Simulation & Analysis: Increased User-Friendliness is an Important Point in the New Version of Modelon Impact

Modelon recently launched a new release of Modelon Impact 2021.0, an open, cloud-ready and collaborative modeling platform.

The clear trend in the field of simulation and analysis is that we are moving towards increased simplicity. The time when the CAE field was populated only by deeply knowledgeable experts is beginning to dissolve in favor of solutions that are easier to handle and which provide constructive utilization opportunities for more people in the development teams. I’m not claiming that full efficiency has been achieved in this broadening quite yet, but it is on the way—and software developers such as Modelon are examples of CAE players making powerful moves in this development track.

The company has recently launched a new release of Modelon Impact, version 2021.0. This software suite is an open, cloud-ready and collaborative modeling platform for multiple domains. It is based on the open standards of the Modelica language and everything is sewn together under the umbrella of a single user interface. It is definitely spot-on the overarching easy-to-use trend.

This is excellent in a time when the complexity of what is to be simulated, tested and validated tends to get more complex and demanding both technologically and from a regulatory angle. Keeping the barrier to entry as low as possible is a hallmark of Modelon Impact, with interfaces and solutions where users can access models via a visual “drag-and-drop” interface that enables intuitive insight into the underlying system behavior.

Vehicle Dynamics Library is one of several seamlessly integrated libraries available in the Modelon Impact 2021.0 solution. It provides an open and user-extensible environment for full vehicle and vehicle subsystem analysis. Designed with a hierarchical structure and an extensive library of predefined vehicle components, the configuration of any class of wheeled vehicle—cars, trucks, motorsport vehicles, heavy vehicles—is convenient and straight-forward. The library allows optimization and verification of the design of vehicle systems from the early design phases through control design and implementation.  It is unique in that it provides true multi-body, multi-domain simulation with real-time performance, and model export capabilities allowing distribution across your organization.

Vehicle Dynamics Library is one of several seamlessly integrated libraries available in the Modelon Impact 2021.0 solution. It provides an open and user-extensible environment for full vehicle and vehicle subsystem analysis. Designed with a hierarchical structure and an extensive library of predefined vehicle components, the configuration of any class of wheeled vehicle—cars, trucks, motorsport vehicles, heavy vehicles—is convenient and straight-forward. The library allows optimization and verification of the design of vehicle systems from the early design phases through control design and implementation. It is unique in that it provides true multi-body, multi-domain simulation with real-time performance, and model export capabilities allowing distribution across your organization.

Why Are Solutions Like Modelon’s Needed

Without today’s PLM platforms, development costs would generally be astronomical. But these platforms are there, and digital product realization tools makes it possible to develop products or prototypes, test, verify and build them even before they exist physically. However, there are some pitfalls: you need capable software, environments with good processor capacity and creative product developers. Therefore, PLM and Product Innovation Platforms (PiPs) are needed.

But it doesn’t stop there; without complementary solutions, these platforms would not be as effective as they can be. This is where developers and software actors such as Modelon come into play.

This company is dedicated to “model-based systems engineering” (MBSE)—or as the Modelon chief, Magnus Gäfvert, prefers to formulate it, “model-based system simulation.”

Modelon’s software solutions are based on the open programming language Modelica, which was developed by the Swedish professor Hilding Elmqvist. The language is open, object-oriented and equation-based, and is designed to model complex physical systems that contain, for example, mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, thermal, control, electric or process-oriented sub-components. Furthermore, components and system models are available in open and commercial model libraries.

An Attractive Modelon Strength: Libraries

The latter is a particularly attractive strength of what Modelon is developing. Modelon solutions are available for integration into third-party CAE software products. Their various libraries of ready-made modules for testing systems are licensed to many of the big systems within PLM. Dassault Systèmes uses the technology, but there are many more.

ANSYS is a good example of a specialist company that uses Modelon-driven capabilities. The French ESI Group, which produces virtual prototyping software and services for the manufacturing area, is another. Their subsidiary ESI ITI integrates Modelon’s Modelica-based library into SimulationX, which is a software platform for multiphysics simulation.

Presently, Modelon has developed 17 different libraries. These are mainly focused on the automotive, aerospace, industrial equipment, energy and process industries. Some examples of available libraries are Engine Dynamics, Vehicle Dynamics, Fuel Systems, Electric Power, Fuel Systems and Jet Propulsion.

Johan Windal, product manager, Modelon Impact.

Johan Windal, product manager, Modelon Impact.

Easy Accessibility and Visually Sharp User Experience

Since the models are equation-based and object-oriented, the same model can be used for several analyses—such as dynamic and steady-state simulation, optimization and so on—without the tedious work of implementing the new model.

“When working in Modelon Impact, teams can immediately take advantage of the entire range of Modelon libraries without worrying about updates and licensing. Every department in an entire organization can collaborate and develop from the beginning, and implicitly rely on the same ‘single source of truth’ and thereby reduce miscommunication, last minute corrections and busy work, ” said Modelon’s Johan Windal, product manager for Impact.

He also notes that “what the world needs is an integrated multi-domain physical modeling tool, one that offers an accessible modern user experience.”

That said, most important of all is that Modelon Impact supports the development of custom web apps that are accessible to all users regardless of education and experience. Consultants and sales teams in the field, and even customers, will be able to access complex multi-system simulations as easily as they enter numbers into a calculator or spreadsheet.

Highlights In The 2021.0 Modelon Impact Version

Below are some of Modelon Impact’s 2021.0 highlights, as Windal presents them.

Vehicle Dynamics Library Available

Modelon’s Vehicle Dynamics Library is seamlessly integrated and available in the 2021.0 solution. Users now have access to Modelon’s extensive library, which Windal describes as “world class” and which offers predefined vehicle components related to mechanical design and steering design.

Aircraft Dynamics Library Available

Modelon’s Aircraft Dynamics Library is seamlessly integrated and available with Modelon Impact 2021.0. Users can now use the extensive library of predefined components to design and assess the entire aircraft package, including hybrid electric propulsion concepts, flight dynamics, detailed design and analysis of landing gear and the performance of complex aircraft systems.

Support For Large-Scale Parameter Sweepers

Modelon Impact’s new micro-service architecture enables users to distribute compilation and simulation jobs in a cluster and perform larger simulations faster. Users can benefit from things such as:

  • Experimenting to create experiments, such as to define the sequence, manage experiments and save back to the model.
  • Filtering results, such as a filter with a view or a text pattern to control the size of the result.

API Access Support

With the new version of Modelon, users can connect, program and interact with Modelon Impact using the Python Client Library. By installing the Modelon Impact Python package, users can create and automate custom workflows.

Additional Features And Improvements

  • Improved performance: Good improvements that belong to the standard measures for all updated versions.
  • Fast user interface: Open large models quickly, activated by the new architectural design.
  • Faster compilation: A more efficient compiler.
  • Faster simulation: More efficient code generation.
  • Support for model utilization.
  • Dynamic optimization tool chain upgraded to Python 3.
  • Support for dynamic optimization tool chain for encrypted libraries.
  • Script support for FMU save status.
  • Improved plot function.
  • Explore cause and effect using xy-plot.
  • Compare results between models using pin plot concept.
  • Improved usability.
  • Parameter dialog: Support for changing parameter types.
  • Improved version management: Switch between library versions using a drop-down menu.
  • Imperial units support: Larger set of units to choose from.
  • Support for templates: Configure templates for a more efficient workflow.
  • Export an FMU from the user interface.
  • New icon editor: Create icons for your models; draw or import your own image.
  • New Documentation Editor: Write and embed documentation in your model.