Multi-Physics Simulations

Multi-physics simulation is one of SIMCenter research focuses. Using state-of-the-art methods and sophisticated software, researchers can model and accurately represent complex and multi-disciplinary systems (e.g., mechanical, aerospace, biomedical, etc). These simulation tools play a key role in the design and analysis of such systems by reducing experimental testing and prototyping costs, broadening the design space, and shortening the design cycle. 

Featured Projects:

Aerodynamically Induced Automobile Hood Lift and Vibration Prediction 

Project Sponsor: Honda R&D Americas, Inc. 

The pursuit for improved fuel economy drives automobile designers to reduce the hood thickness and weight. At the same time, the structure needs to meet other design objectives such as structural integrity and tight deformation margins. This motivated the development and implementation of a high-fidelity fluid-structure interaction tool to use in the design and analysis of automobiles. 

Researchers have developed a multi-physics (coupled aerodynamics-structural dynamics) simulation framework to predict automobile hood lift and vibration in high speed environments representative of typical highway conditions. This simulation tool enables engineers to better understand the interactions between the structure and external flow. Similarly, this predictive capability can be used early in the design stage to evaluate the hood performance before any physical prototypes are manufactured.