Import 2D geometry for PDE solver from CAD

Hello everybody,

I want to solve a 2D PDE based heat transfer problem but I am having issues importing the geometry. I have an assembly in SolidWorks composed of many parts, I can export it as STL or STEP but they are both 3D files formats. The import in MatLab works fine and I can even plot the 3D model, but I cannot find a way to reduce it to 2D. Note that the assembly as well as all the parts making up the model are axisymmetric (thus the "need" to solve a 2D problem).

Does anybody know if there is a way to maybe slice up the model in MatLab and just select the section? Or maybe can I import a native 2D file such as DXF in place of STL/STEP?

My desire to reduce the model from 3D to 2D is to symplify the problem and reduce the computational time, as well as to more clearly display results. Any help is appreciated!

Answer 1

[Yatharth]

Hi Francesco,

I understand that you want to import a 2D geometry from Solidworks to MATLAB.

You can refer to the following solution in Solidworks to export a 2D stl.

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/1463229-2d-stl-import-from-solidworks?s_tid=answers_rc1-3_p3_Topic

MATLAB cannot read or write DXF files however there are several files on the MATLAB Central File Exchange which allow basic DXF file functionality. For more information, please visit the following URL:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/66632-dxftool

I hope this helps!