Frequency Analysis of a PCB Board Using SolidWorks

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are critical in electronic devices, supporting components soldered onto their surface. Vibrations from mechanical systems can jeopardize the solder joints, making frequency analysis essential to ensure operational stability. This blog will demonstrate how to analyze a PCB’s vibration behavior using CAE in SolidWorks. 

Why Perform Frequency Analysis on a PCB? 

When a PCB operates within a mechanical system, vibrations from the system can resonate with the PCB’s natural frequency, causing the solder joints to weaken or fail. By performing frequency analysis, engineers can identify resonant frequencies and take preventive measures. 

Simulation Setup for PCB Frequency Analysis 

Follow these steps for a frequency analysis in SolidWorks: 

• Import the PCB Model: Open the provided PCB geometry in SolidWorks. 
• Assign Materials: PCB Board: Use PBT General Purpose from the Plastics library. 

Microprocessors: Assign Gold. 

Other Components: Apply Alloy Steel. 

Define Connections: 

• Fix the PCB using the screw hole surfaces. 
• Ensure accurate selection of surfaces to avoid errors. 

Mesh the Geometry: Create a mesh with a minimum element size of 2 mm. 

Run the Simulation: The default settings compute the first five frequencies. Observe mode shapes for each resonant frequency. 

Results and Insights 

Resonant Frequencies: 

• First: 40 Hz 
• Second: 56 Hz 
• Third: 116 Hz 

Mode Shapes: 

Visualize the deformation patterns at each frequency to identify potential stress points. 

Preventing Failures 

To avoid damage: 

Ensure the operating frequency of the system does not match the PCB’s resonant frequencies. 

Strengthen solder joints based on stress analysis results. 

Advanced Options in SolidWorks Frequency Analysis 

• Resonant Frequency List: Displays frequencies with corresponding mode shapes. 
• Mass Participation Factor: Highlights the contribution of mass in each mode. 
• Boundary Condition Variations: Allows studying how changes affect vibration behavior. 

Conclusion 

Frequency analysis is a vital step in ensuring the reliability of electronic components. By leveraging CAE simulation tools in SolidWorks, engineers can optimize designs and mitigate failure risks. 

Want to master these techniques? Enroll in the Skill-Lync SolidWorks course for hands-on learning, including projects on SolidWorks simulation step-by-step and CAE tutorials for mechanical engineers. 

Stay tuned for more in our CAE Simulation using SolidWorks series! 

This blog is part of our ongoing CAE Simulation using SolidWorks. If you missed the previous posts, check them out here.  

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