I am performing a static load simulation on an assembly of mixed parts (sheet metal/volume, 170 parts) on which I would like to parameterize the contacts at the level of certain parts to take into account the assembly by screws.
Solidworks applies the bonded contact on all parts by default.
All the screws have been removed from my assembly to lighten the whole and avoid collisions due to the crimped elements.
So I only have holes and hexagonal impressions.
First, I wonder about the function to use, which is logically ''Connections'', but we can also define connectors with ''Imposed displacements'' and the anchor bolt function.
Secondly, concerning the contacts, if I apply a contact at the level of the 2-piece holes, there will be this contact plus the integral contact which will take over the first one.
So I have to remove the integral contact, the problem is that it removes it on all the parts of the assembly.
Does this mean that I have to specify the contacts on all the other parts again??
Thirdly, how should we select the surfaces to be contacted?
Do you just have to select the holes for each part or do you have to make dividing lines that represent the support surface of the screws?
Before you start building a 170-piece package, I think you should get your hands on a 2 or 3-piece file. You will be able to do quick tests and better assimilate the differences between connectors, contact, connection, mesh...
The "imposed displacements" allow you to ensure the stability of your static model but also to add constraints, sometimes even without any loading. Let's imagine that you have a beam recessed at one end. You know that at the end it has an XXmm deflection and you want to know the constraints or the applied loads. You will therefore have to apply an imposed displacement of XXmm.
The "connectors" allow you to add hypotheses and equations about the possible movements between components. This allows you to simulate your screws and extract the mechanical forces in the screws. Use in moderation because the connectors add computing time.
The "contacts" allow you to define certain criteria for meshing and moving the parts between them. You have the "contact between components" which allow you to select entire components of the same type. And the "contact between sets" which allows you to select component faces even in a mixed mesh. If your "Global contact" is "solidary", indeed any other contact is useless. Because by "solidarity" we must understand that the mesh maker considers the whole as one and the same part.
In your case you should certainly use a global contact "no penetration" and then you add contacts between solidarity and / or connections...