An Integrated Approach for Computer Aided Design in Multibody System Dynamics

Abstract.

In this paper the integration of Solid Modeling CAD (Computer Aided Design) systems within a dynamic simulation environment is described. According to the different multibody formalisms and the computer codes, a general description and an organization of multibody system data are introduced to fulfill the needs of a modular simulation system based upon numerical and symbolical formalisms. With respect to different solid model construction methods, the multibody system components are generated by the extraction of an extended CAD database. A system-independent modeling kernel library is developed from the object-oriented construction of abstract data types and operations. The basic steps and the advantages in this new automated mechanical design chain are demonstrated by examples.