What’s New in SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation 2026

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation 2026 introduces targeted improvements that strengthen both simulation management and design exploration. Two notable updates in this release—the enhanced Component Explorer and the new Parametric Study Bubble Chart—provide engineers with clearer insight into thermal behavior and more intuitive tools for evaluating design alternatives.

Enhanced Component Explorer for Improved Thermal Insight

The Component Explorer in SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation 2026 has been significantly expanded to offer greater transparency and control in thermal and electronics cooling analyses. Engineers can now access more detailed component-level information directly within the explorer, improving both setup efficiency and result interpretation.

Surface-based heat sources are now summarized with clear visibility into total applied power and combined heat generation. This enhancement simplifies the validation of thermal inputs, particularly in assemblies containing multiple heat-generating components.

The Component Explorer also extends support for two-resistor components. Users can review two-resistor summaries directly within the interface and create these components either manually or by importing data from Excel. This capability reduces setup time and improves consistency when defining detailed electronic components in bulk.

Additional usability improvements include new status indicators that clearly identify which components and bodies actively participate in the simulation. Components can be enabled or disabled directly within the explorer, providing precise control over simulation scope.

A dedicated temperature status column further improves result interpretation by displaying thermal information at the component level. Once the simulation is complete, the final temperature of each component can be reviewed directly within the Component Explorer, making it significantly easier to assess results and compare thermal performance across the model.

New Parametric Study Bubble Chart

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation 2026 also introduces a new bubble chart visualization for parametric studies, offering a more intuitive approach to analysing relationships between design variables and simulation goals.

The bubble chart enables engineers to visualize multiple parameters simultaneously, making trends, correlations, and trade-offs easier to identify than with traditional tabular data. By clearly illustrating how changes in input parameters affect simulation outcomes, this visualization enhances design exploration and supports more informed decision-making during optimization studies.