Did you know in a static study you can simulate the effects of fluid such as hydrostatic pressure without ever having to simulate the fluid itself? Watch the Video Tech Tip for a full explanation on how this is done.

Instead of battling complicated physics like the increased pressure at increased depth or modeling a separate body for the fluid, with SOLIDWORKS Simulation you can simulate the effect of the fluid with this one simple boundary condition. In the video, we demonstrate this with a water tank.

To add the load, we indicate each of the faces the fluid will touch and apply pressure with the Nonuniform Distribution check box activated. Lastly, just select a coordinate system which will define the surface or top of the fluid. Under the pressure type tab, you can choose from one of three types of coordinate systems: Cartesian, Cylindrical or Spherical, but for this we will use Cartesian. After selecting which system, you will be prompted to edit the equation. Values for size and magnitude will be represented by red and green arrows on your simulation and indicate how much hydrostatic pressure is being applied to the structure. This is the real power of SOLIDWORKS Simulation – a complicated load like hydrostatic pressure can be applied by just knowing the fluid’s density and defining the top surface.

To learn more about how to test your designs for real-world conditions in SOLIDWORKS Simulation, watch our on-demand webinars.