Modeling And Simulation Software for Electric Vehicle Design
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Modeling And Simulation Software for Electric Vehicle Design
By evACAD
We have put together groupings of modeling and simulation software for electric vehicle design that have become de-facto automotive industry toolchains. Read more...
last updated
September 20, 2023
One of the first questions we get from prospective students is about the EV design tools and modeling software that they will learn and get to use in our Applied EV Design & Integration training program. The thing is that learning to use MATLAB / Simulink and other such tools is a good skill, but the real learning outcome we provide is to show our learners how MATLAB is actually used in the automotive industry.
Many of these have become complete tool chains addressing various CAD/CAE aspects like 3D modeling, meshing, finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), heat transfer and thermal analysis, electromagnetic analysis, 1D system modeling and analysis, model-based embedded controls development, power electronics modeling and analysis, etc.
In this list, we have put together groupings of modeling and simulation software for electric vehicle design that have become de-facto automotive industry toolchains.
1. CATIA
Company : Dassault Systèmes
Category : CAD
Description:
CATIA (Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application) is a multi-platform software suite developed by Dassault Systèmes.
Powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud platform, CATIA provides a comprehensive set of tools for creating and editing 3D models, performing virtual simulations, and generating engineering drawings.
Key features of CATIA include part and assembly design, generative shape design, kinematics and motion analysis, finite element analysis (FEA) and simulation, and modules for computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).
2. Solidworks
Company : Dassault Systèmes
Category : CAD
Description :
SOLIDWORKS is another computer-aided design (CAD) software, also developed by Dassault Systèmes. It has a set of tools for creating 3D models, assemblies, and drawings.
Key features are 3D modeling, assembly design, drawing and documentation, simulation and analysis, sheet metal design, rendering and visualization, and CAM integration.
Category : CAE Suite - FEA, CFD, thermal, NVH, etc.
Description :
SIMULIA Abaqus Unified FEA (Finite Element Analysis) software is used for simulating and analyzing the behavior of structures and materials. It enables you to simulate real-world scenarios and evaluate the performance, durability, and safety of products and designs.
Key features are simulation of complex physical phenomena, including structural mechanics, nonlinear materials, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and multiphysics simulations.
Modelica is an object-oriented language designed for modeling and simulation of physical systems. Dymola (Dynamic Modeling Laboratory) is a complete tool for modeling and simulation of integrated and complex systems.
Dymola provides a graphical environment for building and simulating models using Modelica, with a wide range of pre-built component libraries that enable easy creation of models by dragging and dropping components and connecting them together.
Key features are ability to handle large-scale, multi-domain models efficiently. Advanced features include parameter optimization, sensitivity analysis, and model calibration.
These are software tools developed by MathWorks. MATLAB (MATrix LABoratory) is a high-level programming language and development environment. Simulink, an extension of MATLAB, is a graphical simulation and model-based design environment that allows users to visually create and simulate dynamic systems using block diagrams. Simscape is a physical modeling and simulation tool in MATLAB and Simulink.
Common use cases for EV simulation done using MATLAB, Simulink and Simscape include development of active chassis controls, electric powertrain architectures, validation of ADAS algorithms, regenerative braking algorithms tuning, optimization of vehicle performance, suspension design modifications, and HIL testing.
Download customizable vehicle templates for use with Simscape: Mathworks.com
6. MATLAB Coder
Company : MathWorks
Category : Controller Model Based Development
Description :
MATLAB Coder, which used to be Real-time Workshop, generates and executes C or C++ code from MATLAB code. The C, C++ and HDL (Hardware Description Language) code can be generated for different hardware platforms ranging from desktop systems to embedded hardware.
It can be used on microcontrollers, DSPs (Digital Signal Processors), FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays), and more. It can be integrated with other software development tools and workflows, to build larger applications and systems. You can also use MATLAB Coder for verifying and validating the generated code, to ensure it meets the required safety and performance standards.
Category : CAD + CAE Suite - FEA, CFD, thermal, NVH, etc.
Description :
Simcenter is a complete suite of simulation and testing solutions developed by Siemens Digital Industries Software to help engineers perform advanced simulation, analysis, and testing. It includes a wide range of tools and applications that cover aspects of product development and engineering processes across different industries.
