Название: Digital Twin Development: An Introduction to Simcenter Amesim
Автор: Frank U. Rückert, Michael Sauer, Tuomo Liimatainen
Издательство: Springer
Год: 2023
Страниц: 129
Язык: английский
Формат: pdf (true), epub
Размер: 37.4 MB

Creating a digital twin should be easy and intuitive. This book presents twins from different technical fields and describes in detail how to build them. The book is aimed at students or young engineers who want develop and modify the twins without much prior knowledge. The use of the free software tool Simcenter Amesim is introduced. Simcenter Amesim belongs today to the industry standard for the development of digital twins. This program was chosen because it is easy to learn and does not require deep mathematical knowledge or programming skills. We start by creating a simple calculator, then model, for example, mechanical twins such as falling balls, ventilation and tank systems, pipelines, or a solar collector. The physical background is explained for each simulation example, and each simulation example concludes with suggestions for further work. This enables the reader to perform further investigations and exercises with the digital twins.

During creating the so-called digital twins, we wanted to introduce the simulation tool Simcenter Amesim, which can be used to simulate the behavior of systems. The software we use is from Siemens PLM Software. A free-of-charge demo version can be installed without much effort on Microsoft Windows or Linux systems. Working on Apple operation systems, one can use the program via a virtual private network (VPN) connection. Of course, this is less convenient. The software tool contains a ready-made library, including smaller models to simulate pneumatic, hydraulic, thermal, electrical, and mechanical behavior. It additionally includes a theoretical library for signals, mathematics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), e.g. artificial neural networks (ANN) or reduced order modeling (ROM).

We will explain the basic functions and how to start modeling with this software tool. It is considered as a multi-domain software, meaning that all the different physical domains can be linked with each other or with the signal library. The software offers the possibility of simulating systems without the need for computer-aided design (CAD) geometry, but 3D geometries can be added and controlled by the models if this is needed. These models can also be printed with a 3D printer. In former times, small models made of wood or clay were built to study the behavior of systems. Today, our students are fascinated by 3D printing, which plays a similar role. The driver is similar to that of the petroglyphs, and is why we use it for a clearer understanding.

The usable symbols for the different libraries in Simcenter Amesim are partly standard symbols defined and therefore easy to recognize. The software allows it to interact with other programs such as Excel or MATLAB/Simulink. One big advantage is, if compared, for example, with Simulink. Many industrial models are already finished and can be used as reference cases from the onset.

The digital twin is a virtual replica consisting of data and algorithms of a real object or product. This replica can be a model, a simulation, or even an algorithm that emulates the behavior of real objects. this offers the advantages of testing and simulating systems and products in advance. Parameters of the virtual image are set and tested, the results can be output and parameters can be adjusted quickly. The goal is to simplify planning and thus save time and costs.

At the beginning of this book, we introduce the handling of the program Simcenter Amesim. It was chosen because it is easy to learn and no deep mathematical skills or programming knowledge is necessary. It can be used by students free of charge. We started with the creation of a simple pocket calculator, with which they can perform first mathematical calculations. In the individual chapters, digital twins from different, technical fields are presented and developed. The authors have chosen to divide them into mechanical, thermal, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric twins. For example, simple models of ventilation and tank systems or a solar collector are modeled. The combination of digital twins with artificial intelligence is also presented. The combination of digital twins with artificial intelligence is also presented. In the last chapter, it is shown how a simple artificial neural network (ANN) of the behavior of a frog is modeled and how this can be used to control the digital twins. In the last chapter, it is shown how a simple artificial neural network of the behavior of a frog is modeled and how this can be used to control the digital twins.

Contents: