It is becoming increasingly important for innovative companies to accelerate new product time to market without compromising quality. In order to do this, teams need to easily perform more complex simulations that are reliable, have easy access to validation tools for quick evaluation of designs and be able to share all these results and ideas with other teams. To meet these demands, Dassault Systèmes has introduced SIMULIA Structural Simulation Engineer (SSE).

What is SSE?

SSE is based on Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE cloud platform that provides users with design validation tools (apps), a collaborative environment for data sharing and data management apps. It is an easy to deploy software as a service (SaaS) solution that combines robust software and elastic hardware infrastructure.

Functionality of SSE

SIMULIA extends SOLIDWORKS Simulation capabilities using a cloud-based simulation solution that integrates the workflow from SOLIDWORKS desktop with the proven Abaqus technology. It helps solve complex design validations problems quickly and cost-effectively. Nonlinear problems involving large strains, sequential loading, complex material models, many contact interfaces with sliding and friction that fails to solve in SOLIDWORKS Simulation can be solved to completion using SSE. Analysis calculations can be run on the cloud or on your local machine.

Key Benefits of Using SSE

This tool helps realize the democratization of Simulation by providing easy access to advanced simulation tools and hardware capabilities that enable users to quickly design and validate, as well as collaborate with tight associativity between CAD, Simulation and PLM systems. By allowing Simulation to run on the cloud, you can leverage more processing power and multi-core scaling with Abaqus solver. This frees up your local machines for other tasks and minimizes the hardware requirements for solving analysis. SSE offers high-performance visualization tools that support efficient post-processing of large-scale simulation data. Realistic simulation results in interpretation using extensive post-processing capabilities. It also permits collaborative post-processing options in real time from anywhere with a just a web browser. Utilizing advanced mesh element types, contact algorithms, a variety of material models and robust Abaqus solver SSE users can conduct a wide range of analyses. This includes linear and nonlinear structural problems, static, quasi-static or modal dynamic response, thermal-structural, buckling and frequency analysis.

How to Access SSE

To use the SSE app, log in to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, build a custom dashboard for Simulation and add any of the simulation apps you need, including SSE.

>> Watch our introductory video on how to set up a 3DEXPERIENCE dashboard for SOLIDWORKS xDesign

You can import the CAD model and set up a simulation model within this platform. Images below depict the workflow for SSE.

Once in the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, you can select the 3D or VR quadrant of the compass to access the modeling and simulation apps.

Alternatively, you can access SSE directly from SOLIDWORKS Simulation using the SOLIDWORKS add-in, 3DEXPERIENCE Simulation Connector. This add-in connector lets you conveniently transfer the simulation model from SOLIDWORKS along with boundary conditions, mesh definitions and material properties into SSE with just a single click. Any modifications in the SOLIDWORKS CAD model will automatically update the model in SSE.

This seamlessly integrated workflow empowers designers and analysts to solve more advanced problems efficiently while reusing the SOLIDWORKS geometry and simulation study setups. Users can also change the tetrahedral mesh imported from simulation study within SSE. You can use a rule-based meshing for better mesh control, switch to brick or quad elements for improved convergence and accuracy.

Is SSE the Right Tool For Me?

SSE is for new and current Simulation users that need to validate their designs efficiently. It is best suited to solve large deformation or strain problems involving many contacts and complex material models that fail to converge or solve to completion in SOLIDWORKS Simulation. It can also be used for solving dynamic problems. Being a cloud-based solution, companies that are unable to invest in infrastructure for high-end analysis tools can still benefit from using SSE.

Virtual product design and validation using simulation tools based on finite element method have become a common strategy across multiple industries to reduce prototyping costs, the time to market for innovative products and shorten overall product development cycle time. The SOLIDWORKS Simulation product suite is already enabling companies to build stronger and more reliable products, make correct engineering decisions and mitigate the risks associated with new product development. This best-in-class simulation solution combined with a collaborative data sharing platform lets you innovate and make informed decisions at a faster pace to stay ahead of the competition.

Are you interested in learning more about the cloud? Click on the button below to read our blog post, 5 Reasons the Cloud is the Future of 3D CAD.