The Entero Project: Developing a Multifidelity System Modeling Environment for Design Engineers

摘要

To aid engineers in designing complex systems, we are developing a module-oriented, multifidelity, multiphysics system modeling environment. This environment will enable engineers to rapidly analyze the performance of a system and to optimize its design. Physical components of the system are represented in the environment by hierarchical software components called composite modules. The composite modules are linked by ports that transfer and transform data between the components. The composite modules may have models with different fidelities in the same system model, e.g., one module may have a lumped-parameter model and another may have a three-dimensional finite-element model. In a prototype environment for thermal simulation, users can specify thermal radiation models for each system component, embed electrical circuits in each component, and set the external conditions for the system. Users can monitor the thermal and electrical behavior of the system during the simulation. Current development focuses on adding a multifidelity algorithm for thermal conduction, coupling radiation and electrical models, and enhancing support for design optimization.