The need to drastically improve the speed and accuracy of gearbox and driveline Multibody Dynamics (MBD) analysis has been addressed by the release of Dynamic FUSION, developed by Romax Technology.

MBD analysis is a key tool in solving driveline dynamic problems but building multibody models by hand is a technically difficult, time consuming and error-prone process. A single design may require a number of different MBD models to be made with each model being specifically constructed to assess a specific potential driveline dynamic problem. With every model taking days or weeks to generate it is not surprising that MBD analysis is not used to maximum effect in the design process.

As a result, it is often the case that driveline dynamic problems which could have been identified and rectified early in the design process using simulation are only uncovered during prototyping and testing. This leads to remedial solutions that are typically more expensive and less effective than if the design had been “right first time”.

Dr Michael F Platten, Product Manager of Dynamic Simulation at Romax commented: "We are committed to providing customers with solutions which integrate into an overall design and development process, with end-to-end tools designed to address all elements from product planning to manufacturing. Dynamic FUSION is a key component in this strategy.

"Dynamic FUSION is not just about time-saving – impressive though it is; it’s about giving designers and analysts the potential to spend less time model building and running simulations and more time on analysing and acting on the outcomes. This is where the value really makes itself apparent.”

Currently, when MBD is used within the design process, there is the temptation to create much simpler models which are quicker to build and take less simulation time. The danger here is that the results are inaccurate and design decisions based on them are ineffective or worse.

Dynamic FUSION solves these key challenges by enabling MBD users to automatically generate an MBD model at the appropriate level of detail from RomaxDESIGNER or CONCEPT parametric model in a matter of seconds.

Based on the phenomena to be observed, the user selects a frequency range of interest and Dynamic FUSION automatically generates a MBD model of the minimum complexity needed to be accurate for that frequency. The MBD model can then be translated and simulated in widely-used MBD software packages. To assess another mode of behaviour, the user returns to the original model and selects a new frequency range. If a design change is made then a whole new set of models can be exported in just a few minutes.

The advantages of Dynamic FUSION include:

The ability to build on the robust engineering intelligence generated in the CONCEPT and RomaxDESIGNER packages
Enabling more effective use of analysis to support design, leading to better optimised products and significantly reduced development cycles
Maximising the utilisation of specialist engineering resources
Allowing users to rapidly and efficiently iterate engineering design changes as a result of MBD analysis, using CONCEPT and RomaxDESIGNER as model generator for MBD analysis
"Alongside RomaxDESIGNER and CONCEPT, Dynamic FUSION is enabling a seamless design and development environment from planning through to production, providing the user with an intelligent and optimised multibody model development system," Dr Michael Platten concluded.