The bolt is prescribed the same reference temperature at zero strain as the rest of the assembly (T0), which is defined in the static study’s Thermal/Flow effects tab in the Properties dialog box.
In nonlinear analysis, the Pre-load is solved during the first time step of the analysis, and its value is taken as is and never adjusted by the program. It is not currently possible to select which should be included. Such loads will typically include Gravity, but can also include all the loads representing the state of stress that was present when the bolts were tightened: this could potentially include some Forces, Pressures, thermal loads, Spring Pre-loads, etc. As a matter of fact, some loads could have been present when the bolts were actually tightened and they should be included in the first run.
The analysis is run without any other load applied. The defined Pre-load value is used to pre-stress the Bolt Connectors.In static studies, the definition of bolts induces two successive runs of the analysis: This combination helps calculate a tensile force. Therefore, it can only be determined after the model has been meshed.įor tight fit bolt: In addition to the rigid bar elements as generated for loose fit bolt, program generates the rigid bar elements between the nodes on the cylindrical surfaces in contact with the screw shank and the node from where spider arrangement originates.īolt pre-load in SolidWorks Simulation can be either calculated from a defined Axial force are from a combination of Torque and Torque coefficient. The number of rigid bars created for the bolt connector depend on the kind of bolt connectors and the mesh created.įor loose fit bolt: On each side of the modeled bolt, the number of rigid bars is equal to the number nodes on the face in contact with the nut and the screw head respectively. That is why the problem has to go through iterations and subsequently becomes slower (in the absence of any other nonlinearity such as actual contacts defined between the parts) As a matter of fact this feature is the reason for the problem to become nonlinear (in the absence of any other nonlinearity), and simulate a contact behavior (but in opposite direction to no-penetration contact due to the tension-resistance feature of it). In addition, it is important to note also that the beam used between the two ends is tension-resistant only (no resistance to compressive force). In reality, the slippage between the connecting parts is resisted by the frictional force provided by the clamp force (preload). This is consistent with the physical model. The bolt connector is defined by a beam element which does not have any resistance to torque because axial rotational degree of freedom is released. Therefore, it is always expected that stresses in the close vicinity of bolts are not to be taken at face value. The level of accuracy is much higher for calculating the forces in the bolt regions. Error reduces away from the bolt regions. The simulation of bolt connectors involves the internal creation of rigid links which can lead to inaccurate results, particularly stress results, in the bolt areas. The calculation of the thermal expansion/contraction is done automatically by the solver. It simulates the bolt preload using thermal expansion/contraction. SolidWorks Simulation uses a beam element to represent the bolt shank and uses rigid bar elements to connect the beam to the flanges. You can also define a bolt by selecting entities of the same component. You can define bolts through a mixed stack of solids, shells and sheet metal bodies. A Bolt can connect two components, multiple components, or a component and the ground.