Can Engineering Simulation Software simulate full systems?
Can Engineering Simulation Software simulate full systems?
(OP)
Hello all,
I have been looking at the websites of various simulation packages, such as the Solidworks Simulation features, ANSYS, COMSOL and LS-DYNA. Although these packages can simulate many different things, it wasn't clear whether these packages can simulate entire systems. All the examples I found on the websites tended to focus on just one physical aspect, such as flow, mechanical stress etc.
For example, I am designing an underwater robot that moves inside pipes. I would like to be able to model the robot in Solidworks, model the control system in MATLAB and Simulink, create a virtual pipe with fluid flowing through it, place the robot model inside the pipe and study how well the control system moves the robot, how the flow of fluid in the pipe affects the robot, how the various actuators in the robot are working etc. Essentially, I want to build and test as much of the robot as possible holistically in software before building physical prototypes.
Is this possible with software packages out there at the moment? If so, are there any which are more "complete" than others? Or are they pretty much similar in their features (like, for example Solidworks and Inventor)?
--Amr
I have been looking at the websites of various simulation packages, such as the Solidworks Simulation features, ANSYS, COMSOL and LS-DYNA. Although these packages can simulate many different things, it wasn't clear whether these packages can simulate entire systems. All the examples I found on the websites tended to focus on just one physical aspect, such as flow, mechanical stress etc.
For example, I am designing an underwater robot that moves inside pipes. I would like to be able to model the robot in Solidworks, model the control system in MATLAB and Simulink, create a virtual pipe with fluid flowing through it, place the robot model inside the pipe and study how well the control system moves the robot, how the flow of fluid in the pipe affects the robot, how the various actuators in the robot are working etc. Essentially, I want to build and test as much of the robot as possible holistically in software before building physical prototypes.
Is this possible with software packages out there at the moment? If so, are there any which are more "complete" than others? Or are they pretty much similar in their features (like, for example Solidworks and Inventor)?
--Amr






RE: Can Engineering Simulation Software simulate full systems?
What you appear to be asking for would involve designing something, then modelling it, and then designing it over.
What most systems engineers do abstracts the design to the basic fundamentals of the problem, and then levies design requirements onto the specific disciplines.
TTFN
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RE: Can Engineering Simulation Software simulate full systems?
Your specific problem adds a layer of complexity in that you also want to run a CFD analysis at the same time. This is an order of magnitude more calculation than is required for the rest, and will have to be repeated for every time step of your model, which I think is going to take years.
As IRstuff implied, what real engineers do is system engineering, so in your case the control system and motion through the water would be analysed by a different model to the stress model, etc.
None of the mickey mouse programs will do what you want.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Can Engineering Simulation Software simulate full systems?
DONT try modelling the entire world in Simulink.
- Steve
RE: Can Engineering Simulation Software simulate full systems?
Fe
RE: Can Engineering Simulation Software simulate full systems?
1) define the required manoeuvres.
2) measure the loads in the actuator shafts caused by those manoeuvres, using CFD.
3) hand those loads over the the structures guys, who will then work out the stresses internal to the machine.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Can Engineering Simulation Software simulate full systems?
Thanks for your advice. Unfortunately, as this is an individual project, I'm not working with experts in the individual fields. Sounds like trying to simulate the entire thing is not going to be practical. I'll look into splitting it all up.
--Amr
RE: Can Engineering Simulation Software simulate full systems?
On top of that you need to consider abuse cases like collisions while it is being lifted out of the water, or if it drives into something. They'll be significantly greater than the control forces.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Can Engineering Simulation Software simulate full systems?
-- MechEng2005