Multibody system dynamics interface modelling for stable multirate co-simulation of multiphysics systems

摘要

Many industrial applications benefit from predictive computer simulation to reduce costs and time, and shorten product development cycle. Computational multibody system dynamics formalisms and software tools have proved to be particularly useful in the simulation of machinery and mechanical systems. Nowadays, however, the complexity of the applications under study often makes it necessary to consider the interaction of mechanical systems with other components of different nature, physical behaviour, and time scale, such as hydraulics or electronics. Co-simulation is an increasingly important approach to formulate and solve the dynamics of these multiphysics setups. In these, modelling techniques and solvers that are tailored to the requirements of each subsystem execute in parallel and are coupled via the exchange of a limited number of inputs and outputs at certain communication times. Co-simulation has clear potential in the modelling of complex engineering systems. On the other hand, there are also challenges. The use of co-simulation may compromise the stability of the numerical solution, especially when non-iterative coupling schemes are used.