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USING MIXED MESH IN SOLIDWORKS SIMULATION

In some problems, solid and shell members should be used in the same finite element model.

This example briefly shows the usage of solid and shell elements by using the aid of contact

sets.

Create the solid parts by the given dimensions.

Assign the part material as 1060 Alloy (Aluminum). Name of the part is inner_ring. Create

the sketch on the side surface as shown below and split the front surface.

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Create the second part using the part inner_ring. Assign the same material. Part name is

outer_ring.

Create the sketch shown below.

Create the extruded surface using the surface toolbar. Exturusion distance is 40 mm.

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Assign the part material as Plain Carbon Steel. Name of the part is Wing.

Create an assembly consisting of these three parts.

Assemble the parts with the mates shown below.

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Save the assembly with the name “mixed.sldasm”

Create a Frequency study. Fix the surface shown below.

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Create a contact set by using three edges of wing and outer surface of the inner_ring.

Create another contact set using three outer edges of the wing and the inner surface of the

outer_ring.

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Define 2 mm thickness for all three surfaces.

Mesh the assembly using 5 mm element size and run the frequency analysis.

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List the resonant frequencies using the command shown below.