Introduction

This example demonstrates how to transfer a SOLIDWORKS assembly to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and perform a simulation using 3DEXPERIENCE simulation apps.

The SOLIDWORKS assembly is a cylindrical vacuum chamber that uses an O-ring to seal the chamber. To examine the efficacy of the rubber O-ring, you create a structural simulation in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. When you transfer the SOLIDWORKS geometry to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, some features from the SOLIDWORKS Simulation nonlinear study map to 3DEXPERIENCE simulation features, saving you time configuring the simulation. You must recreate the features that do not transfer using the 3DEXPERIENCE simulation apps. When you complete the steps described in this workflow you save the results of the simulation on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, where you can share them with others.

This page discusses:

Problem Description

O-rings have many industrial applications where they act as seals to prevent the passage of gas or fluid from one space into another. In this example, you simulate sealing a cylindrical vacuum chamber, which is assembled with a top plate, an O-ring, and a bottom plate with a groove. You apply a force to the top plate to push the O-ring into the groove in the bottom plate. As the top plate pushes the O-ring into the groove, the O-ring flattens vertically but expands laterally, causing it to contact the groove walls. Since the assembly and the applied load are axisymmetric, you create a 1-degree cut-section of the assembly to reduce the analysis time of the simulation.



Top plate

O-ring

Bottom plate with groove

The top and bottom plates are made of AISI-304 steel, while the O-ring is made of a custom rubber material. You use the Mooney-Rivlin model to represent the O-ring's hyperelastic material behavior.

The assembly and initial simulation setup were created in SOLIDWORKS. You save the assembly to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and complete the simulation using 3DEXPERIENCE simulation apps.

Workflow

The workflow diagram below provides an overview of the example. The diagram shows the apps that you use as you perform the steps in sequence. Clicking a number in the diagram opens its corresponding step in the example.

Open the O-ring assembly in SOLIDWORKS, and transfer it to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.Initialize a 3DEXPERIENCE structural simulation.Review the status of simulation features you transferred from SOLIDWORKS to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.Review the contact property assigned to the general contact definition.Apply a restraint that prevents the lateral movement of the bottom and top plates during the simulation.Apply the AISI 304 steel material definition to the bottom and top plates.Create a custom rubber material, and apply it to the O-ring.Refine the mesh definitions at the regions of the bottom and top plates that contact the O-ring during the simulation.Recreate the O-ring mesh using hybrid hexahedral ("brick") elements.Define the static step properties of the structural analysis case.Run the simulation to predict the O-ring's behavior as the top plate presses it into the groove.Analyze the results of the simulation to determine the efficacy of the O-ring.
Task Description
1 Transfer the SOLIDWORKS Assembly to the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Open the O-ring assembly in SOLIDWORKS, and transfer it to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
2 Initialize the Simulation Initialize a 3DEXPERIENCE structural simulation.
3 Review the Status of Transferred Simulation Features Review the status of simulation features you transferred from SOLIDWORKS to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
4 Review the General Contact Definition Review the contact property assigned to the general contact definition.
5 Apply a Restraint Apply a restraint that prevents the lateral movement of the bottom and top plates during the simulation.
6 Apply a Material to the Plates Apply the AISI 304 steel material definition to the bottom and top plates.
7 Apply a Hyperelastic Material to the O-Ring Create a custom rubber material, and apply it to the O-ring.
8 Refine the Local Meshes of the Plates Refine the mesh definitions at the regions of the bottom and top plates that contact the O-ring during the simulation.
9 Recreate the O-Ring's Mesh Recreate the O-ring mesh using hybrid hexahedral ("brick") elements.
10 Define the Static Step Define the static step properties of the structural analysis case.
11 Run the Simulation Run the simulation to predict the O-ring's behavior as the top plate presses it into the groove.
12 Analyze the Results Analyze the results of the simulation to determine the efficacy of the O-ring.

Complete the workflow steps in the order in which they are listed. Deviation from the instructions associated with each step might cause model or scenario errors, which might prevent convergence of the simulation.