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      <title>FEA</title>
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      <![CDATA[ A Day in the Life on the Platform: From the Perspective of an Analyst or Simulation Engineer ]]>
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      <link>https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/a-day-in-the-life-on-the-platform-from-the-perspective-of-an-analyst-or-simulation-engineer/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/70520</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2026 10:02:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ Discover how the 3DEXPERIENCE platform helps simulation engineers and analysts overcome barriers to use and reduce workflow complexity.
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      <![CDATA[ 
I&#8217;ll be honest, I didn&#8217;t wake up one day and decide I wanted to be a simulation engineer. It happened the way most good things in a career do: gradually, then all at once.



It started with a genuine obsession with understanding why things break. Not just that they break, but the exact moment, the exact location, the exact reason. I studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah, and somewhere between the stress-strain curves and the fluid dynamics coursework, something clicked. The math wasn&#8217;t abstract to me. It was a window into what was actually happening inside a part under load, inside a channel with flow moving through it, inside a system being pushed beyond what its designer intended.



My early career was spent in the trenches, helping engineers run studies, troubleshoot models, and figure out why their results didn&#8217;t match reality. And that&#8217;s where the real education happened. Not in a classroom. In the grind of real problems, real deadlines, and real consequences, when the analysis was wrong.



Later, working in the medical device world on products like Inovio&#8217;s CELLECTRA 3PSP, an electromechanical device at the front lines of some serious clinical work, I felt the full weight of what simulation actually means. When the device you&#8217;re analyzing is going to be used on a patient, &#8220;good enough&#8221; doesn&#8217;t exist as a concept. Every boundary condition matters. Every material property has to be validated. Every assumption you make needs to be documented and defensible. That experience changed the way I think about simulation permanently.



And all of that, every late night, every convergence failure, every moment of getting it right, is what eventually brought me to Dassault Systèmes, where I now work as a Senior Industry Process Consultant for Simulation. These days I don&#8217;t just run simulations. I make content, help engineers, sales teams, and partners understand how to think about simulation, use it effectively, and get the most out of the tools that make it possible.







The Morning Ritual: One Dashboard, Many Worlds



My day doesn&#8217;t start with emails. It starts with the&nbsp;3DEXPERIENCE Platform.



I open my dashboard and within about thirty seconds I have a real pulse on everything happening. Demos I&#8217;m building, customer engagements in progress, partners who need technical enablement, content I&#8217;m developing for the field. There might be a sales engineer who needs backup on a structural simulation pitch. A partner working through a non-linear FEA problem with a customer. A medical device company trying to figure out how simulation fits into their design validation workflow. It&#8217;s all there, visible, connected, in one place.



That might sound like a small thing. It&#8217;s not. Before platforms like this existed, that same morning would have started with 15 emails, 3 different file locations, and genuine uncertainty about which version of anything was current. The&nbsp;3DEXPERIENCE Platform doesn&#8217;t just organize your work, it changes how you think about collaboration, because the chaos that used to eat the first hour of every day just&#8230; isn&#8217;t there anymore.



What the Day Actually Looks Like



People who haven&#8217;t worked in simulation sometimes picture it as punching in some numbers and watching a colorful stress plot appear. I wish. The reality is that simulation is one of the most deliberate, judgment-heavy disciplines in engineering, and I mean that as a compliment.



A typical morning might start with setting up a&nbsp;linear static analysis. Sounds straightforward. But the setup is everything. You&#8217;re choosing how to represent real-world constraints mathematically. You&#8217;re deciding what simplifications are valid and which ones will corrupt your results. You&#8217;re making mesh decisions that balance solve time against accuracy. Too coarse and you&#8217;ll miss the stress concentrations that actually matter. Too fine and you&#8217;ve burned an hour of compute time to get the same answer you could have gotten with a smarter approach. Every decision has a reason, and a good simulation engineer knows what that reason is before they make it.



By mid-morning, it might shift into non-linear or dynamic territory, contact between mating parts, impact criteria, large deformation in a flexible component, and material behavior past the yield point. Non-linear analysis is a different beast. The solver doesn&#8217;t just solve; it iterates, and you have to manage that process. Understanding when a solution is struggling to converge and&nbsp;why, knowing which solver settings to adjust and which to leave alone, recognizing when your model setup is the problem versus the physics being genuinely complex, that&#8217;s the kind of thing that takes years to develop and can&#8217;t really be taught from a manual.



In the afternoons, I often shift into my&nbsp;CFD&nbsp;zone. I&#8217;ve run flow simulations across wildly different applications, from electronics cooling to fluid delivery in medical devices to aerodynamic studies in motorsport. What SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation does well is make that transition accessible and easy. The tight integration with the CAD geometry means changes propagate naturally. You&#8217;re not re-importing, re-meshing from scratch, re-defining boundary conditions every time a designer tweaks a channel width. The parametric link is live.&nbsp;And now, with the&nbsp;SOLIDWORKS CFD Engineer role on the&nbsp;3DEXPERIENCE Platform, that workflow has genuinely leveled up. The guided setup experience changes how you approach a fluid problem, especially when you&#8217;re under deadline pressure. And with the high-powered cloud-computing power behind it, you&#8217;re not constrained by the machine under your desk anymore.







By late afternoon, the simulation tools have shifted again. If there&#8217;s a plastics project in the queue, I&#8217;m in&nbsp;SOLIDWORKS Plastics, analyzing how molten material fills a mold cavity, where weld lines are forming, whether sink marks are going to show up on a cosmetic surface, whether the gate location makes sense or if we&#8217;re setting the manufacturing team up for a headache they won&#8217;t discover until the first tool trial. Injection molding has a reputation for being unpredictable, but a well-run plastics simulation takes a lot of that mystery out of the equation before a single dollar is spent on tooling.



And if the afternoon has a little breathing room? I&#8217;m probably on YouTube. Not just watching, but also creating. A quick screen capture walkthrough of a SOLIDWORKS Plastics workflow, a quick tip on reading a fill analysis result, something that a design engineer who&#8217;s never thought about gate design might stumble across and suddenly find incredibly useful. That kind of content doesn&#8217;t take long to make, but it has a reach that a demo in a conference room never will. There&#8217;s something deeply satisfying about putting something out into the world that helps an engineer somewhere solve a problem they didn&#8217;t even know simulation could address. That&#8217;s the job too, maybe more than people realize.







The Part Nobody Talks About: Being Organized Before You&#8217;re Right



Here&#8217;s something they don&#8217;t put in the job description but absolutely should: before a single solver iteration runs, a simulation engineer has to be ruthlessly, almost obsessively organized.



The setup is the work. Get that wrong, and the most powerful compute cluster in the world will confidently hand you the wrong answer. And the scary part? It&#8217;ll look completely believable.



So before I hit solve on anything, there&#8217;s a mental checklist that runs. Are units consistent throughout the study? Are the material properties from a validated source, or did someone paste in a number from a datasheet without tracking its source? Are the fixtures actually representative of how this part behaves in the real world, or did I over-constrain it because it was easier? Is the load applied to the right face, the right direction, the right magnitude? Did I run a mesh convergence study, or am I just trusting the default and hoping for the best?



These aren&#8217;t edge cases. These are the questions that separate a simulation that means something from one that looks convincing but quietly lies to you.



Organization also means keeping studies named, structured, and annotated so that six months later, or when someone else picks up the file, the intent is still obvious. What was the load case? What was being validated? What was the conclusion and why? A simulation study with no context attached is almost as dangerous as no simulation at all.



And when something does go wrong, when results look off, when the model won&#8217;t converge, when the stress plot is screaming at a location that makes no physical sense, the organized engineer has a trail to follow. They can isolate variables. They can rule things out one by one. Troubleshooting a simulation without that discipline is like debugging code with no comments, in the dark, under pressure.



But when you&#8217;ve done it all right, when the boundary conditions are solid, the mesh is dialed in, the material data is verified, the study is clean and fully traceable, that’s when it happens. The solver runs, the results come in, and everything just makes sense. The deflection goes exactly where physics said it should. The stress concentrations appear right where your gut told you to look. The flow separates at precisely the geometry feature you suspected. That moment, that quiet confirmation that the virtual world and the real world are aligned, is the sweet symphony every simulation engineer is chasing. And I&#8217;ll tell you, after all these years, it never gets old.



