Menu

Discussion Forum

New Discussion
查找

Note: This discussion is about an older version of the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. The information provided may be out of date.

Discussion Closed This discussion was created more than 6 months ago and has been closed. To start a new discussion with a link back to this one, click here.

Importing Solidworks and Meshing

Posted 2013年4月17日 GMT-4 16:21 Geometry, Mesh Version 4.2a 9 Replies

Alfredo Gutierrez
Send Private Message Flag post as spam

Please login with a confirmed email address before reporting spam

Hello,

I am fairly new to COMSOL, but am wondering if there is a quick way to import a 3D model from solidworks, let's say a valve, and be able to generate the "empty" space within the valve, which will then be meshed and studied using the laminar flow and heat transfer studies? Or would I have to generate the "empty" space within solidworks and then import that into COMSOL for meshing and analysis?

Thank you in advance for your time and replies.

Regards,
Alfredo
9 Replies Last Post 2013年4月18日 GMT-4 18:46
Sri Puranam
Send Private Message Flag post as spam

Please login with a confirmed email address before reporting spam

Posted: 1 decade ago 2013年4月17日 GMT-4 18:21
I have the same issue. I was not able to find any simple solutions. My suggestions are:

1) If possible re-create the geometry in COMSOL. I have found that it is way easier to mesh a solid created in COMSOL as opposed to an imported solid.

2) If you cannot re-create the geometry in COMSOL, make the "fluid-solid" in SolidWorks. Creating a "fluid-solid" in COMSOL is not easy for complicated geometries such as a fuel valve.

Sri.
I have the same issue. I was not able to find any simple solutions. My suggestions are: 1) If possible re-create the geometry in COMSOL. I have found that it is way easier to mesh a solid created in COMSOL as opposed to an imported solid. 2) If you cannot re-create the geometry in COMSOL, make the "fluid-solid" in SolidWorks. Creating a "fluid-solid" in COMSOL is not easy for complicated geometries such as a fuel valve. Sri.
Alfredo Gutierrez
Send Private Message Flag post as spam

Please login with a confirmed email address before reporting spam

Posted: 1 decade ago 2013年4月17日 GMT-4 19:00
Hi Sri,

Thank you for the reply. I will go ahead and try to create the "fluid-solid" in solidworks and import that into COMSOL.

Regards,
Alfredo
Hi Sri, Thank you for the reply. I will go ahead and try to create the "fluid-solid" in solidworks and import that into COMSOL. Regards, Alfredo
Jim Freels mechanical side of nuclear engineering, multiphysics analysis, COMSOL specialist
Send Private Message Flag post as spam

Please login with a confirmed email address before reporting spam

Posted: 1 decade ago 2013年4月17日 GMT-4 20:56
If you have the CAD import module, then you have all that you need to generate the fluid domain within the void space of the solidworks geometry. If is necessary to use the "caps" feature, which turns out, is also part of the CAD import module. So, unless you have the CAD import module, you will not see the "caps" feature. It is really easy to use. You "cap" off the flow areas in/out of the solid domains, and then a new "fluid" domain is created within. Sometimes you may need to "clean up" the newly created fluid region depending on how smooth the wall features of the solid are. Once this is done, you can then mesh the new fluid region and do you analysis.
If you have the CAD import module, then you have all that you need to generate the fluid domain within the void space of the solidworks geometry. If is necessary to use the "caps" feature, which turns out, is also part of the CAD import module. So, unless you have the CAD import module, you will not see the "caps" feature. It is really easy to use. You "cap" off the flow areas in/out of the solid domains, and then a new "fluid" domain is created within. Sometimes you may need to "clean up" the newly created fluid region depending on how smooth the wall features of the solid are. Once this is done, you can then mesh the new fluid region and do you analysis.
Alfredo Gutierrez
Send Private Message Flag post as spam

Please login with a confirmed email address before reporting spam

Posted: 1 decade ago 2013年4月17日 GMT-4 21:20
James,

How would I know if I have the CAD import module? That sounds like a silly question, but I only ask because I was able to import a parasolid file, but I do not see the "caps" feature. I may just not have the import module, but is there an easy check to see if I do have it?

Regards,
Alfredo
James, How would I know if I have the CAD import module? That sounds like a silly question, but I only ask because I was able to import a parasolid file, but I do not see the "caps" feature. I may just not have the import module, but is there an easy check to see if I do have it? Regards, Alfredo
Ivar KJELBERG COMSOL Multiphysics(r) fan, retired, former "Senior Expert" at CSEM SA (CH)
Send Private Message Flag post as spam

Please login with a confirmed email address before reporting spam

Posted: 1 decade ago 2013年4月18日 GMT-4 01:12
Hi

the CAP normally appears in the first section under "import" but only for 3D and when you have imported a CAD part of appropriate graphics Kernel, at least working with SolidWorks and Parasolid files imports

--
Good luck
Ivar
Hi the CAP normally appears in the first section under "import" but only for 3D and when you have imported a CAD part of appropriate graphics Kernel, at least working with SolidWorks and Parasolid files imports -- Good luck Ivar
Alfredo Gutierrez
Send Private Message Flag post as spam

Please login with a confirmed email address before reporting spam

Posted: 1 decade ago 2013年4月18日 GMT-4 10:38
Hi Ivar,

Thank you for clarifying. I will take a look and see if I have this feature. I hope I do in fact have it, as it sounds like it would make creating the "fluid-solid" a lot easier.

Regards,
Alfredo
Hi Ivar, Thank you for clarifying. I will take a look and see if I have this feature. I hope I do in fact have it, as it sounds like it would make creating the "fluid-solid" a lot easier. Regards, Alfredo
Jim Freels mechanical side of nuclear engineering, multiphysics analysis, COMSOL specialist
Send Private Message Flag post as spam

Please login with a confirmed email address before reporting spam

Posted: 1 decade ago 2013年4月18日 GMT-4 14:38
From memory, because my comsol is running right now ...

Click help button, about comsol, show licenses

You need to purchase cad import module separately. You need the cad import kernel to have the caps feature.

If your geometry is simple enough, you may be able to use boolean operators to difference, interrsect, etc. to retrieve the empty inside of an object.
From memory, because my comsol is running right now ... Click help button, about comsol, show licenses You need to purchase cad import module separately. You need the cad import kernel to have the caps feature. If your geometry is simple enough, you may be able to use boolean operators to difference, interrsect, etc. to retrieve the empty inside of an object.
Alfredo Gutierrez
Send Private Message Flag post as spam

Please login with a confirmed email address before reporting spam

Posted: 1 decade ago 2013年4月18日 GMT-4 18:03
James,

It turns out I do have the option of cap faces!! However, once the faces are capped, how can I remove the rest of the domain, so as to only keep the "fluid-solid?"

Regards,
Alfredo
James, It turns out I do have the option of cap faces!! However, once the faces are capped, how can I remove the rest of the domain, so as to only keep the "fluid-solid?" Regards, Alfredo
Alfredo Gutierrez
Send Private Message Flag post as spam

Please login with a confirmed email address before reporting spam

Posted: 1 decade ago 2013年4月18日 GMT-4 18:46
James,

Actually, I think I figured it out.

Thank you and everyone else for all of your help, I really appreciate it!!

Regards,
Alfredo
James, Actually, I think I figured it out. Thank you and everyone else for all of your help, I really appreciate it!! Regards, Alfredo

Note that while COMSOL employees may participate in the discussion forum, COMSOL® software users who are on-subscription should submit their questions via the Support Center for a more comprehensive response from the Technical Support team.

Suggested Content