Structural analyses simulations

Simulations use a mathematical representation of a physical system. The simulation workflow consists of the following phases:

• Construct or import a part or assembly into Fusion for analysis.
• Switch to the Simulation workspace and select a study type.
• Modify the study settings.
• Simplify or otherwise modify the model specifically for simulation purposes. (See Understand simulation models on this page.)
• Define material properties
• Apply boundary conditions (loads, supports), define contact conditions, and mesh: This process along, with defining materials, is the Setup phase of simulation (also referred to as preprocessing).
  • Use the Structural Constraints command to apply structural constraints to edges, faces, or vertices on your model. These constraints restrict the displacement of the model. Constraints are not applicable to thermal analyses. Structural analyses support various translational constraints (Fixed, Pin, Frictionless) and Prescribed Displacement.
  • Use the Structural Loads or Thermal Loads command to apply various structural or thermal loading conditions. Available loads depend on the study type. For example, structural analyses support force, moment, hydrostatic pressure, gravity, and more. Thermal analyses support temperature, convection, internal heat, and more.
  • Either automatically or manually define contact between the parts of your model. You can also define self-contact within a single part (that is, contact between edges or faces of the same part). Refer to Contacts and its subpages for more information.
• Add Point Mass (Manual) loads to simulate the weight of components not included in the model.
• Automatically replace bodies in the model with equivalent Point Mass (Auto) loads to simplify your analyses.
• Solve the mathematical representation of your design: Results for complex geometry and load or conditions would be difficult or impossible to determine by classical engineering equations. However, the elements formed through the meshing process have simple shapes, and their individual behaviors are relatively easy to determine. The solver sums the behaviors of each element and predicts the performance of the entire physical system by resolving simultaneous algebraic equations.
• Review the results: The study of the solution results is referred to as results evaluation or postprocessing.