TECHNIQUES TO INCORPORATE MULTIBODY SOLVERS INTO MULTIPHYSICS APPLICATIONS

The traditional role of multibody dynamics has been in the analysis of existing designs to address problems or failures. The use of multibody tools to do virtual prototyping is now changing the role of multibody codes forcing them to become part of the design phase. The need for digital prototypes has produced the need for complete digital mock-ups to replace physical testing. In a virtual prototype environment the multibody dynamics solver is now is one part of a larger simulation environment, which includes other physics solvers. Multibody solvers may now have to simulate in concert with software used to model control systems or hydraulics. This increased use of multibody dynamics solvers in a multiphysics or multidomain application will only continue to grow. This is particularly true in the automotive industry where vehicles are being continually updated with intelligent systems. Intelligent systems usually take the form of an active control system used to control some aspect of the mechanisms motion. Commonly, the control system is not simulated with the same solver as the multibody system. Multibody solvers are focused on the solution of 3D mechanisms that are formulated with a set of differential- algebraic equations of motion while other physic solvers might only represent 1D equations of motion, which may or may not be formulated as a set of differential-algebraic equations. This paper will review current techniques to incorporate multibody solvers into a multiphysics application. A model of industrial scope will be used to demonstrate the process.