DEM Solutions announces new EDEM co-simulation solutions with three leading multi-body dynamics (MBD) software packages: MathWorks Simulink, Siemens LMS Virtual.Lab Motion and MSC Adams.
The new co-simulation capabilities:
- Allow manufacturers of heavy equipment to gain better insight into machine-material interaction
- Provide capability to model and visualize dynamics of equipment movement and examine how loads exerted by bulk materials are distributed throughout the mechanical system
Richard LaRoche, DEM Solutions VP of Engineering & Software Development, comments, "Our customers designing heavy construction, mining and agricultural equipment have been looking to expand EDEM’s capabilities to integrate with MBD tools to gain crucial insight into machine-material interaction. Being able to predict the loads and forces acting on equipment is the key to optimizing equipment performance and durability.
"Without EDEM, design engineers have to rely on 'rules of thumb' and guesswork for the forces exerted by bulk material. EDEM-MBD co-simulation enables engineers to look at equipment interaction with different types of materials and different maneuvers with a high level of fidelity."
EDEM simulates the bulk material behavior and provides a realistic representation of the loads and forces of a wide range of different materials, while the MBD solver controls and produces feedback on the motion of the equipment due to the force and torque imparted by the material. For example, by coupling EDEM and MBD codes, engineers no longer need to estimate how deeply a bucket will penetrate into the ground, or how long a truck body will take to empty. This can now be simulated and incorporated directly into the MBD model.
The EDEM-MBD solutions make use of the EDEM Coupling Interface – a programable interface that enables bi-directional communication between EDEM and other codes. By regularly exchanging information, the interaction between equipment and material can be more accurately modeled. Testing of design variations is performed virtually and the resulting changes in the material interaction are fed back directly to the model.
The new capabilities represent another milestone in 2014 for DEM Solutions as the company pursues a strategy to make EDEM highly integrated with other CAE tools. DEM Solutions aims to works closely with leading CAE software companies to develop co-simulation solutions.
DEM Solutions will also be hosting a number of webinars in early 2015 to introduce each solution. Dates will be announced on the company’s Events Page in due course.
