Simulation modeling the release of landing gear on a plane using Easy5. (Image courtesy of MSC Software.)
One of the biggest additions to this release revolves around functional mock-up interfaces (FMIs). This release now supports functional mock-up units (FMUs) for model exchange.
This will help engineers to export their Easy5 models out, as well as import their external models in from other computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools.
Another key addition to the software is the ability to create global configuration parameters. These parameters control the configuration of parts within the system analysis. This tool will make it much easier to optimize and explore the design space of a product by controlling these parameters with design of experiments (DoE).
According to MSC, “The Thermal/Hydraulics Library supplied with Easy5 2017 includes two distinct configurations for many components: the normal default configuration and a ‘reduced order’ configuration. The same model can switch between high fidelity and reduced order with a single command.”
The parameters can also be used to run models in reduced order. One example is the Thermal/Hydraulics Library (HC) in Easy5. Using a global configuration parameter, the model can be switched from high to low fidelity in an effort to free up computational time. MSC reports that other functions will also have this feature so they can be used within an Euler fixed-step integrator.
This will help engineers to use the FMU in other real-time simulators and then compare the accuracy between the full and reduced order model.
According to MSC, “The Thermal/Hydraulics Library supplied with Easy5 2017 includes two distinct configurations for many components: the normal default configuration and a ‘reduced order’configuration. The same model can switch between high fidelity and reduced order with a single command.”
MSC explains that these parameters will give engineers the ability to build simulations of a physical plant to design the controls, verify results and run approximations without making major modifications to the models.
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