Physical Modeling Tools Handle Hydraulics

June 19, 2006
Efficient modeling and simulation of hydraulic control systems within The MathWorks’ Simulink environment is made possible by SimHydraulics, a new tool that is tightly integrated with MathWorks products for physical modeling and model-based design.

Efficient modeling and simulation of hydraulic control systems within The MathWorks’ Simulink environment is made possible by SimHydraulics, a new tool that is tightly integrated with MathWorks products for physical modeling and model-based design. SimHydraulics enables engineers to develop aerospace, defense, and automotive systems by performing multidomain modeling and simulation. Using the tools together, engineers can develop a wide range of control applications, including automatic transmissions, flight surface actuation, and heavy equipment positioning.

SimHydraulics allows developers of controlled hydraulic systems to model and simulate controllers and plant models together. This ability is critical when the hydraulic actuation system contributes significantly to the dynamics of the control system. SimHydraulics joins SimPowerSystems, SimMechanics, and SimDriveline as the latest physical modeling tool, enabling multidomain modeling and simulation by integrating products for control design and simulation.

SimHydraulics provides engineers with hydraulic building blocks to calculate pressure and flow through standard and non-standard components. It includes capabilities to model and simulate the conversion of hydraulic power into driving torques and forces for mechanical motion, the effects of opening and closing valves, and simple mechanical components. SimHydraulics also provides a library of common hydraulic fluids, so that systems can be quickly modeled.

In addition, SimHydraulics allows designers to develop controllers and perform testing of the physical system model. Engineers are then able to achieve continuous testing and verification throughout the design process, finding design flaws in control system development before implementing with hardware.

SimHydraulics is available immediately for Microsoft Windows, UNIX/Linux, and Macintosh platforms. U.S. list prices start at $4000.

Related Links The MathWorks
www.mathworks.com/products/simhydraulics

About the Author

David Maliniak | MWRF Executive Editor

In his long career in the B2B electronics-industry media, David Maliniak has held editorial roles as both generalist and specialist. As Components Editor and, later, as Editor in Chief of EE Product News, David gained breadth of experience in covering the industry at large. In serving as EDA/Test and Measurement Technology Editor at Electronic Design, he developed deep insight into those complex areas of technology. Most recently, David worked in technical marketing communications at Teledyne LeCroy. David earned a B.A. in journalism at New York University.

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