Hi, welcome to this website! I am Xutao Sun, currently working as a Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. My research focuses on Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) using vibration-based methods. My broader interests include Mechanical and Structural Engineering, the Finite Element Method (FEM), and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This website … Continue reading About me and the website
SAE Chassis Frontal Impact Analysis
The chassis is a major part in any automotive design since it is the structural backbone of various functional systems attached to it and is responsible for carrying loads of different components. Using ANSYS Mechanical to analyse a chassis allows different design configurations to be evaluated efficiently, making it possible to assess stiffness and deformation … Continue reading SAE Chassis Frontal Impact Analysis
Drop Test Simulation using Transient Structural Analysis in ANSYS
This post originates from a project validating the drop test experiment (see Figure 1) in a case study—Analytical and Experimental Study on Drop Test of Electronic Devices (Lamar University, 2021)—using Transient Structural analysis in ANSYS. Figure 1. The drop test set-up. There are several important questions to ask before the simulation: For this drop … Continue reading Drop Test Simulation using Transient Structural Analysis in ANSYS
SolidWorks Learning Resources
This post summarises links to selected eBook-style resources related to SOLIDWORKS CAD and Simulation. These materials are intended solely for educational and informational purposes to support individual learning. Readers are responsible for ensuring that their use of any linked materials complies with applicable copyright laws and the terms of service of the hosting websites. Where … Continue reading SolidWorks Learning Resources
Free Surface in SolidWorks Flow Simulation: A Dam-Break Flow Problem
In this post, we are going to use the free surface option to solve for a dam-break problem. The body of water is initially contained in a region on the left side. Then the water is released suddenly and starts to flow into the empty regions of the tank. Water is free to spill from … Continue reading Free Surface in SolidWorks Flow Simulation: A Dam-Break Flow Problem
Rotating Reference Frames in SolidWorks Flow Simulation: A Ceiling Fan Example
A rotating reference frame is usually used when modelling the flow through a table fan, a blower fan, an impeller, or a ceiling fan as shown in Figure 1. SolidWorks Flow Simulation allows for the use of rotating reference frames within the computational domain. These rotating reference frames can be defined either globally or locally. … Continue reading Rotating Reference Frames in SolidWorks Flow Simulation: A Ceiling Fan Example
A Heat Exchanger in SolidWorks Flow Simulation
We have talked about conjugate heat transfer in a recent post. In this post, we will look at a similar example and perform a steady-state thermal analysis on a copper heat exchanger as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1. Heat exchanger (transparent mode). The heat exchanger is used to transfer heat between air and water. … Continue reading A Heat Exchanger in SolidWorks Flow Simulation
Conjugate Heat Transfer in SolidWorks Flow Simulation
Conjugate heat transfer is the combination of convection and conduction heat exchange. By default, SolidWorks Flow Simulation considers the heat transfer due to convection within a fluid, however, it does not consider conduction through solids. This option must be selected when defining the analysis type in the Wizard (see Figure 2). For example, in this … Continue reading Conjugate Heat Transfer in SolidWorks Flow Simulation
What’s New SOLIDWORKS 2025 – Assembly Design
It has been a while since the last post. Today I would like to share a video I made about SOLIDWORKS 2025. Working with large assemblies in SOLIDWORKS can be challenging, especially when dealing with thousands of components. Efficiently utilizing computer resources and optimizing performance is crucial for a smooth workflow. SOLIDWORKS 2025 introduces several … Continue reading What’s New SOLIDWORKS 2025 – Assembly Design
Note: Random Vibration Analysis Properties in SolidWorks Simulation
Operating Frequency Limits specify the range of the load considered in the simulation. Number of frequency points has the same function in random vibration analysis as in the harmonic study. The solution from the random vibration study for any quantity will feature valleys and distinct peaks with the maximums of the response amplitudes. Random vibration … Continue reading Note: Random Vibration Analysis Properties in SolidWorks Simulation
SolidWorks Simulation: Important Concepts in Random Vibration Analysis
Random vibration analysis is useful in solving complex vibration problems. Examples of non-deterministic loads include: Loads generated on the wheel of a car travelling on a rough road Base accelerations generated by earthquakes The pressure generated by air turbulence Pressure from sea waves or strong wind Random vibration analysis provides probabilistic information about output such … Continue reading SolidWorks Simulation: Important Concepts in Random Vibration Analysis
Xutao Sun 