SolidNetics User Manual

1. Getting Started

Prerequisites

Before using SolidNetics, ensure you have:

• A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Valid SolidNetics account
• STL files for your 3D geometry (optional for initial exploration)

First Login

1. Navigate to the SolidNetics login page
2. Enter your credentials
3. You'll be redirected to the Dashboard

2. Dashboard Overview

The Dashboard is your central hub for managing all SolidNetics projects. It provides an overview of your projects, recent activities, and quick access to key features.

Dashboard Layout

• Top Navigation Bar: Access to main sections and user profile
• Project Grid/List View: Toggle between grid and list views
• Filter Options: Filter projects by ownership and status
• Search Functionality: Quick project search
• Create New Project Button: Start new simulations

View Modes

Switch between different project viewing modes:

• Grid View: Card-based layout showing project thumbnails
• List View: Compact list with project details

Project Filtering

• All Projects: View all projects you have access to
• Owned Projects: Projects you created
• Shared Projects: Projects shared with you by others

3. Project Creation

Creating a New Project

1. 1Click the "Create New Project" button on the Dashboard
2. 2Fill in the project details:
   • Project Name: Choose a descriptive name
   • Description: Brief description of your simulation
   • Category: Select appropriate industry/sector
3. 3Click "Create Project" to proceed

Project Cards

Each project is represented by a card showing:

• Project name and description
• Creation date and last modified
• Project status (Draft, Running, Completed, Error)
• Owner information
• Quick action buttons (Edit, Run, Delete)

4. Workbench Interface

The Workbench is where you configure and run your simulations. It provides a comprehensive interface for setting up all simulation parameters.

Workbench Layout

• Left Sidebar: Configuration panels for different simulation aspects
• Main Canvas: 3D visualization of your geometry and mesh
• Top Action Bar: Quick access to run simulation and return to dashboard
• Status Panel: Real-time simulation progress and status

Sidebar Sections

1. 1Settings: Basic project configuration
2. 2Geometry: STL file upload and management
3. 3Materials: Material properties definition
4. 4Boundaries: Boundary condition setup
5. 5Grid: Mesh generation and refinement
6. 6Physics: Physical model configuration
7. 7Numerics: Numerical method settings

5. Materials Configuration

Material Properties

Define the physical properties of materials in your simulation:

Elastic Properties

• Young's Modulus (E): Measure of material stiffness
• Poisson's Ratio (ν): Ratio of transverse to axial strain
• Density (ρ): Mass per unit volume

Material Models

• Linear Elastic: Standard elastic material behavior
• Non-linear Elastic: Advanced material models
• Plastic: Material yielding and permanent deformation

Adding Materials

1. 1Open the Materials panel in the sidebar
2. 2Click "Add Material"
3. 3Enter material name and properties
4. 4Assign materials to geometry regions

6. Boundary Conditions

Types of Boundary Conditions

Boundary conditions define how your model interacts with its environment:

Displacement Boundary Conditions

• Fixed: Zero displacement (clamped)
• Prescribed: Known displacement values
• Roller: Constrained in specific directions

Force Boundary Conditions

• Point Load: Concentrated force at specific points
• Distributed Load: Force spread over an area
• Pressure: Uniform pressure on surfaces

Setting Up Boundary Conditions

1. 1Open the Boundaries panel in the sidebar
2. 2Select the type of boundary condition
3. 3Choose the geometry faces/edges to apply to
4. 4Set the boundary condition values
5. 5Verify the setup in the 3D view

7. Grid Generation

Mesh Types

SolidNetics uses advanced mesh generation techniques:

• Surface Mesh: Triangular elements on model surfaces
• Volume Mesh: Tetrahedral elements for interior
• Adaptive Mesh: Automatic refinement based on solution

Mesh Generation Process

1. 1Upload STL geometry file
2. 2Set global mesh size
3. 3Define local refinements (if needed)
4. 4Generate surface mesh
5. 5Generate volume mesh
6. 6Verify mesh quality

Mesh Parameters

• Global Mesh Size: Base element size for the entire model
• Local Refinement: Smaller elements in critical regions
• Mesh Quality: Element shape and connectivity
• Boundary Layer: Special elements near boundaries

Grid Generator Features

The grid generator automatically:

• Detects and handles complex geometry features
• Optimizes element quality and connectivity
• Provides mesh quality metrics and validation
• Supports adaptive mesh refinement

8. Simulation Setup & Execution

Pre-Simulation Checklist

Before running your simulation, verify:

• ✓ Geometry is properly loaded
• ✓ Materials are assigned
• ✓ Boundary conditions are set
• ✓ Mesh is generated and validated
• ✓ Physics model is configured
• ✓ Numerical parameters are set

Physics Model Configuration

• Analysis Type: Static, Dynamic, Thermal, etc.
• Element Type: Linear, Quadratic, etc.
• Solver Type: Direct, Iterative, PINN-based
• Convergence Criteria: Tolerance and maximum iterations

Running the Simulation

1. 1Click "Run Project" button
2. 2Monitor progress in status panel
3. 3Check for convergence messages
4. 4Wait for completion notification

Simulation Status

Track your simulation progress:

• Initializing: Setting up solver and mesh
• Running: Active computation
• Converging: Solution approaching final result
• Completed: Simulation finished successfully
• Error: Issues encountered during execution

9. Post-Processing & Results

Results Visualization

After simulation completion, analyze your results:

Deformation Results

• Displacement: Total and component-wise deformation
• Strain: Normal and shear strain components
• Stress: Von Mises, principal, and component stresses

Contour Plots

• Color-coded stress/strain distributions
• Deformation magnitude visualization
• Safety factor calculations
• Critical region identification

Post-Processing Tools

1. 1Load simulation results
2. 2Select result type (stress, strain, displacement)
3. 3Choose visualization style
4. 4Adjust color scales and ranges
5. 5Export images and data

Data Export

Export your results in various formats:

• Images: PNG, JPG for presentations and reports
• Data: CSV, TXT for further analysis
• Reports: PDF with comprehensive results summary
• 3D Models: STL with result data for external viewers

10. Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

Mesh Generation Problems

• Poor Quality Elements: Reduce mesh size or refine geometry
• Failed Generation: Check STL file for defects
• Memory Issues: Use coarser mesh or optimize geometry

Simulation Convergence Issues

• Non-convergence: Check boundary conditions and material properties
• Slow Convergence: Adjust solver parameters or mesh quality
• Unstable Results: Verify model constraints and loading

Boundary Condition Problems

• Rigid Body Motion: Ensure proper constraints
• Over-constrained: Check for redundant constraints
• Load Application: Verify force directions and magnitudes

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

1. Check the error messages and logs
2. Review your model setup
3. Consult the validation cases
4. Contact SolidNetics support

Quick Reference