A variable-step interaction algorithm for multidisciplinary collaborative simulation

Abstract

Multidisciplinary collaborative simulation is an important technique for the development of complex engineering systems such as aircrafts and automobiles. It emphasizes the synergic collaboration of multidisciplinary computational models, involving the exchange of simulation data generated in parallel at runtime from the numerical integration processes of these models. Current research on the interaction of models in multidisciplinary collaborative simulation is mainly focused on performing data exchange at fixed intervals, i.e. macro time steps, and using interpolation/extrapolation to find out values at the points in time when data are not available. However, the selection of an appropriate size for macro time tends to be complex and iterative. Firstly, it is mostly based on experience rather than the estimation of simulation errors by analyzing the numerical integration processes involved. Moreover, it is hardly possible to select a fixed step size suitable for all the stages of the simulation process. This paper presents a novel variable-step algorithm which is able to adjust the step size automatically at simulation runtime based on the evaluation of truncation errors. This algorithm not only avoids the instability and inaccuracy caused by a fixed large step but also speeds up the simulation by using a smaller step when a large one is not necessary. It is demonstrated in the numerical experiments that the variable-step algorithm can achieve improved simulation performance in terms of both speed and accuracy.

An Accurate Method for Real-Time Aircraft Dynamics Simulation Based on Predictor-Corrector Scheme

“…In addition, Bulatov and Berghe [10] discussed two-step fourthorder methods of the second order and Bresten et al [11] focused on strong stability preserving methods. Seong et al [12] considered the fifth-order multistep method using constant step size and Wang et al [13] discussed the variablestep interaction algorithm for multidisciplinary collaborative simulation. Although these methods attempted to improve the method by varying the order and number of integration steps, very few of them focused on optimizing parameters for a fixed order.…”

Wing Structural Design of a High Altitude Long Endurance Solar-Powered Platform

“…Meanwhile, the large deflection of the wing will lead to geometric nonlinearity and change the structural response. Lastly, the adoption of composite materials and coordinating light structural weight with high specific strength and stiffness is also a serious challenge for structural designing [4].…”

Quantitative optimization of interoperability during feature-based data exchange

“…With the development of economic globalization, CPD (Collaborative Product Development) has become state of the art method in developing product, which involves process simulation and CAD (Computer-Aided design)/CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) systems [76,79,80].…”