The Conversations That Matter Most



A big part of what I do now is still running simulations, but I also help people understand how to think about them in product development.



That might mean sitting with a sales engineer and translating deeply technical FEA capability into language that resonates with a VP of Engineering who has a product launch in six months and a budget conversation next week. What does catching a failure mode in simulation, before tooling is cut, actually mean for the business? What does a 20% reduction in physical prototypes do to a development timeline? These are the questions that connect the technology to the decision.







It might also mean working with a customer&#8217;s engineering team who are technically strong but new to the 3DEXPERIENCE environment, helping them build workflows that fit how they actually work rather than forcing them to change everything at once. The platform is powerful, but the value only shows up when the workflow makes sense for the people using it.



What makes those conversations work is having actually done the work. Having made the wrong assumption about a boundary condition. Having run a study that looked great and was fundamentally broken. Having been in the room when simulation results caught something that would have been catastrophic downstream. That lived experience is what makes the technical credible and the business case real.



Where This Is All Heading?



The simulation landscape is moving faster right now than at any point in my career. AI-assisted meshing, cloud-based HPC that puts serious compute in the hands of teams that never could have afforded an on-premise cluster, generative design workflows that use simulation as the optimization engine rather than the validation step at the end — these aren&#8217;t things on a roadmap. They&#8217;re here.



What excites me most is that the barrier to doing genuinely good simulations is coming down. Not because the engineering rigor is being bypassed — if anything, the expectations are higher — but because the platform handles so much of the infrastructure and workflow complexity that used to consume an engineer&#8217;s time before they could even get to the interesting physics.



The tools are smarter. The platform is more connected. And the engineers who learn to use them with the same precision and discipline the work demands are going to build things that simply weren&#8217;t possible before.



That&#8217;s still the part of this that gets me going every morning. And honestly, I don&#8217;t see that changing anytime soon. Learn more by clicking the banner below.




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      <title>
      <![CDATA[ Cut Design Cycles in Half with SOLIDWORKS CFD Solutions ]]>
      </title>
      <link>https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/cut-design-cycles-in-half-with-solidworks-cfd-solutions/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/71231</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ Learn how different SOLIDWORKS simulation solutions bring CFD into your design workflow to cut prototype costs, surface issues early, and make better engineering decisions.
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      <![CDATA[ 
Physical prototyping has long been the default way to validate a product’s design. It&#8217;s familiar, tangible, and trusted. It&#8217;s also slow, expensive, and consistently surfaces problems at the worst possible moment: late in the development cycle, when a design change costs the most to implement.



SOLIDWORKS offers two Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solutions that take advantage of cloud-enabled, high-performance computing (HPC) and embedded CFD directly into the SOLIDWORKS design environment. This integration enables engineers to test, refine, and optimize designs virtually before a single prototype is built.



This blog will teach you how&nbsp;SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation&nbsp;and&nbsp;SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer&nbsp;can help optimize your processes, with real-world results.







Why Physical Prototyping Slows Product Development



Every physical prototype consumes material, machine time, and engineering hours. Physical prototypes can cost tens of thousands of dollars and take months to create and test. That&#8217;s a serious investment for a process that still can&#8217;t show you airflow inside the physical product.



Problems discovered at the prototype stage, such as a thermal hot spot, an unexpected pressure drop, or a drag penalty, force expensive rework and schedule slips. Teams that prototype their way to a solution effectively pay for every dead-end design they could have ruled out virtually.







How SOLIDWORKS CFD Solutions Transform the Design Process



CFD simulates the behavior of liquids and gases and their interactions with solid surfaces. It provides a detailed 3D view of flow velocity, pressure, temperature, and other critical variables, revealing complex flow patterns that physical testing alone can&#8217;t capture.



SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation builds this capability directly inside SOLIDWORKS Design. There&#8217;s no importing or exporting of CAD data; results stay fully associated with design changes. Engineers can design and simulate side by side, testing multiple what-if scenarios to optimize performance, weight, and manufacturability without breaking their workflow.



When your physics, model complexity, or computational requirements grow more complex, there is SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer on the&nbsp;3DEXPERIENCE platform. This cloud-enabled CFD solution adds scalable cloud computing, solving studies that would take hours on a local machine in a fraction of the time. Dassault Systèmes tested a 14-million-element model that required 5 hours and 12 minutes to solve locally on eight cores. The same analysis was completed in just 26 minutes using 184 cloud cores. That turns a next-day result into same-morning actionable data.







Real Results: Penn Troy Manufacturing



The impact of simulation-driven design isn&#8217;t theoretical. Penn-Troy Manufacturing Inc., a valve manufacturer, adopted SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation, cut design cycles by approximately 50%, saved close to $50,000 on prototypes, and reduced valve weight by 10%, all while improving quality and performance.



That outcome reflects what becomes possible when simulation moves from a final checkpoint into the core of the design process.



Seneca Dairy Systems&nbsp;used SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer to optimize barn ventilation for dairy farms. By running hundreds of fan simulations and evaluating different fan and louver configurations under a centralized control strategy, Seneca Dairy Systems identified ventilation setups that kept cows comfortable enough to maintain milk production. The financial impact for farms, measured in avoided production loss, ran into the millions of dollars per barn. Lower simulation cost and faster iteration time turned that capability into a competitive differentiator.



Both cases reflect the same underlying principle: simulation that enters the workflow early and stays connected to the design produces measurable returns.







CFD for Everyone



The bottom line is straightforward: teams that validate designs virtually, early and often, develop better products faster and at lower cost. If your team is still relying on physical prototypes as the primary means of validating designs, SOLIDWORKS CFD solutions are worth a closer look.



The shift to simulation-driven design is both a technical and strategic decision. If you want a full breakdown of CFD fundamentals, the industry challenges driving adoption, a step-by-step framework for integrating CFD into your workflow, and a deeper look at both SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation and SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer, the Simulation-Driven Design with CFD eBook covers it all.
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      <title>
      <![CDATA[ Meet Your Analysis Requirements with New Advances in SOLIDWORKS Simulation Roles ]]>
      </title>
      <link>https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/meet-your-analysis-requirements-with-new-advances-in-solidworks-simulation-roles/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/71109</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ R2026x FD03 brings important new capabilities to the SOLIDWORKS Simulation portfolio, including improved simulation setup troubleshooting, enhanced frequency analysis, more flexible linear load case definition, and improved high-cycle fatigue analysis.
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      <![CDATA[ 
Whether you’re a designer looking for early-stage design insight, an analyst looking for a quick upfront design validation, or an engineer performing advanced structural and durability analysis under complex loading conditions, the SOLIDWORKS simulation portfolio provides simulation capabilities that scale with the complexity of your engineering needs.



Earlier this year, we introduced four new simulation roles in the SOLIDWORKS portfolio, including three structural finite element analysis (FEA) simulation roles: SOLIDWORKS Simulation Designer, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Engineer, and SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst, and more recently, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) role called SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer. Together, these roles extend simulation from early structural validation through advanced structural, durability, and fluid-flow analysis.



New capabilities for these simulation roles were added in the July functional delivery update R2026x FD03, including improvements to simulation setup, frequency analysis, loading, fatigue analysis, and results visualization.



The following enhancements apply to SOLIDWORKS Simulation Designer, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Engineer, and SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst roles for R2026X FD03.



Enhanced Frequency Analysis of Complex Structures



Investigate frequency responses of complex structures using two new solver options: Advanced Lanczos and Subspace Iteration.



Both are established approaches for extracting eigenvalues used in structural simulations. Lanczos is well-suited to larger models and to efficiently extracting more modes, while Subspace Iteration can be effective for extracting lower modes. The appropriate solver depends on the model&#8217;s characteristics and the number of modes required.



These additional solver choices provide greater flexibility when performing frequency analysis on complex structures.



See these enhancements in action in the video here.



Improved Setup Troubleshooting



Unconstrained Mode Detection is now enabled by default in User Preferences, making it easier to identify and address analysis setup issues.



Unconstrained modes can indicate insufficient or missing constraints, or conditions in which components are not adequately connected to transfer load. In structural analysis, these conditions can allow rigid-body motion and may lead to convergence problems or to a model that does not represent the intended physical system.







Improved Linear Load Case Definition



Define and manage linear load cases with an improved interface that offers greater flexibility in creating load sets and combinations, reducing the manual steps required to set up complex loading scenarios.







Live Results Access During Solve for Additional Modes



Monitor simulation results interactively as the solve progresses. Catch issues earlier and make informed decisions without waiting for the full solve to complete.







Results Annotations



Add annotations to local minimum and maximum result values within a user-defined area, making it easier to identify and communicate important results in a specific region of interest.







Multiple Simultaneous Legends in Results Viewer



Display multiple result legends at the same time in the Post-processing and Simulation Review app when working with scenes, slices, streamlines, or isosurfaces that require their own result legends. This makes it easier to compare multiple result visualizations without repeatedly switching between single-legend views. This also applies to SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer. &nbsp;







The following enhancements apply to SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst.



Improved Performance for Explicit Dynamic Simulations with large Structural Models



Leverage local GPU computing to accelerate explicit dynamic simulations, providing an additional computing option for computationally intensive analyses for larger and more complex structural models.



Explicit dynamics is particularly suited to short-duration, highly nonlinear events such as impact, drop, crash, and other problems involving complex contact or rapidly changing deformation. Explicit methods advance the solution using small time increments, making them well suited to events where conventional implicit solution techniques can become challenging.







Stress Gradient Effects for High-Cycle Fatigue



Improve high-cycle fatigue analysis by accounting for stress-gradient effects at the surface.



Stress concentrations occur around geometric discontinuities such as holes, grooves, fillets, and other changes in geometry. However, the fatigue effect of a stress concentration is not necessarily equivalent to applying the full elastic stress concentration to the fatigue calculation. The stress distribution and its gradient near the surface can influence the fatigue response.



FD03 adds the ability to apply a notch factor and provides additional gradient-correction methods alongside the existing approach. These capabilities provide additional options for accounting for stress-gradient effects in high-cycle fatigue analysis and can help reduce conservatism where appropriate.







Results Management



Name and comment on analysis results to keep your work organized and easier to review.







What’s New in SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer



R2026x FD03 also introduces enhancements to SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer, helping you streamline post-processing and gain clearer insight from your fluid and thermal simulation results.



Initialize New CFD Analyses from Prior Results



Accelerate related CFD analyses by reusing converged results from a completed fluid analysis case as the starting point for a new case. This capability supports multiphase and multispecies scenarios and can help new cases reach convergence faster, reducing turnaround time when evaluating design variations, exploring operating conditions, or running parameter studies.







Improved History Measurement Usability



Define, review, and manage history measurements with improved controls in your fluid simulation, making it easier to track selected quantities as the simulation progresses and evaluate how they change over time.



Simplified Scenario Setup Experience



Set up fluid simulation scenarios faster with a redesigned interface that requires fewer steps and guides you through a clearer, more focused workflow.



Watch the videos for improved history measurement visibility and simplified scenario setup here.



These enhancements build on the capabilities introduced with the four new simulation roles. From early structural validation with SOLIDWORKS Simulation Designer to advanced structural and durability analysis with SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst, and fluid and thermal analysis with SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer, the portfolio is designed to give engineering teams access to simulation capabilities that match their analysis requirements.



By bringing these capabilities into the SOLIDWORKS portfolio, users can progressively move from design-oriented simulation to more advanced structural, durability, dynamic, and CFD workflows as their engineering requirements become more complex.



See my last blog to stay up to date on what else we’ve done this year.



Ready to learn more? Take the guesswork out of design with the latest SOLIDWORKS simulation offerings, and ensure you can make confident design decisions, reduce costly prototypes, and accelerate time to market by checking out our solutions at https://www.solidworks.com/domain/simulation.
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      <title>
      <![CDATA[ Innovating With SOLIDWORKS Simulation at 3DEXPERIENCE World ]]>
      </title>
      <link>https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/innovating-with-solidworks-simulation-at-3dexperience-world/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/71040</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ Discover how four companies in disparate industries use virtual testing to cut costs, speed development, and improve product reliability. 
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      <![CDATA[ 
Engineering teams face constant pressure to build faster, cheaper, and better products. Prototyping costs money. Testing takes time. When you rely entirely on physical models to validate your designs, you slow down your entire development cycle. At&nbsp;3DEXPERIENCE World 2026, four SOLIDWORKS champions shared how they transform their engineering processes using advanced simulation tools.



The session highlights how virtual testing allows companies to iterate rapidly, reduce material waste, and guarantee structural integrity before cutting a single piece of metal or molding a plastic part. From 2,500-horsepower racing engines to adaptive mountain bikes, the speakers’ applications vary greatly. However, the engineering principles remain exactly the same.



In this on-demand session,&nbsp;you will learn how four distinct organizations use modeling and simulation to eliminate physical prototypes, detect structural flaws early and accelerate their time to market.







Pushing Limits in Motorsport Engineering



Gears Mining Australia&nbsp;primarily designs massive equipment for the mining sector. Recently, they expanded their engineering scope to include high-performance racing engines. Chief Engineer Andrew Tuxford explained the immense challenges of this highly competitive market. Customers expect enormous power outputs, often demanding up to 2,500 horsepower from a single engine block.



At the same time, the racing market is extremely cost-sensitive. The engineering team cannot afford to build endless physical prototypes to see what breaks. Instead, they rely entirely on virtual models to evaluate torsional rigidity, combustion loads, and general deformation.



By testing main cap bolts and rod bolts in a digital environment, Gears successfully moved from computer-aided design directly to the machine shop and then straight to the race car. They skipped physical testing entirely. Within a two-week period, they iterated through more than ten different engine designs to find the optimal configuration.







Driving Sustainability in Waste Management



Com-Pak Plus&nbsp;designs high-precision garbage compactors for demanding Indian road conditions. General Manager Chethan Lingaraju&nbsp;detailed their shift from legacy two-dimensional drawings to a modern simulation approach. Early in their development cycle, the company experienced structural failures in the field.



The packer frame on their machines endures heavy cyclical loading, handling massive pressure on every cycle. Two hydraulic cylinders exert up to 170 bar of pressure, placing intense stress on the metal structures. Over time, this sustained load caused material fatigue and outward buckling at the points of maximum stress concentration.



To solve this problem, Chetan integrated virtual stress testing into the development of Com-Pak Plus’s new 42-cubic-meter compactor. By validating critical sub-assemblies like the ram ejector before manufacturing, they identified exactly where the frame needed reinforcement. This proactive engineering cycle reduced their development time from two years to less than three months. They also achieved zero market failures with the newly optimized design.







Ensuring Reliability for Adaptive Mobility



Bowhead Corporation&nbsp;builds adaptive mountain bikes and wheelchairs. Their primary mission is to make active lifestyles accessible to everyone. Senior Mechanical Engineer Sanket Patil emphasized that reliability is essential for their users.



If a standard mountain bike breaks on a trail, the rider can simply get off and walk it home. If a Bowhead bike fails, the user is stranded until help arrives. This reality requires absolute structural integrity across more than 800 individual components. Sanket demonstrated how they test the stiffness of suspension swing arms, aggressively limiting deformation to just 0.2 millimeters.



Bowhead also relies heavily on simulation for plastic injection molding and aluminum die casting. By analyzing how plastic fills a mold digitally, they identify potential manufacturing defects early in the process. This allows them to have productive conversations with vendors and release parts for tooling with absolute confidence. They now meet strict design goals within only one or two iterations.







Achieving Precision in Sports Equipment



Sparks Hockey&nbsp;democratizes skate sharpening by allowing skaters to maintain their equipment accurately at home. Vice President of Engineering Dan Beaudet shared how his team improved the manufacturability of their third-generation sharpener. Their main goal was to combine seven individual components into a single aluminum casting.



They needed to reduce the sharpener&#8217;s overall weight by at least 5% while maintaining the extreme precision required for sharpening ice skates. Through rapid virtual iteration, the engineering team analyzed tool design, wall thickness, and drafts. They completed about 25 iterations in less than two weeks.



The final digital design removed 15 fasteners, reduced assembly costs by 39%, and exceeded the weight-reduction goal by achieving a 7.5% decrease. A physical aluminum prototype later confirmed that real-world stiffness perfectly matched their digital results. Moving forward, the team plans to conduct advanced kinematic and thermal studies to further improve the sharpener.







The Business Value of Virtual Testing



The common thread among these four companies is the tangible business return of adding simulation software to their product development process. They do not just use these tools to create pretty pictures on a screen. They apply rigorous scientific principles to solve complex engineering problems before they occur in the physical world.



Virtual testing removes guesswork from the design cycle. It allows engineers to identify stress concentrations, analyze fluid dynamics, and optimize material usage without wasting money on failed physical prototypes.



When you test products digitally, you protect your brand reputation. You stop field failures before they reach your customers. You also free up capital and time to focus on the next innovative project in your product pipeline.



Watch the Full Session On-Demand



You can explore these engineering workflows in greater detail by watching the&nbsp;full session from&nbsp;3DEXPERIENCE World 2026. Hear directly from the engineers who design these products, see their digital models in action, and understand the specific parameters they use to validate their work.



Whether you build mining equipment, consumer products, medical devices, or beyond, virtual testing provides a clear, scientific path to better engineering.



Watch the on-demand video today&nbsp;to see how you can integrate advanced simulation into your own product development cycle. Stop guessing and start simulating.
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      <title>
      <![CDATA[ Top 5 Reasons Why Engineers Should Learn Simulation Software ]]>
      </title>
      <link>https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/top-5-reasons-why-engineers-should-learn-simulation-software/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/70676</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ Discover why adding simulation to your product development process helps engineers catch design flaws early, iterate faster and reduce prototype costs.
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      <![CDATA[ 
It’s no secret: relying strictly on physical build-and-test methods is no longer a practical approach for modern product development. Complex products demand faster iteration. Building and discarding numerous physical prototypes wastes valuable time and greatly inflates project budgets. Engineers need better ways to evaluate designs before they order materials or cut steel.







Integrating simulation tools directly into your engineering workflow replaces guesswork with measurable data. This approach shifts engineering decisions from reactive troubleshooting to proactive design improvement. You can address important design questions early in the process right from your workstation, as simulation predicts how a part or assembly will behave under real-world conditions.



Simulation studies don’t have to be separate activities conducted only by specialists with advanced degrees. Today, integrated design and analysis capabilities help product development teams make more timely and accurate decisions. Let’s explore&nbsp;the top five reasons you should add simulation&nbsp;to your daily routines to transform the way your team builds products.







1. Provides Trustworthy Results



When performance, safety and cost are on the line, responsible engineers demand reliable data. You might wonder if you can trust a digital analysis. The physics-based numerical methods behind simulation have a proven track record spanning decades. Software developers regularly benchmark and validate tools like SOLIDWORKS Simulation against real-world test data to ensure the numerical engines solve equations correctly.



It’s a known phrase in the industry: garbage in, garbage out. Reliable simulation results depend on four foundations: clean geometry, correct material properties, mesh quality, and realistic loads. Gaps or unnecessary complexity in models introduce uncertainty. Generic material assignments fail to reflect real-world behavior under stress. A poorly shaped mesh distorts calculations. If you provide accurate inputs, the software returns trustworthy data.



Case in Point



ColdSnap&nbsp;experienced this firsthand. The company developed a countertop appliance that rapidly freezes and dispenses single-serving frozen treats in under two minutes. Engineering this compact refrigeration system required significant efficiency. Using SOLIDWORKS Design and Simulation, the team refined cooling components, optimized heat transfer, and ensured a small physical footprint. They made rapid advancements without relying on physical prototypes.







2. Solves Real Engineering Problems



Different types of physics have different types of effects on your products. With simulation, there is no guesswork. No matter what problem your product may face, you can find an analysis type to run simulations and optimize your products before production.



Structural simulation or finite element analysis (FEA) calculates stresses, strains and deflections under realistic loading conditions. You can see exactly how objects react when force is applied. When simulation results reveal low stresses and high factors of safety, the design is over-engineered.



For thermal management, simulation evaluates temperature distribution and heat transfer to prevent failures tied to excessive heat.



Air and liquid flow introduce another layer of complexity. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis predicts how air or fluids move through and around a design, enabling engineers to optimize cooling strategies and reduce resistance.



Finally, plastic injection molding simulations predict how molten material flows into molds. This ensures the part will fill completely and helps you avoid costly manufacturing defects.



Case in Point



Bicycle manufacturer&nbsp;CALOI&nbsp;slashed its product development costs by 50 percent using simulation. The company previously relied entirely on physical tests. By adopting a unified modeling and analysis approach, CALOI reduced design cycles from two months to two weeks. The team now performs physical tests only as a final validation step.







3. Addresses Problems Earlier in Design



The strongest financial and engineering return occurs when teams apply analysis early. When introduced at the concept stage, simulation becomes a powerful design tool rather than a simple validation step. Designers and engineers evaluate multiple design ideas quickly and eliminate weaker concepts before investing in test parts.



Early analysis helps reduce unnecessary material use. Teams will often add extra material to avoid potential failure and meet safety requirements.&nbsp;&nbsp;With early simulation data, you can remove excess weight while maintaining required safety margins. Early simulation can also help determine the optimal locations for different parts. Identifying problems digitally prevents costly modifications and production delays later in the process.



Case in Point



Inovonics&nbsp;builds wireless communication devices that must function across crowded hospitals and complex buildings. Wireless performance depends heavily on antenna placement, as surrounding conditions can weaken the signal. The engineering team uses Electromagnetics Engineer to anticipate design issues before entering the lab. This accuracy drastically reduces physical testing and helps them get antennas working exactly as intended with the first prototype.







4. Streamlines Development Workflows



Traditionally, a designer or engineer would complete a 3D model and pass the file to a specialist for analysis. That handoff created delays. When you embed simulation tools directly into CAD modeling environments, designers and engineers can work from a single digital model and continuously evaluate performance.



With CAD-integrated simulation, you can modify geometry, run a study, review the results, and immediately adjust the model. Then, you can easily rerun your simulation on the new model with the same parameters to validate your changes. This tight loop helps designers and engineers test multiple ideas quickly.



What about study run time? Sometimes running simulations can take up computer resources, leaving you twiddling your thumbs while the software does its thing. High-performance computing enables your simulation studies to run even faster. Cloud-based computing resources allow engineers to run massive calculations without tying up local workstations. Complex studies that once required days of processing time can finish in hours or minutes.



Case in Point



RangeAero&nbsp;designs autonomous freight helicopters for commercial and military transport. Rotorcraft design presents complex challenges involving structural integrity, aerodynamics and vibration control. The company transitioned to Abaqus-based technologies from SOLIDWORKS to automate tedious tasks like meshing and boundary conditions. This transition shortened their design cycles by 30 percent, decreased prototyping costs by 40 percent and brought products to market five months sooner.







5. Shaping the Future of Engineering



Simulation technology continues to evolve. Modern tools focus on ease of use and tighter connections to the design process. Automation now handles many repetitive steps, like defining contact relationships. Artificial intelligence extends this capability by learning the rules engineers apply when setting up studies. These advancements require less user effort.



Cloud computing expands access even further. Engineers can run computationally intensive studies without requiring expensive local hardware. This technology makes advanced analysis capabilities available to small startups and massive corporations alike.



Adding simulation to your workflow does not require a dramatic shift in how you work. It simply expands the thinking you already apply when designing parts. It reinforces engineering judgment by providing data that supports better decisions. As these tools become easier to learn and faster to run, analysis will become a routine part of how all engineers build products.



Transform Your Product Development Process



Using simulation shifts engineering from reactive troubleshooting to proactive design improvement. You can design, simulate, refine and evaluate repeatedly within the same digital workflow. Each iteration yields new insights that inform your next decision. This leads to optimized products that hold fewer surprises during production.



Stop relying on expensive physical prototypes to find preventable errors. Download your copy of&nbsp;The Top Five Reasons Why Engineers Should Learn Simulationand&nbsp;see how you can use simulation to improve your workflow, catch costly design issues early and deliver stronger results.
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      <![CDATA[ How Structural Simulation Explains Football ]]>
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      <link>https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/how-structural-simulation-explains-football/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/69919</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ Discover how SOLIDWORKS Simulation reveals the engineering behind football’s evolution from heavy leather balls to modern polyurethane designs.
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      <![CDATA[ 
Football (or soccer in North America) is arguably the world&#8217;s biggest sport, with over 4 billion fans worldwide. And it has been that popular for a while. Sports where people kick things with their feet have existed for millennia. From the Mayans and Aztecs in 1400 BCE to the Chinese game cuju in 200 BCE, to Europe and beyond in the Middle Ages, the sport we now know of as football has always been global.



The first truly global football tournament took place in 1930. Thirteen international teams gathered in Montevideo, Uruguay, for the inaugural&nbsp;FIFA World Cup. Today, the World Cup has over 200 countries competing for a spot in the tournament.













Since 1930, many have changed in the sport. Rules, uniforms, fan culture, and more. But the most profound changes have been to the equipment; specifically, the football itself. The match football has transformed from a water-absorbing leather sphere into a highly engineered polyurethane truncated icosahedron. Understanding how these material changes affect the ball&#8217;s performance required advanced testing. We at SOLIDWORKS were interested in seeing the real differences between the ball from the first World Cup and the ball used in 2026. So we used finite element analysis (FEA) software in our SOLIDWORKS simulation portfolio to see what makes today’s ball superior to the original match ball.



The Evolution of the Football







During the 1930 tournament, players kicked a rubber bladder covered in thick leather strips. The heavy stitching made heading the ball painful. And the ball got even heavier when it was wet. When it rained or teams played on a wet field, the leather soaked up water, gained nearly 50% more weight, and became difficult to kick and maneuver. Not only that, the hand-stitched balls often deflated during play, leading to time loss and even less efficient kicking.



Today, the official tournament ball features four thermally bonded polyurethane panels. They are entirely waterproof and include added surface texture for better grip on dry or wet pitches. These advancements represent a massive leap in material science, structural integrity, and product reliability.



Setting Up the Structural Simulation Studies







To understand how different materials perform during a kick, we had to measure how much energy the ball returned upon impact. A stiff ball returns efficient energy. A soft ball absorbs it, making it more difficult to manipulate.



To start our investigation, we used SOLIDWORKS Simulation. SOLIDWORKS Simulation enabled our engineers to set up a nonlinear dynamic analysis comparing a modern polyurethane ball, a dry 1930s leather ball, and a wet 1930s leather ball. We modeled each ball as a pressurized shell. Next, we simulated a kick by dropping a rigid plate from 1 meter at an impact velocity of 4.43 m/s. This virtual environment embedded in the SOLIDWORKS Design UI allowed us to test structural responses without setting foot onto a pitch.



Analyzing the Results







The simulation results clearly demonstrated why modern footballs perform better. When the rigid plate struck the modern polyurethane ball, the stress concentrated cleanly at the impact zone and distributed predictably through the shell. The ball compressed and stabilized quickly. The dry leather ball from the 1930s showed a similar structural response, holding its stiffness effectively under load.



Everything changed, however, when we added water. When simulating a wet leather ball, we found that the waterlogged shell became up to five times less stiff than its dry counterpart. The contact zone spread out drastically, and the ball yielded to the impact. Because the softened shell dissipated the kick’s energy instead of storing it, the wet ball took much longer to recover its shape. For players in the past, this meant gameplay could slow down significantly in the rain. They had to kick a structurally compromised object that resisted their physical effort.



Expanding Computing Power







After experimenting with the drop test in SOLIDWORKS Simulation, we wanted to dig deeper. This is common for designers and engineers today; as testing requirements grow more demanding, engineers require high-performance computing to complete full product verification. To do this, we ran the simulation on the cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform, leveraging its enhanced computational capabilities.



With SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst, which utilizes advanced meshing techniques and explicit solvers from Abaqus, we were able to test and analyze the aftermath of a kick and see exactly how the wet leather ball deformed. This further verified our findings from SOLIDWORKS Simulation on the desktop, making us that much more confident. Moving from a basic design analysis to comprehensive simulation and product verification ensures that every product iteration meets strict performance standards. And performance is the name of the game in football.&nbsp;



Engineering the Future of Sports







Simulation at every level allows engineers and designers to design with absolute confidence. Through this fun experiment, we were able to understand the history and evolution of the football (or, again, the soccer ball in North America). Analyzing the history of football proves that better materials create faster, more consistent, and safer sporting events. Virtual testing environments help teams identify weaknesses, iterate on designs, and solve structural problems before a physical prototype exists.



Simulation helps us understand the world and the products we make. And as the world gears up for the big international football tournament, we can’t wait to share more simulation stories with you.








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      <![CDATA[ New Roles Deliver Scalable Simulation for Every Designer and Engineer ]]>
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      <link>https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/new-roles-deliver-scalable-simulation-for-every-designer-and-engineer/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/69892</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ New roles enable designers and engineers to evaluate structural performance, thermal behavior, durability, and fluid flow as part of everyday product development. 
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      <![CDATA[ 
At SOLIDWORKS, we believe simulation should be an integral part of the design process, not an afterthought handed off to a dedicated team after the design is already mature. When engineers can validate their own work early, they catch issues before they become expensive, build deeper intuition about how their products behave under load, and bring better products to market faster.







Your customers&#8217; expectations are rising, and engineering companies face increasing pressure to deliver innovative solutions that meet strict performance targets while compressing development timelines. Finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are two of the most effective tools available for meeting that challenge. They allow teams to predict real-world product performance virtually before a prototype is built.







Across industries, the demand for simulation expertise continues to grow, as companies face increasing pressure to deliver high-performing, more sustainable, and more reliable products in less time. From consumer products and industrial equipment to automotive, aerospace, electronics, and energy applications, engineering teams are being asked to validate more design scenarios earlier in development, while reducing dependence on costly physical prototypes.







Simultaneously, simulation is no longer the domain of specialists. Designers and engineers are increasingly expected to evaluate structural performance, thermal behavior, durability, and fluid flow as part of everyday product development. This shift is driving the need for simulation tools that are both powerful and accessible within familiar CAD-centric workflows.







The new simulation roles in the SOLIDWORKS portfolio are designed to help meet this demand by providing scalable simulation capabilities tailored to different levels of engineering analysis. Whether users need quick design validation, advanced structural analysis, or detailed CFD studies, these roles provide a connected MODSIM workflow that integrates design and simulation on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.







By combining cloud-connected collaboration, high-performance computing, secure data management, and integrated learning resources, these roles help organizations expand simulation adoption across teams while enabling engineers to make faster, more informed design decisions with confidence.



That is why we are excited to announce four new simulation roles in the SOLIDWORKS portfolio, expanding to the cloud-based simulation capabilities on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. These roles support the full design journey, from structural validation to advanced fatigue and fluid flow analysis of your CAD models and assemblies. The three structural (FEA) simulation roles, namely SOLIDWORKS Simulation Designer, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Engineer, and SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst were introduced with R2026x FD01, followed by SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer in R2026x FD02.



Now your designs are backed by cloud-based simulation capabilities, bringing structural and CFD analysis together in a connected MODSIM workflow that helps you innovate with confidence from concept to validation.



All four roles are cloud-connected, giving every user access to cloud computing, secure data management, real-time collaboration, and self-paced learning through the SOLIDWORKS Learner on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.



In this blog, I’ll cover these in detail.



SOLIDWORKS Simulation Designer &#8211; From CAD to Confidence: Fast, Accurate Structural Simulation for Design Engineers







SOLIDWORKS Simulation Designer gives design engineers robust linear structural analysis capabilities to evaluate product performance throughout development. It equips design teams with all the tools needed to efficiently run linear static, frequency, buckling, steady-state thermal, and modal dynamic response studies.



SOLIDWORKS Simulation Designer bundles the capabilities of Structural Engineer, Simulation Collaboration, SOLIDWORKS Learner, and Platform Extended Storage into a single, cloud-connected role.



Key capabilities include:



• Run what-if scenarios with geometry-linked updates to quickly refine designs and hit performance targets.



• Assess product behavior under structural loads using a comprehensive set of load and boundary condition types. Set up robust contact quickly in large assemblies with the General Contact capability.



• Create high-quality solid meshes directly on your design geometry with rule-based controls for accurate results, powered by proven Abaqus solver technology.







SOLIDWORKS Simulation Engineer &#8211; Beyond the Basics: Advanced linear and nonlinear structural analysis for Product Engineers



Building on the capabilities of SOLIDWORKS Simulation Designer, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Engineer is a powerful, intuitive structural analysis solution designed to assess and optimize product performance and quality under sophisticated structural loads during the design process. It is the right choice for design engineers who need to go beyond linear analysis to address problems involving large deformations, nonlinear material behavior, or complex multi-step loading conditions.



SOLIDWORKS Simulation Engineer enables design engineers to solve complex linear and nonlinear structural analyses, including static, frequency, buckling, thermal, and modal dynamic studies with multi-step scenarios. Cloud computing on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform accelerates solve times, while a unified environment enables you to visualize results, collaborate with your team, and manage simulation data securely alongside your design geometry.



SOLIDWORKS Simulation Engineer bundles the capabilities of Structural Performance Engineer, Simulation Collaboration, SOLIDWORKS Learner, and Platform Extended Storage into a single role.



Specifically, with SOLIDWORKS Simulation Engineer, you can:



• Run advanced structural simulations throughout the design process with a streamlined engineering workflow with powerful, intuitive tools and access to industry-leading Abaqus simulation technology throughout the design process.



• Evaluate &#8220;what-if&#8221; scenarios quickly through seamless associativity with design geometry.



• Simulate multi-step structural scenarios to realistically assess product performance and quality.



• Solve on local or cloud compute with embedded computing up to eight cores, reducing hardware limitations.



• Accelerate simulation setup and turnaround with automated mesh creation for large assemblies.



• Visualize high-performance simulation results efficiently, even for very large models.







SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst &#8211; Predict Fatigue Failure Before It Happens: Advanced Durability and Dynamics Analysis



SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst gives engineers and analysts advanced structural validation capabilities to assess performance and safety under the most extreme conditions. This role delivers industry-leading structural and fatigue simulation to validate product durability, integrity, and lifecycle performance under real-world conditions.



Building on linear and nonlinear analysis, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst enables engineers to perform physically realistic static, dynamic, and fatigue studies, including implicit and explicit dynamics, reducing dependence on physical testing and increasing confidence in product reliability. Advanced modeling, meshing, and contact capabilities support complex operating scenarios, while parametric multi-objective design studies help engineers balance competing performance goals.



SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst bundles the capabilities of Durability and Mechanics Engineer, Simulation Collaboration, SOLIDWORKS Learner, and Platform Extended Storage into a single role.



Specifically, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst allows you to:



• Assess structural performance using multistep scenarios powered by Abaqus, including static, frequency, thermal, buckling, and implicit/explicit dynamic analyses



• Predict accurate fatigue life for both high-cycle and low-cycle loading scenarios, ensuring durable designs for extending service life and reducing late redesigns, physical testing, and warranty costs.



• Estimate component lifecycle under cyclic loading using stress- and strain-based durability methods during the design phase



• Predict fatigue life for both high-cycle and low-cycle loading scenarios.



• Simulate drop-test and crash scenarios using a proven explicit solver.



• Use and calibrate a wide range of material models with built-in material calibration capabilities.



• Accelerate design innovation by solving engineering challenges directly on 3D designs with full geometry associativity.



• Perform strength and durability assessments using guided, customizable workflows for fast adoption and reduced learning curve.



With scalable data management, collaborative workflows, and powerful visualization backed by platform storage, SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst empowers teams to predict failure, optimize durability, and make data-driven design decisions faster.







Get a first look&nbsp;at&nbsp;these&nbsp;offerings&nbsp;here.



SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer &#8211; Design for Flow: Fluid and Thermal Simulation Without the CFD Specialist



Introduced with R2026x FD02, SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer brings advanced CFD capabilities to the same cloud-connected platform experience as the structural roles. This role offers advanced flow simulation technology, collaboration tools, platform storage, and access to training materials, thereby enabling design teams to predict real-world fluid flow and thermal performance before building physical prototypes.



A guided assistant panel, automatic fluid domain creation directly from SOLIDWORKS models, and an easy-to-use Physics Manager make simulation setup fast and accessible even for design engineers without dedicated CFD expertise. Robust automatic meshing and cloud computing accelerate solution time, while built-in design-scenario comparison makes it straightforward to evaluate alternatives and identify the best-performing configuration.



SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer includes apps for advanced fluid flow simulation, the Platform Extended Storage app, and SOLIDWORKS Learner.



SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer enables your team to:



• Work within a unified CAD-CFD environment for concurrent simulation and design, covering pre-processing, solving, and post-processing in one place.



• Navigate the full CFD workflow from model setup to results post-processing with a built-in user assistant that guides each step and simplifies common fluid analyses.



• Solve steady-state and long-transient fluid flow and heat transfer problems using an industry-standard RANS-based finite volume solver with automatically selected turbulence models.



• Converge simulations faster using patented error estimator technology that predicts convergence errors and eliminates wasted iterations.



• Model complex multi-domain simulations with built-in Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) and native Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) capabilities.



• Improve simulation efficiency, robustness, and accuracy by selecting pre-defined rules based on simulation type.



• Prepare and clean up simulation geometry using built-in model prep tools without leaving the environment.



• Validate KPIs and product requirements through simulation and explore performance trade-offs early in the design cycle.



• Visualize high-performance results and generate reports automatically.



• Identify and compare product design alternatives automatically using the Parametric Design Study capability.



• Evaluate the impact of design changes and collaborate on results directly on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.



• Build CFD competency at your own pace with access to the SOLIDWORKS Learner app for self-paced training.















Watch the&nbsp;first look&nbsp;video&nbsp;here.



What makes these roles particularly powerful is that they form a coherent progression. A design engineer can begin with SOLIDWORKS Simulation Designer to run linear structural studies and grow into SOLIDWORKS Simulation Engineer as analysis requirements become more complex. Teams with advanced validation needs have SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst, while fluid and thermal specialists have SOLIDWORKS Simulation CFD Engineer, all within the same platform, with the same data model and collaboration infrastructure.



We believe it is critical for SOLIDWORKS users to run simulations themselves during the design process, rather than waiting to hand work off to a dedicated analyst late in development. Finding and resolving issues early avoids costly corrections, reduces the number of physical prototypes needed, and helps engineers build lasting intuition about how their designs perform under real-world loads, equipping them with the knowledge that makes every future design better.



Adopting these tools benefits the entire company: faster time-to-market, fewer physical prototypes, and better-performing products in your customers&#8217; hands.



For more than 30 years, SOLIDWORKS has been a trusted solution for 3D design and engineering. These new simulation roles extend that legacy by bringing industrial-grade structural and fluid simulation to every stage of your product development process and to every member of your design team. To learn more about our simulation solutions, including SOLIDWORKS Simulation, go&nbsp;here&nbsp;and explore our cloud-connected simulation roles on the&nbsp;3DEXPERIENCE platform&nbsp;here.



Ready to see these roles in action? Contact your local reseller to arrange a demo. You can also explore SOLIDWORKS Simulation Certifications to build and&nbsp;validate&nbsp;your team&#8217;s skills&nbsp;here. Learn more about the full SOLIDWORKS Simulation portfolio at solidworks.com/simulation.&nbsp;



You may also be interested in these articles.&nbsp;



Simulation-Driven Product Development&nbsp;eBook&nbsp;&nbsp;



What’s New in 3D Motion Creator&nbsp;You Don’t Have to Be a Rocket Scientist to Do Simulation
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      <![CDATA[ How SOLIDWORKS Simulation Drives the Physics of Football ]]>
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      <link>https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/how-solidworks-simulation-drives-the-physics-of-football/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/69696</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ How exactly do the physics behind football work? With SOLIDWORKS simulation tools, we learned the science behind the world’s favorite sport.
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      <![CDATA[ 
It’s a fact: the world loves football (or “soccer” in North America). There are over four billion football fans worldwide, and fans’ passion for the sport has led to some of the biggest and most well-attended international tournaments.



It’s a physical sport, both in the literal and metaphorical sense. The feats football players perform with their feet are awe-inspiring, and so is the science behind it.&nbsp;In fact, the history of the sport and the fervor of the fan community inspired us here at SOLIDWORKS.&nbsp;It’s one thing to watch football being played; it’s another thing to understand the physics that makes it work.



We thought about the past, present and future of football. How has the game changed over the centuries (really, millennia) it’s existed? When a soccer player bends it like Beckham, how do the physics behind that kick work? And as data capture and metrics become increasingly important across all sports, how will new electromagnetic components on and off the field affect the game?







Understanding the Physics of Football with SOLIDWORKS



All of these questions and more can be answered with simulation. SOLIDWORKS has a&nbsp;powerful simulation portfolio&nbsp;that covers a range of simulation types. With tools built for engineers and designers and advanced, analyst-ready solutions, the SOLIDWORKS Simulation portfolio can answer the questions physics poses.



We used structural, fluid, and electromagnetic simulations to answer our questions about football. Those answers lead to a better understanding of product design, best engineering practices, and much more. When you understand exactly how a product behaves under real-world conditions, you can optimize its performance without wasting time or resources. And when you understand it using arguably the world’s most popular sport as an example, you can reach your goals (get it?).



In this blog series, we explore how simulation can help you understand football and beyond.







Structural Simulation: Testing and Evolving Gear for Peak Performance



Structural simulation uses finite element analysis (FEA) to predict how a physical structure will respond to external loads. It answers the following questions: Will this product bend, break, or vibrate too much? And if so, what changes can be made to the product design or materials to optimize its performance?



But what about a product that is meant to be kicked? In the first international football tournament back in 1930, footballs were made out of leather. This non-waterproof material could turn into a hazard on the field due to added water weight during rainy games. Combined with the weight and heft of older football cleats, it&#8217;s no wonder materials and designs for footballs have changed so much in the past century.



With&nbsp;SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium&nbsp;and&nbsp;SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst&nbsp;on the cloud, we compared the performance of an old leather ball and a new 2026 match ball. By applying virtual forces that mimicked a powerful kick, we could see exactly how the materials held up and how their evolution led to a better ball.







Flow Simulation: Unraveling the Secrets of Football Aerodynamics



It occurred to us that today’s professional football players are, in fact, masters of physics. By kicking a ball a certain way, with a certain part of their foot, with a certain speed and a certain velocity, they can bend and curve kicks in the air. The physics behind this move comes down to fluid dynamics and the Magnus Effect. This physical phenomenon occurs when a spinning object curves away from its straight flight path as it moves through a fluid, such as air.



Fluid or flow simulation uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to test these effects virtually. With&nbsp;SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation, we tested a ball’s flight path and visualized the exact science behind its trajectory, spin, and overall aerodynamics.



By testing different panel shapes, seam depths and surface textures, engineering physics experts can help football-playing physics experts out by designing balls that can be properly controlled and do what the footballer wants them to do. This virtual testing reduces the need for physical prototypes and helps manufacturers create products that perform consistently in all weather conditions.







Electromagnetic Simulation: Making the Invisible Visible



The future of all sports, including football, is infused with technology. Making crucial calls in professional sports requires split-second decision-making that can affect the outcome of a match. Now, with embedded sensors, antennas, and other electronic equipment, game data no longer relies solely on a referee&#8217;s eyes. Modern football now incorporates smart tracking technology directly into balls, player wearables, and stadiums.



But today, everyone has a smart device, from their phones to their watches to their glasses. How do you test and ensure the right data is tracked in a stadium with over 60,000 cheering fans?



Enter&nbsp;Electromagnetics Engineer, powered by CST Studio Suite. We used this powerful electromagnetic simulation tool to analyze antenna performance inside a match ball to ensure the signal remained strong and clear. While electromagnetic signals may be invisible to the naked eye, virtual testing software makes it easy to gather data about what happens to a ball when it gets kicked into, or just misses, a goal.







Beyond the Field: Simulation’s Impact on Product Development



The physics of football was a fun and engaging subject to apply SOLIDWORKS simulation tools. The same simulation technologies that optimize a spinning ball or smart tracking chip translate directly to other demanding industries.



Boat manufacturers&nbsp;use flow simulation to reinvent boat building.&nbsp;Medical device designers&nbsp;use structural simulation to ensure implants can withstand body movements.&nbsp;Aerospace companies&nbsp;test antenna performance and placement to guarantee reliable communication in flight. The broad capabilities of these simulation solutions help organizations across the globe reduce costs, speed up development and produce higher-quality products.



Do you use simulation in your design process? Are you interested in learning how? Stay tuned for deeper dives into how SOLIDWORKS simulation solutions transform football (or soccer, again, for our North American friends) and how they can transform your product development process as well.&nbsp;Visit our website&nbsp;to learn more about world-class simulation and world-class football.



Next up, we’ll delve into the history of football and how structural simulation can empirically show the reasons why changing product materials can help you reach your goals.












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      <![CDATA[ Master 20 SOLIDWORKS Simulation Rules ]]>
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      <link>https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/master-20-solidworks-simulation-rules/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/69662</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ Discover essential simulation guidelines, practical applications and future trends from top engineering experts at 3DEXPERIENCE World.
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Engineering simulation requires precise inputs to generate reliable results. Errors in meshing, material selection, or load applications can lead to inaccurate data and flawed product designs. At&nbsp;3DEXPERIENCE World 2026, two leading experts took the stage to address these challenges directly.



Dr. Omar Zohni from SOLIDWORKS Dassault Systèmes Systèmes and Mohamed Hussein, engineering section head for static equipment and analysis at Elsewedy Electric PSP, presented&nbsp;“20 Do’s and Don’ts to Transform Your Design Game with Simulation,”&nbsp;where they outlined twenty essential rules for successful simulation. This session covered static analysis, explicit dynamics and the importance of validated benchmark models. Read on to explore their key insights, practical examples, and recommendations for advancing and transforming your engineering workflows.







Set Clear Objectives and Simplify Models



Every successful analysis begins with a defined goal. Mohamed Hussein emphasized the importance of setting a clear simulation objective before opening your software. Engineers must understand exactly what they need to test, and whether that involves thermal stress, vibration, or structural integrity.



Once you establish your objective, you need to simplify your models. Complex geometry often contains small features that do not affect the overall structural performance. These tiny details force the software to generate excessively dense meshes, which increases solve times without improving accuracy. By removing unnecessary fillets, small holes, and decorative features, you create an efficient model that produces reliable results much faster.



Select the Right Solver and Materials







Choosing the appropriate solver dictates the accuracy of your results. Dr. Omar Zohni explained that engineers must pick the solver that matches their specific physics. For example, you cannot use a linear static solver for an event that involves massive deformation or high-speed impacts. Understanding the difference between linear static, implicit dynamics, and explicit dynamics is essential for predicting real-world behavior.



Material properties also play a fundamental role in your analysis. Your simulation is only as accurate as the material data you provide. Dr. Zohni warned against making assumptions about material behaviors under stress. Engineers must verify their material libraries to ensure they account for the correct yield strength, elasticity, and thermal conductivity required for their specific project.



