How to Do Thermal Analysis in SolidWorks: Step-by-Step Guide

To do thermal analysis in SolidWorks, first activate the Simulation add-in, then create a new thermal study. Apply thermal loads like heat power or temperature, define material thermal properties, and run the simulation to see temperature distribution and heat flow results.

Syntax

Thermal analysis in SolidWorks follows these main steps:

• Activate Simulation Add-in: Enable the Simulation tool from the Add-ins menu.
• Create Thermal Study: Start a new study and select 'Thermal' as the analysis type.
• Apply Material: Assign materials with thermal properties to your model.
• Set Thermal Loads: Define heat sources, temperature conditions, or convection.
• Mesh the Model: Generate a mesh to divide the model into small elements.
• Run Simulation: Compute the thermal results.
• Review Results: View temperature distribution, heat flux, and thermal gradients.

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1. Enable Simulation Add-in
2. Create New Study > Thermal
3. Assign Material with thermal properties
4. Apply Thermal Loads (Temperature, Heat Power, Convection)
5. Mesh Model
6. Run Simulation
7. View Results (Temperature, Heat Flux)

Example

This example shows how to set up a simple thermal analysis on a metal plate heated on one side and cooled on the other.

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1. Open your part file (metal plate).
2. Enable Simulation add-in via Tools > Add-ins.
3. Click Simulation tab > New Study > select 'Thermal'.
4. Right-click 'Parts' > Apply Material > choose 'Aluminum'.
5. Right-click 'Thermal Loads' > Apply 'Temperature' on one face (e.g., 100°C).
6. Apply 'Convection' on opposite face with ambient temperature (e.g., 25°C) and heat transfer coefficient.
7. Right-click 'Mesh' > Create Mesh.
8. Click 'Run' to start the simulation.
9. After completion, view temperature distribution on the model surface.

Output

Simulation completes successfully showing temperature gradient from 100°C on heated face to near 25°C on cooled face.

Common Pitfalls

• Not assigning correct material thermal properties causes inaccurate results.
• Forgetting to apply boundary conditions like convection or fixed temperatures leads to unrealistic simulations.
• Using too coarse a mesh can miss important temperature gradients.
• Applying thermal loads on wrong faces or missing loads can skew results.
• Ignoring steady-state vs transient study choice; thermal analysis can be time-dependent.

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Wrong way:
- No material assigned
- No thermal loads applied
Right way:
- Assign material with thermal conductivity
- Apply temperature or heat flux loads
- Define convection or radiation if needed

Quick Reference

Remember these tips for smooth thermal analysis in SolidWorks:

• Always assign accurate material thermal properties.
• Choose between steady-state (constant over time) or transient (changing over time) thermal studies.
• Apply all relevant thermal loads and boundary conditions.
• Use mesh refinement in areas with high temperature gradients.
• Validate results by checking physical feasibility.

Key Takeaways

Enable the Simulation add-in and create a thermal study to start thermal analysis in SolidWorks.

Assign materials with correct thermal properties for accurate temperature results.

Apply proper thermal loads like temperature, heat power, and convection boundary conditions.

Use an appropriate mesh size to capture temperature gradients effectively.

Choose steady-state or transient study based on whether temperature changes over time.