Chapter 1: Getting Started with Finite Element Simulation
This chapter lays the groundwork for what is to come in the later chapters. It gives a high-level discussion of the finite element method (FEM), tracing its historical origin, emphasizing its application, and outlining its implementations. Some of the key concepts regarding FEM (such as discretization, types of elements in FEM, nodes, and more) are briefly highlighted, and a snapshot of the SOLIDWORKS Simulation interface, license, and computing requirements are discussed. To this end, this chapter covers the following major topics:
- An overview of finite element simulation
- Understanding SOLIDWORKS Simulation
- Getting started with the SOLIDWORKS interfaces
- What is new in SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2021–2022?