to accommodate detailed model features. You
can fine-tune the mesh with manual edge and
face element sizing to generate an efficient The simulation on convergent models is
simulation model that will deliver accurate supported in the part environment, and the
results. The ability to duplicate existing mesh is highly accurate analyses are powered by the
made simple, saving you time during mesh Simcenter™ Nastran® solver, part of the
generation and increasing your productivity by Xcelerator portfolio of products from Siemens.
using existing mesh from previous studies when
performing new analyses. The quality of the Full complement of load and constraint

mesh is quickly and automatically checked with definitions

predefined criteria, resulting in a graphical Solid Edge Simulation provides all boundary

report of the potential inaccurate results. Prior condition definitions needed to define realistic

to creating the finite element model, you can operating environments. The constraints are

prepare and simplify the geometry model geometry-based and include fixed, pinned, no

quickly and easily with synchronous technology rotation, symmetric and cylindrical variations.

and its ability to make history-free model The loads are also geometry-based and include

changes. Solid Edge synchronous technology mechanical as well as temperature loading for

combines the speed and simplicity of direct thermal analyses. Mechanical loads include

modeling with the flexibility and control of forces, pressures, hydrostatic pressure and

parametric design. effects caused by body rotation and gravity.

Solid Edge Simulation facilitates load and
Perform simulation on convergent models constraint applications with Quick Bar input
With Solid Edge Simulation, you can seamlessly options and handles for direction and orienta-
incorporate mesh-based geometries into the tion definition.
design. Simulation studies can be performed on
convergent models created using generative Analyzing assemblies

design and reverse engineering, without the Assembly model components can quickly be

need for conversion to b-rep. Such models connected, and interaction can be a glued

include Generative Design Optimized, STL and connection between components or surface

Converted Mesh models, with the ability to contacts based on an iterative linear solution.

analyze these hybrid models for various study Contacts between components can be detected
types to verify designs. automatically, or connectors can be defined
individually through manual face selection.
Solid Edge Simulation SOLID EDGE

Assembly materials and properties can be determining buckling loads of a design. Both
applied manually, selected from a material steady and transient heat transfer analysis
library or inherited from the geometry model by validate cooling performance by evaluating the
default. The included Simcenter Nastran solver temperature distribution of the model. In addi-
assures realistic assembly/component interac- tion, the coupled thermal and structural analysis
tion to facilitate robust solutions. can be applied to determine thermal effects to
the structural stress/strain.
Solid Edge Simulation offers complete control of
the management of geometries in a simulation Fluid pressure and temperature results can be
study. Components can easily be suppressed or imported from Simcenter FLOEFD™ for Solid
removed from a study to maximize efficiency, Edge as structural loads for analysis. FLOEFD for
improving user experience. Solid Edge delivers the industry’s leading
computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis
Analysis types
tool for fluid flow and heat transfer. Integration
Using the industry standard Simcenter Nastran
between the two simulation solutions is seam-
solver, Solid Edge Simulation delivers structural
less and easy, as both are fully embedded in the
simulation results, such as deformation, stress
Solid Edge environment.
and strain, etc. caused by a static loading,
finding the natural frequencies of vibration or

Solid Edge Solid Edge Simulation

Premium Standard Advanced
Simulation modeling and results evaluation • • •
Linear static • • •
Advanced motion • • •
Optimization (Shape/parameters) • • •
Normal modes • •
Buckling • •
Heat transfer – Steady state •
Heat transfer – transient •
Harmonic response •
Scalable solutions for every user.
Powerful, scalable solution offerings allow you to select the best simulation tools for your individual requirements.
Solid Edge Simulation SOLID EDGE

Harmonic response analysis, modes based condition based on applied heat loads,
dynamic response analysis in frequency domain, considering different heat energy exchanges,
is also available to simulate the actual vibration such as the heat conduction, convection and
level. Re-use of finite element model loads and radiation. Thermal stress can be analyzed if
constraints is as easy as dragging and dropping the linear static analysis is done using the
from one study to another. temperature distribution result as a tempera-
ture load.
• Linear Static - Calculate deformation and
stress of a structure based on specified loads • Transient Heat Transfer - Simulate tempera-

and constraints in order to validate the ture changes and temperature distribution

strength of the designed structure. Loads and under transient conditions based on applied

constraints remain constant as the static state heat loads by considering different heat

is simulated. The maximum value of the energy exchanges, such as heat conduction,

deformation and stress, along with the loca- convection and radiation, in order to assess

tion, may be assessed by referring to the cooling/heating performance.