Key features include multidisciplinary simulations that allow engineers to analyze how different aspects of a product interact with each other, such as how structural, thermal, and fluid dynamics aspects affect the overall performance. Simcenter offers industry-specific solutions and product lifecycle simulation. It also offers real-time simulation for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and validation of control systems.
Simcenter AMESim, developed by Siemens Digital Industries Software, is a simulation software solution specifically designed for modeling and simulating multi-domain mechatronic systems. It allows design engineers to virtually assess and optimize the systems’ performance
Capabilities of Simcenter AMESim include simulation of electrical, fluid, mechanical, thermal and propulsion system simulation. Features include reduced-order model creation, and system simulation model management and integration
Learn more about Simcenter AMESim here: Siemens.com
9. MSCOne
Company : MSC Software
Category : CAE Suite - FEA, CFD, thermal, NVH, etc.
Description :
MSCOne (MSC Software One) gives you access to a wide range of simulation and modeling software applications developed by MSC Software, which is a subsidiary of Hexagon. MSC Software is one of the oldest FEA companies with products going back decades. You get access to all of it through the MSC token licensing system under MSCOne.
MSCOne includes access to solutions for finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), multibody dynamics, and more. Features include flexible licensing, scalability as per your organization’s size, and reduced costs and hassles of software procurement and integration since you get access to all the CAE software needed.
MSC Adams is multibody dynamics simulation software developed by MSC Software. It is designed for simulating and analyzing the dynamics of mechanical systems. Adams allows engineers and designers to simulate the motion and behavior of rigid and flexible bodies, joints, contacts, and constraints. This enables the simulation of deformations and vibrations in structures like beams, cables, and hoses.
Capabilities include noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) analysis. It can simulate the realistic motion of complex mechanical systems such as vehicles, machinery, and robotics. Adams can also integrate control systems into the simulation, and be used to perform durability and fatigue analysis.
Category : CAD + CAE Suite - FEA, CFD, thermal, NVH, etc.
Description :
SimLab is a process-oriented multidisciplinary simulation environment to accurately analyze the performance of complex assemblies. HyperWorks enables you to produce robust designs that accurately model structures, mechanisms, fluids, electromagnetics, electrical, embedded software, systems design and manufacturing processes.
SimLab provides tools for model preparation, meshing, and result post-processing. Features include CAD Coupling, design of experiments (DOE), and optimization. HyperWorks capabilities include applications like HyperMesh for meshing, OptiStruct for structural analysis and optimization, AcuSolve for CFD, and many others. It also includes tools for data management and collaboration, making it a complete solution for engineering teams.
Learn more about SimLab and HyperWorks: Altair.com
12. Activate
Company : Altair
Category : 1D Dynamic Modeling
Description :
Altair Activate is an integration platform for system-of-systems simulation. It allows multiphysics analysis throughout the development cycle through a hybrid block diagram modeling environment for signal blocks, object oriented physical components, and electric and electronics systems.
Capabilities include system modeling, multi-disciplinary simulation, a library of pre-built components and models, control system design, signal processing, real-time simulation for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and validation of control systems, co-simulation after integration with other simulation tools such as Simulink, model optimization, and post-processing and analysis.
Altair Embed is a tool for nonlinear simulation and model-based firmware development. You can design, analyze, and simulate using block diagrams and state charts.
Capabilities include dynamic system modeling, multi-domain simulation, control system design, graphical modeling, real-time simulation, co-simulation, model customization and optimization, and analysis and post-processing of simulation results.
Category : CAE Suite - FEA, CFD, thermal, NVH, etc.
Description :
ANSYS is engineering simulation software that has a set of simulation tools and capabilities to solve complex engineering problems. It can be used for structural analysis, fluid dynamics, electromagnetics, multiphysics, system-level simulation, and for optimization and design exploration. Ansys Autonomous Vehicle Simulation solutions enable you to optimize intelligent headlamp and sensor units and test them.
It supports simulation methods such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD), including finite element analysis (FEA) and electromagnetic analysis.
Category : CAE Suite - FEA, CFD, thermal, NVH, etc.
Description :
GT Suite offers engineers functionalities ranging from fast concept design to detailed system or sub-system / component analyses, design optimization, and root cause investigation.
Features include simulations of large systems, distributed computing, DOE and optimization, fusion of 1D and 3D simulation, imports of solid models from CAD to create 1D and 3D models, and embedded 3D CFD and 3D FE thermal / structural modeling.
