System Modelling and Simulation using Simulink and Simscape

Modeling and simulation use models to demonstrate a system, and understand their behavior and operation with respect to time and space. Both Simulink and Simscape are heavily used in modeling and simulation as they can develop models and systems across domains.

In Week 1, students will learn about:

• Types of Modeling
• Difference between Simulink and Simscape Modeling
• Simulation Phases in Dynamic Systems
• Simscape Simulation Phases
• Simulink and Simscape Solvers
• Advantages of Simscape over Simulink
• 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D Simulations

Free body diagrams (FBD) illustrate the forces acting on a physical body and/or its components. By using Simulink and Simscape, the forces in a system can be modeled to understand its behavior under different conditions. Instead of representing a model with the mathematics behind it, physical modeling models and simulates systems that have physical components. Physical elements such as pumps and motors are mapped to Simscape blocks.

In Week 2, students will learn about:

• FBD Analysis on Simulink and Simscape Models
• Physical Networks and Simscape
• Physical System Modeling using Simulink and Simscape
• Solving a Two-Mass Problem using Simulink and Simscape

Multi-domain modeling includes a whole model that is composed of models from different domains (For example, electrical, mechanical, and electronic domains). When multi-domain physical models are combined with control processing algorithms, errors can be identified in the initial stages of the design process.

In Week 3, students will learn about

• PID Controllers
• Control Design
• Multi-Domain Modeling (Electrical and Mechanical Components) using Simscape Library Blocks

Multibody models have bodies joined together with joints and constraints. These models also have forces that define their kinematic properties to understand the response of components in the model. CAD models can be imported into the Matlab environment and integrated with CAD modules in Simscape.

In Week 4, students will learn about

• Importing CAD Models
• Assembling Mechanisms - Creating Multibody Model

Physical modeling models and simulates systems that have physical components. Physical elements such as pumps and motors are mapped to Simscape blocks. There are many elements that can be connected to make the system. Elements from different domains can also be added to model a multidomain physical system. Through physical modeling and simulation, we can predict how different systems will behave in the real-world, identify errors, and optimize their performance.

In Week 5, students will learn about

• Concepts of Physical Modeling
• Mechanical Models
• Electrical Models

Hydraulic and thermal liquid block libraries in Simscape are used to factor in their respective effects on a system. Using these blocks, students can build and model fluid systems. Once the model is prepared for analysis by adding sensors for data collection, it can be simulated to log the data.

In Week 6, students will learn about

• Hydraulic Systems - Modeling and Simulation
• Thermal Liquid Systems - Modeling and Simulation