required specification to the product. • Harmonic Response - Calculate the stationary

• Advanced Motion - Simulate the kinematic vibration level along the frequency range

behavior of a mechanical system assembled based on applied excitation forces.

with parts and connectors based on the Calculations based on the modal representa-

applied enforced motion to validate the integ- tion are used to compute the dynamic

rity of the mechanical assembly design. response, quickly providing results. The abso-
lute vibration magnitude may be assessed by
• Optimization - Automatically calculate the
this analysis.
optimum parameter of the design variables
(e.g., the length of a certain portion of design Designs in motion
geometries) under specified design With dynamic motion simulation, Solid Edge
constraints (e.g., allowed maximum deforma- Simulation allows you to evaluate and visualize
tion value) to meet the design objective, such how parts will interact in an assembly. The
as minimizing the weight. easy-to-use solution simulates how a product
• Normal Modes - Obtain the natural frequen- will perform throughout its operational cycle,
cies of a structure along with respective mode allowing you to see how it would function in the
shapes using the eigenvalue calculation. real world and measure the forces and loads on
Comparing the obtained natural frequencies the design.
to the frequencies of the stational excitation
Solid Edge Simulation offers you the ability to
forces can help avoid resonance issues.
create motion models from existing Solid Edge
• Linear Buckling - Compute a load’s magnifica- assemblies. Mechanical joints can easily be
tion factor to determine if a designed created by either automatically converting them
structure will buckle under specified load and from assembly constraints, or by using the
constraint conditions. This analysis assesses intuitive builder which walks you through the
the maximum possible load that can avoid process step-by-step. Motion characteristics can
structural buckling. then be added, including motors, actuators,
• Steady State Heat Transfer – Calculate the gravity, realistic contact between bodies,
temperature distribution under a steady state springs, friction, damping and other generated
forces as needed. Additionally, motion results,
such as forces, can be utilized as load conditions
for structural simulation.
Solid Edge Simulation SOLID EDGE

Design updates In the frame simulation, factor of safety based

With Solid Edge Simulation, you can quickly and on von-Mises stress can be used to assess the
easily make any required design update during frame simulation results. In addition, beam
post analysis. History-free, feature-based model diagram is also supported as the result display
changes with synchronous technology signifi- format.
cantly accelerates the model refinement
With Solid Edge Simulation’s comprehensive
process. In addition, Solid Edge Simulation
results evaluation functionality, you can quickly
maintains associativity between the CAD and
identify problem areas for potential design
finite element models, while making sure that
revision and generate HTML reports of simula-
applied loads and constraints are maintained for
tion model information and final results.
all geometry model changes.
Extending value
Scalable solutions for every user
The Solid Edge portfolio is an integrated set of
Powerful, scalable solution offerings allow you
powerful, comprehensive and accessible tools
to select the best simulation tools for your
that advance all aspects of the product develop-
individual requirements.
ment process. Solid Edge addresses today’s
Analysis scalability complexity challenges with automated digital
Simulation functionality scales from application solutions that cultivate creativity and
to individual parts to analysis of large assem- collaboration.
blies, all the way to Femap with Nastran,
By harnessing the latest innovative technologies
enabling you to define and analyze complete
in mechanical and electrical design, simulation,
systems. This complete line of products provides
manufacturing, publications, data management
a scalable upgrade path for users who need to
and cloud-based collaboration, Solid Edge
solve more challenging engineering problems.
dramatically shortens time-to-market, provides
Complete geometry and finite element models
greater production flexibility and significantly
with boundary conditions and results can be
reduces costs with its collaborative and scalable
seamlessly transferred from Solid Edge to
solutions.
Femap, where more advanced analyses can be
employed if desired. Minimum system requirements
• Windows 10 Enterprise or Professional
Result evaluation
(64-bit only) version 1809 or later
Solid Edge Simulation allows you to interpret Siemens Digital
and understand the resulting model behavior • 16 GB RAM Industries Software
quickly with comprehensive graphical result • 65K colors siemens.com/software
viewing tools. With optimized load times, • Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 Americas
simulation results are returned faster than ever 1 800 498 5351
• 8.5 GB of disk space required for installation
before. They can be displayed in various forms, Europe
including color and contour plots, which can be 00 800 70002222

continuous, displayed as distinct contour bands Asia-Pacific

or by element and displacement and mode 001 800 03061910

shapes that can be animated. Minimum/maxi- For additional numbers,

mum stress markers and a probe tool with click here.

results displays are also available. The probe tool

can select nodes, faces and edges.
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owners.

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