Structural Model Creation

Structural Model Creation provides all the tools required to define a mechanical simulation model and mesh. This app is suitable for engineers and analysts who perform routine structural calculations to guide iterative design modifications.

Structural Model Creation is a native app that enables you to add and edit model features that impact the structural response of a simulation. You can create and manage:

  • Material and section assignments. You can specify properties for beams, shells, composites, gaskets, and other supported sections.
  • Abstractions (such as mass, inertia, and acoustic areas) that mimic the effects of features outside the model space.
  • Connections (such as bolts and springs) that tie the model to its surroundings or join components within an assembly.
  • Meshes that discretize the model geometry into the smaller pieces (finite elements) required for computing simulation results.

Before you begin using Structural Model Creation, you must already have geometry and materials defined. You can create geometry using 3D modeling apps on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, or you can import geometry from other applications, such as SOLIDWORKS or CATIA.

You can also import or create mesh data and use it to represent the geometry. For more information about meshing, see the Mesh Creation guide.

You define materials, including simulation properties, in the Material Definition app. For more information about materials, see the Simulation Materials guide.

Model creation combines geometry, mesh, and materials to prepare for a simulation. For a video overview showing many of the steps included in the preparation of a simulation model, see Create a Physics Simulation Model.

Once completed, you can use a single model configuration for multiple simulation scenarios. A scenario contains one or more analysis cases (steps, loads, interactions, etc.) that simulate real-world use of the model; you define scenarios and run the simulations in scenario apps (such as Structural Scenario Creation).

After you run your simulation, you can use the Physics Results Explorer app to generate graphs and reports to view and share your results and to make decisions on the model design.

For information about accessing Structural Model Creation, see Opening an App from the Compass.