Accelerate Innovation with SOLIDWORKS Simulation

What is SOLIDWORKS Simulation?

SOLIDWORKS Simulation is a fully integrated Finite Element Analysis (FEA) suite within SOLIDWORKS CAD, letting engineers predict real-world performance with linear, non-linear static and dynamic studies.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation tools cover two main modules: structural and flow. Structural simulation tools can analyze things like static stress, drop tests, and vibration. Flow simulation (CFD) models help test aspects like fluid flow and heat transfer. Both solutions works seamlessly inside SOLIDWORKS.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Modules: Structural and Flow

Structural Simulation

  • Static & Linear Dynamics

  • Fatigue & Durability

  • Thermal, Buckling, Frequency, Drop Test

  • Non‑Linear, Composite, Time‑History, Harmonic, Random Vibration

Flow Simulation (CFD)

  • Liquid & Gas Flow, including subsonic to supersonic

  • Conjugate Heat Transfer

  • HVAC and Electronics Cooling Modules

  • Noise and Particle Tracking, parametric optimization

Explore SOLIDWORKS Simulation Value Offers

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Value Offers help your team unlock powerful analysis tools to suit your engineering workflow and budget.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Standard Key Features

Ideal for engineers and designers needing essential validation tools within SOLIDWORKS CAD, beyond basic design.

  • Linear static analysis for parts and assemblies

  • Time-based motion (rigid‑body kinematics/dynamics)

  • Fatigue simulation (high-cycle life prediction)

  • Trend Tracker for tracking design changes

  • Stress hot‑spot diagnostics, connectors, loads & constraints

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional Key Features

Ideal for product development teams seeking durability, optimization, and physics beyond linear analysis.

  • Frequency (modal) and linear buckling analysis

  • Thermal static and transient simulations

  • Drop‑test and pressure vessel validation

  • Event‑based motion studies

  • Design optimization & topology optimization

  • 2D simplification and sub-modeling

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium Key Features

Ideal for advanced users working with nonlinear materials, dynamics, composites, and complex load cases.

  • Nonlinear static and dynamic analysis

  • Linear dynamics (harmonic, random vibration, modal time history, shock spectra)

  • Composite laminate and shell simulations

  • Full solver capabilities for large deformations, hyper-elasticity

Why is Simulation Software Important?

Simulation is a strategic tool in modern engineering because it enables early design validation, allowing engineers to test, optimize, and correct potential issues before any physical prototype is made. By modeling real-world conditions like stress, thermal behavior, and fluid flow, teams can identify weak spots, validate performance, and iterate virtually. This reduces the number of expensive prototypes and downstream rework.

Furthermore, simulation accelerates innovation by facilitating rapid exploration of “what‑if” scenarios. Engineers can virtually push designs to extremes, test unconventional materials or configurations, and evaluate performance across entire systems. This not only improves product reliability, safety, and quality, but also supports smarter decisions and sustainable practices with reduced material waste .

Why Choose a SOLIDWORKS-Based PDM/PLM Solution?

Choosing a SOLIDWORKS‑based simulation solution ensures a seamless, fully integrated experience where design, analysis, and refinement happen within the same CAD environment. You work with familiar SOLIDWORKS Geometry, Materials, and Configurations, preserving full associativity—an update in your CAD model instantly reflects in your simulation. The unified interface and workflow means engineers spend less time learning and switching tools, and more time innovating.

Additionally, SOLIDWORKS Simulation delivers a robust suite of analysis tools—covering linear, nonlinear, thermal, fluid, motion, fatigue, and composites—all supported by the same parametric CAD backbone. This integration not only accelerates time‑to‑market by eliminating manual data transfers but also helps maintain design integrity and traceability across iterations.