DynaFlexPro/Tire, an optional add-on to Maple's DynaFlexPro package for
modelling and simulating the dynamics of mechanical multi-body systems, has
just been released. It allows engineers in the automotive industry, as well
as university teachers and researchers in vehicle dynamics and control, to
incorporate the latest pneumatic tyre models into simulations of vehicle
systems.
Released at the same time, an upgraded version of DynaFlexPro (version 2.3)
is now compatible with Maplesoft's BlockBuilder for Simulink product, which
means that models created in DynaFlexPro can now be automatically converted
to an S-Function block and simulated within Simulink.
DynaFlexPro is a very effective tool for creating efficient models and
simulations of complex mechanical systems, such as mechanisms, robots, and
machinery. It combines graph theory with engineering mechanics in
algorithms that automatically generate the system equations from the system
model. Using Maple’s powerful computer algebra technologies, it creates
small and efficient sets of system equations in symbolic form, which
facilitates viewing, physical insight and sharing.
With DynaFlexPro/Tire, the range of applications is further increased to
include vehicles. The generation of efficient models and real-time
simulations will facilitate the development of new vehicle designs,
including active sub-systems and their electronic controllers.
Kinematic quantities, such as slip angle, longitudinal slip, and
inclination angle, are derived as optimised computational sequences. These
are used by various tyre force models, including Fiala, Calspan and
Pacejka’s magic tyre formula, to determine tyre forces and moments.
Optional features allow the user to control how the tyre slip and rolling
radius are calculated, and to include tyre transients through differential
equations involving relaxation lengths. By generating optimised simulation
code from the symbolic equations, real-time simulations of complex vehicle
models are obtained.
DynaFlexPro and DynaFlexPro/Tire are made available as MapleConnect
applications. MapleConnect is a developer support program that enables
Maple users to commercialise applications that they design and develop
based on Maplesoft products. They can be purchased as downloadable products
from Adept Scientific's WebStore, www.adeptstore.com.
DynaFlexPro, DynaFlexPro/Tire, Maple, BlockBuilder for Simulink and other
products in the Maplesoft range are supplied and supported in the UK,
Ireland, Scandinavia and Finland by Adept Scientific