{"id":297,"date":"2012-03-20T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2012-03-20T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/example.org\/when-form-follows-simulation"},"modified":"2013-07-22T19:19:46","modified_gmt":"2013-07-22T19:19:46","slug":"when-form-follows-simulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/2012\/03\/when-form-follows-simulation.html","title":{"rendered":"When \u201cForm Follows Simulation\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have a degree in a design discipline or have worked as a design engineer, you\u2019ve probably heard this phrase more than once.\u00a0 The principle behind \u201cform follows function\u201d is that the shape of an object or building should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose.\u00a0 While studying Industrial Design at Auburn University, one of my professors would constantly repeat this phrase to our class along with \u201cno sharp corners\u201d \u2026one of his other pet-peeves.<\/p>\n

We all know that the function of a product should be the primary emphasis for design, however I believe a new design paradigm is emerging \u2013 I call it, \u201cform follows simulation.\u201d To illustrate this principle, I\u2019ll refer to a conversation I had with Jeremy Singley, a product designer who uses SolidWorks Simulation<\/a> to streamline 18 wheeler truck designs.<\/p>\n

Jeremy has been working with AirFlow Truck<\/a> to greatly reduce fuel costs by producing more aerodynamic tractor trailers.\u00a0 We did a recent case study on Jeremy here<\/a>.\u00a0 The interesting thing is that simulation not only validated the aerodynamics in the design, but Jeremy says, \u201cthe simulations drove the design from the beginning.\u201d\u00a0 He would notice the flow lines over the surfaces down the truck, which would \u201csuggest changes in the truck design.\u201d\u00a0 Jeremy\u2019s first design (The SuperTruck) was using an existing truck platform, but they are now working on a re-design (FutureTruck), which will reduce fuel costs even more than the original design.<\/p>\n

Here is a picture of the latest design of the SuperTruck (dubbed the “BulletTruck”):<\/p>\n

\"6a00d83451706569e2016764054cfb970b-800wi\"<\/a><\/p>\n

What I also found interesting is how Jeremy incorporates SolidWorks simulation into his design workflow.\u00a0 He says, \u201cit\u2019s so easy to use, that it\u2019s part of the design process\u2026I make a model, run simulation, without leaving SolidWorks, tweek the model, then run again.\u201d\u00a0 This continuous simulate-design-simulate-design process eventually produces the final design.<\/p>\n

But the greatest value to implementing this new \u201cform follows simulation\u201d paradigm is to stay ahead of your competition, as simulation validates your design, and takes away countless hours of guess work or debate about a design. \u00a0Stephen Endersby (SolidWorks’ Product Manager for Simulation) says \u201cSimulation analysis must be a part of the design process, not just validation at the end, to be effective.\u201d\u00a0 Stephen notes that this practice of validating design through simulation is nothing new, but it\u2019s something we can do much easier and quicker with SolidWorks Simulation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, I can only fantasize about what SolidWorks Simulation would have done to help my design course grades back in college, but I bet I could have validated some of the \u201csharp corners\u201d in my designs to my professors.<\/p>\n

And remember, you heard the principle \u201cform follows simulation\u201d coined here first!<\/p>\n

For more information on the case study from Jeremy Singley, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To see a video on SolidWorks Flow Simulation<\/a> for tractor trailer designs click here<\/a> (may have to register):<\/p>\n

\"6a00d83451706569e20168e9060099970c-800wi\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all know that the function of a product should be the primary emphasis for design, however I believe a new design paradigm is emerging \u2013 I call it, \u201cform follows simulation.\u201d<\/p>\n... Continued<\/a>","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":19110,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,14,63],"tags":[129,437,153],"class_list":["post-297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-customer-stories","category-design","category-solidworks-simulation","tag-design-2","tag-flow","tag-simulation"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=297"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/solidworksblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}