SolidWorks 2011 highlights 2D Simplification

Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. (DS SolidWorks) unveiled the SolidWorks 2011 product line, delivering new ways to speed product design, deepen collaboration, and strengthen designers' engagement with manufacturing. The new SolidWorks 2011 family of products includes hundreds of improvements requested by customers who use SolidWorks every day to design new products, validate their performance, communicate with partners, manage design data, and minimise a product's impact on the environment.

One of the highlights of SolidWorks 2011 is the new 2D Simplification, which helps speed-up parts analysis. Users simply select an intersecting plane and apply the loads and restraints to perform static, nonlinear, pressure vessel, and thermal studies. SolidWorks Simulation instantly calculates the results and displays them on the full 3D model - with no waiting. The more quickly you can move a great new product to market - and that pressure continues to intensify - the greater the success for everyone involved.

SolidWorks simulation

SolidWorks Simulation is a complete suite of structural, functional, and flow analysis applications for every designer in the product development process. The software is easy to use, yet powerful enough to tackle the most complex design issues. It helps you to predict the performance of your design under real-world operating conditions and to detect problems and correct them before prototyping, tooling, and production.

"SolidWorks Simulation software takes the risk out of ‘what if’ and replaces it with an infinite canvas to virtually test new ideas and bring products to market faster"


Integrated with the SolidWorks 3D CAD environment, SolidWorks Simulation unleashes your innovation by letting you experiment with new configurations and materials as you design-when innovation is free, but potential gains are worth millions. Easily tackle complex problems with the 2D planar simplification tool by creating plane stress, plane strain, and axisymmetry nonlinear analysis, and by using 3D CAD models without modification to generate 2D sections.

2D simplification analysis of a bolt-nut connection

You perform an axisymmetric analysis on a bolt-and-nut assembly to plot the stress results on the threads. By performing a 2D simplification analysis, you save time because 2D models require fewer mesh elements and simpler contact conditions compared to 3D models.

The bolt head and the clamped members are not modelled. To apply 2D simplification, the threads are modelled as separate rings of material and not as a continuous helix (this is a simplification, as helical threads are not axisymmetric). To model the tightening of the joint or sliding of the bolt, you still need to use a 3D model.

Creating the 2D simplification study

You define a 2D simplification study from the 3D model and perform a nonlinear static study.

Applying material properties and contact sets

You define the material properties and contact sets.

Running the analysis

You apply load to the top edge of the bolt shank and prevent the nut from moving vertically. You then run the bolted connection study.

Viewing the results

You can view the results of a 2D analysis in 2D or 3D. For an axisymmetric analysis, the results are the same for any cross section about the axis of revolution.Shop Women's Sneakers by Brand