Refine Your Model and Iterate

After you have run initial simulations to determine the basic motion of your model, you can refine your model by adding more complexity to it, such as adding friction between bodies and defining control systems using linear or general state equations. You can also enhance its realism by changing rigid bodies to flexible bodies or joints to flexible connectors.

To help you compare alternative designs, you can build in parameters that change automatically as you change your model. The parameters can be defined using:

Design points- Design points allow you to build automatic parameterization between objects, as well as position and orient objects. They help you explore the effects of the geometry and mechanical layout of your model. When you change the position of a design point, the position of all objects defined relative to it automatically change.

Design variables- Design variables allow you to vary any aspect of a modeling object. For example, you can define a variable for the width of a link or for the stiffness of a spring. You can then run a design study that changes a single variable over a range of values to investigate the sensitivity of the design to changes in this variable.

Optimize Your Model

ADAMS/View provides tools that help you find the optimal design for your mechanical system:

(1) Design of experiments- Helps you to understand which design variables have the greatest impact on a design objective.

(2) Optimization- Helps you find an optimal design. You define the design objective and specify the parameters of the model that can change.

These tools automatically run several simulations, varying one or more modeling variables with each new simulation.

1.1.5 Customize and Automate ADAMS/View

You can customize ADAMS/View so that it works and looks the way you want it to and mimics your design environment. There are four major ways to customize it. You can:

(1) Customize the graphical interface- For example, you can create your own set of menus or dialog boxes.

(2) Automate your work using macros- You can also speed up your work by creating macros to perform complex or repetitive tasks. You can edit the macros to include design variables to further customize and automate the modeling process.

(3) Create your own ADAMS/View executable- The executable you create can read in different ADAMS/View functions and execute commands.

(4) Edit ADAMS/View startup files- You can edit the files that ADAMS/View reads when it first starts. These files can automatically load a model, execute commands, or change menus or dialog boxes.

1.2 Working with the ADAMS/View

This chapter explains how to use the basic features of ADAMS/View.

1.2.1 Starting ADAMS/View

You or your system administrator can customize how you start ADAMS/View and how ADAMS/View looks after you start it.

To start ADAMS/View in Windows:

On the Startmenu, point to Programs, point to ADAMS 12.0, point to AView, and then select ADAMS - View.

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 838