SolidWorks Simulation

SOLIDWORKS Simulation is an integrated engineering analysis tool that enables engineers to perform finite element analysis (FEA) directly within the SOLIDWORKS CAD environment. Developed by Dassault Systèmes, it allows design teams to evaluate structural performance without exporting models to separate simulation software.

Because the simulation tools are embedded inside SOLIDWORKS, engineers can quickly test design ideas, apply loads and boundary conditions, and analyze how parts or assemblies behave under real-world conditions. There is no file translation step, no separate interface to learn, and no version mismatch between the CAD geometry and the simulation model.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation supports several common engineering analyses including stress analysis, vibration studies, fatigue prediction, and thermal simulations. This allows product development teams to identify design weaknesses early and reduce reliance on costly physical prototypes.

The software uses a tiered structure designed to match capability to user needs without requiring every team member to carry the same license. SimulationXpress ships free with every SOLIDWORKS seat and handles basic single-body static analysis. Simulation Standard adds fatigue and assembly-level studies. Simulation Professional extends into thermal, frequency, buckling, and pressure vessel analysis.

Simulation Premium, the top tier, adds nonlinear analysis, dynamic loading, and composite material simulation, offering capability that approaches the lower end of what dedicated FEA solvers provide.

Because of this range, SOLIDWORKS Simulation is widely used by mechanical engineers and product development teams who want to integrate design validation into the same CAD environment rather than managing a separate simulation toolchain alongside it.

Key Features

• Static stress and strain analysis with factor of safety calculation for standard structural design validation
• Thermal analysis covering conduction, convection, and radiation heat transfer scenarios
• Frequency and modal analysis for natural vibration mode identification
• Fatigue analysis with high-cycle and variable amplitude loading support
• Buckling and instability analysis for slender structures under compressive loads
• Nonlinear analysis for large deformation and advanced material behavior (Premium)
• Composite material simulation with ply orientation and layup optimization (Premium)
• Motion analysis for time-based and event-driven mechanism simulation
• Topology optimization for lightweighting within existing design envelopes
• Offloaded simulation to run studies on a networked machine while the workstation remains free for parallel design work

Best For

Mechanical engineers working in SOLIDWORKS who want to validate stress, thermal, fatigue, and motion behavior as part of the standard design iteration process without the overhead of a dedicated simulation environment, a separate solver license, or a specialist analyst on the team.

Particularly well suited to product development teams where design and validation happen in short iterative cycles and where the ability to run a study immediately after a geometry change matters more than solver depth at the extreme end of nonlinear analysis.

Who It's Not For

Simulation specialists and engineering analysts whose work demands the nonlinear depth, advanced contact modeling, and solver precision of dedicated tools such as ANSYS Mechanical or Abaqus. SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium overlaps with the lower end of those platforms, but complex crash, impact, highly nonlinear material, and multiphysics workflows belong in purpose-built simulation environments.

Teams without an existing SOLIDWORKS CAD license will also find the tool inaccessible, as it runs exclusively as an integrated add-in and is not available as a standalone application.

Platform

• Windows desktop only, running as an integrated add-in inside SOLIDWORKS.
• No standalone application, no macOS support, and no browser-based access.
• Offloaded simulation available across a local network domain for parallel solving on a separate machine.

Pricing

Tiered add-in pricing purchased separately from the base SOLIDWORKS CAD license.

Simulation Standard starts at $4,195 with an annual subscription service of $995 covering support and upgrades.

Simulation Professional and Premium are priced progressively higher through authorized resellers, with exact pricing varying by reseller and region.

A free 7-day trial of Simulation Premium is available through certified resellers without installation.

Pros

• Seamless integration with SOLIDWORKS with no file export, format translation, or interface switching required
• Associative CAD geometry means design changes propagate to simulation studies automatically without manual model updates
• Tiered structure lets teams start with Standard and expand capability without switching tools as requirements grow
• Large user community with extensive tutorials, certified training programs, and reseller-backed support
• Offloaded simulation frees the workstation for parallel design work during long solves
• Results reliable enough for the linear static and thermal analyses that cover the majority of industrial engineering use cases

Cons

• Requires an active SOLIDWORKS CAD license and is not available as a standalone simulation product
• Solver depth below ANSYS Mechanical and Abaqus for complex nonlinear and multiphysics problems
• Windows only with no cross-platform support
• Meshing tools less sophisticated than dedicated pre-processors such as HyperMesh or ANSYS Meshing
• Premium tier pricing approaches standalone simulation tool costs without matching their full solver capability at the high end

Rating

⭐ 4.3 / 5

Editorial Take

SOLIDWORKS Simulation is a practical solution for design engineers who want to perform structural validation as part of the standard product development process. While it does not replace high-end simulation platforms for specialist analysis work, it significantly lowers the barrier to testing and refining designs before physical prototypes are built.

Alternatives

ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, Simcenter 3D, SimScale, Fusion 360 Simulation, Autodesk Nastran

Used In

• Mechanical product design and development

• Consumer electronics structural validation

• Industrial machinery component analysis

• Automotive part and assembly testing

• Medical device design verification

• Aerospace structural concept validation

• Consumer goods manufacturing

Founded

1995 (as part of SolidWorks)