Apply Loads and Refine Your Mesh







Correctly applying loads is another critical factor in simulation. Dr. Zohni explained that loads must accurately reflect physical conditions. Applying a force to the wrong face or using incorrect boundary conditions will invalidate your entire study. You must account for how loads are applied in the real world and mimic them as closely as possible in simulation to ensure accuracy.



Mesh refinement also requires a balanced approach. Hussein discussed how to refine a mesh appropriately. A coarse mesh might miss critical stress concentrations, while a universally fine mesh wastes computing resources. Engineers should use adaptive meshing to increase element density only in areas with high stress gradients. This targeted approach ensures accuracy where it matters most while keeping the overall model efficient.



Connect SOLIDWORKS Products to Your Workflow







The session was for SOLIDWORKS users, and it highlighted several ways to use SOLIDWORKS Design tools to improve analysis. Engineers can use SOLIDWORKS Design configurations to quickly manage multiple design iterations. This allows you to test multiple geometric variations within a single file.



The SOLIDWORKS simulation portfolio also provides advanced capabilities for handling complex scenarios. For example, the software offers specific tools to identify and resolve stress singularities. When dealing with complex assemblies, Hussein recommended using virtual connections. Virtual connections simplify the model by simulating pins, bolts, and springs without requiring the physical geometry of those fasteners.



Design exploration tools in SOLIDWORKS Design allow engineers to automatically test a wide range of parameters. Instead of manually changing dimensions and running individual studies, you can set up a design study to find the optimal geometry based on your specific goals. Dr. Zohni highlighted how this feature accelerates the product development cycle by quickly identifying the best possible design variations.



Review Practical Real-World Applications



To ground their theoretical rules in reality, the speakers shared several real-world examples. Hussein demonstrated a pressure vessel nozzle analysis. This example highlighted the necessity of accurate load placement and proper mesh refinement around critical junctions. He also discussed a bypass stack system CFD analysis to show how fluid dynamics principles apply to large industrial equipment.



Dr. Zohni shared a crash test modeling scenario for bottling manufacturers. This explicit dynamics study demonstrated the importance of choosing the appropriate solver for high-impact events. Other real-world examples included:




Analyzing why a billboard collapsed using mixed mesh techniques



Cycle testing for a high-performance bike frame



Electromagnetic feature testing for a drug delivery device




Each example proved that following strict simulation rules yields accurate, safe, and reliable products across various industries.



Look Forward to Cloud Computing







The demands of modern engineering require immense computational power. As models become more detailed and physics become more complex, local hardware can struggle to keep up. Dr. Zohni concluded the session by pointing toward the future of simulation in the cloud.



Cloud computing offers a powerful solution for handling large models and complex assemblies. By moving calculations to the cloud, engineers free up their local workstations for other tasks. This capability accelerates solve times for complex nonlinear studies, fluid dynamics, and large-displacement analyses. Cloud-based simulation allows teams to iterate faster, test more variables, and bring highly optimized products to market with confidence.



Take the Next Steps in Simulation



The do’s and don’ts shared by Dr. Omar Zohni and Mohamed Hussein provide a clear roadmap for better engineering. Start by reviewing your current simulation protocols. Ensure your team defines clear objectives, simplifies geometry and relies on validated benchmark models before trusting new results.



Take advantage of symmetry and virtual connections to reduce solve times. Most importantly, always perform thorough result checks to verify your data against expected physical behaviors. By applying these scientific principles and taking advantage of advanced SOLIDWORKS capabilities, you can build better products and advance your engineering practice.



To see all twenty do’s and don’ts, you can&nbsp;watch Dr. Zohni and Mohamed Hussein’s presentation, along with other highlighted presentations from&nbsp;3DEXPERIENCE World, on the&nbsp;Best of&nbsp;3DEXPERIENCE World 2026 webpage.&nbsp;What rules do you follow when running simulations?
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      <![CDATA[ Get Hands-On with Simulation at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026 ]]>
      </title>
      <link>https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/get-hands-on-with-simulation-at-3dexperience-world-2026/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/67164</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:17:27 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ Integrating simulation into your product development workflows changes the game for designers…
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      <![CDATA[ Integrating simulation into your product development workflows changes the game for designers and engineers. Want to learn more about simulation but don’t know where to start? Good news: at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026, whether you’re an advanced analyst or just starting your simulation journey, we have dozens of ways for you to learn more about simulation and bring it into your workflows.28 Simulation User Breakout SessionsAt 3DEXPERIENCE World, you can get hands-on with simulation technology and get facetime with the R&#038;D team members who build the software. Learn about the core capabilities in the SOLIDWORKS Simulation portfolio and discover the best software for you and your needs at in-person technical breakout sessions.The SOLIDWORKS Simulation portfolio has solutions for structural, fluid, thermal, electromagnetic, motion, and plastic injection molding, all integrated into the SOLIDWORKS Design environment. Join one of our breakout sessions to hear from real customers and users, learn best practices and workflows, and join hands-on sessions to test-drive SOLIDWORKS Simulation solutions for yourself.Check out our session catalogue to learn more and sign up.Simulation Customer ShowcaseJoin us at the 3DEXPERIENCE Theater in the Playground, where customers will hit the stage and discuss their company’s stories, their product development journeys, and how they’ve found success with SOLIDWORKS software.This year, there will be two 20-minute long sessions featuring seven customers who have implemented simulation into their workflows. They will discuss how they addressed real-world challenges with unified modeling and simulation (MODSIM), and share their experiences using SOLIDWORKS simulation tools to realize organizational benefits in terms of productivity, performance insights, cost, time-to-market, quality and innovation.Session 1: Unfiltered Chat: Innovating Racing Engines, Hockey Skate Sharpeners , Waste Compactors, and Adaptive Mountain Bikes and Wheelchairs with SOLIDWORKS and SimulationMonday – Feb 2: 2.30 pm – 2.50 pm CSTFeatured Customers:·        Chethan LINGARAJU – General Manager at COM-PAK+·        Andrew TUXFORD – Chief Engineer at GEARS·        Sanket PATIL – Sr. Mechanical Engineer at  BOWHEAD·        Dan Beaudet – VP of Engineering at SPARX HOCKEYSession 2: SOLIDWORKS Champions Transforming Power Generation, Dairy Barn Tech, and Wireless Applications by Leveraging Unified MODeling &#038; SIMulationTuesday – Feb: 11.00 am  –  11:20 am CSTFeatured Customers:·        Mohamed Hussein – Process &#038; Systems Design Team Leader at ELSEWEDY ELECTRIC PSP·        Mark Zakhem – Staff Hardware &#038; Regulatory Engineer at INOVONICS·        Ken Mansfield – Senior Mechanical Engineer at SENECA DAIRY SYSTEMSDon’t miss these spirited discussions and your chance to learn from real simulation users. You can register for 3DEXPERIENCE World today and meet other users like you.Meet Bruce at the Simulation BoothSimulation is putting the ‘play’ in 3DEXPERIENCE Playground this year by inviting you to the simulation area at the Dassault Systèmes booth, where you can meet Bruce! Bruce is our famous blue test subject, a humanoid model who is put through every kind of simulation test you can imagine. He’ll be at the simulation booth for you to take pictures and try out real-life drop tests (and more) with smaller, 3D printed versions of Bruce.Not only can you meet Bruce and get hands-on with simulation at the simulation booth, you can also interact with Dassault Systèmes simulation experts, who can answer any simulation question you have and help you with your specific product development needs.There will also be two 15 minute simulation shows every day to demonstrate different simulation tests on Bruce, along with super cool products developed by SOLIDWORKS customers that were made by leveraging MODSIM workflows.The simulation booth is going to be the place to be at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026, so make sure you don’t miss it by registering today!3DEXPERIENCE World 2026 is the best place to learn about all forms of simulation. No matter what you design or manufacture, simulation can be the make-or-break (literally) step in your workflow that keeps you on track and efficient. At 3DEXPERIENCE World, you have so many opportunities to learn about simulation, from the simplest of tests to the most advanced cloud analyses.All you have to do is register and join! Register for 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026 today and see what simulation can do for you. ]]>
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