Centerlock FEM in Solidworks?

[Chev]

I'm trying to design centerlock hubs for our upcoming car. I'm presently trying to find out if there is a way to Simulate the preload on the nut and threads of the hub in Solidworks. I know solidworks has bolted connections, but as far as I can tell, I can't apply it to this case. I would also use some Machine Design, to mathematically figure the desired preload, but the equations I'm aware of only apply to situations with a constant force applied on it, where that is not the case in the instance. I read the other threads regarding centerlock but didn't find my answer.

Any help or previous experiences with centerlock would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[Chev]

I'm trying to design centerlock hubs for our upcoming car. I'm presently trying to find out if there is a way to Simulate the preload on the nut and threads of the hub in Solidworks. I know solidworks has bolted connections, but as far as I can tell, I can't apply it to this case. I would also use some Machine Design, to mathematically figure the desired preload, but the equations I'm aware of only apply to situations with a constant force applied on it, where that is not the case in the instance. I read the other threads regarding centerlock but didn't find my answer.

Any help or previous experiences with centerlock would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[Ben K]

I don't know if this is 100% kosher--but sometimes when we had complicated connections in SW, we would create the connection body (the nut in this case), make it rigid, then apply the load directly to the connection body. If you have the contact set correct, it might apply the load you are looking for on the right surfaces.

I doubt it is going to be very accurate, but it might get you in the right ballpark?

Ben