simulation Revving up knowledge through
In the high-octane world of motorbike racing, a balance between simulation and physical testing can be crucial to improved performance, writes Robert Roe
T
he development of motorbikes requires both simulation and physical testing – but it is the knowledge generated through these processes
that is of the biggest benefit to users. It can be used to understand complex unsolved challenges, as well as helping users to develop experience that can be shared across an organisation, thereby driving more efficient development of future projects.
34 SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING WORLD Te development of new vehicles or other
automotive products requires a careful balance between simulation and physical testing, at the very least, to validate the model used for the simulations. While analytical methods for simulation may seem to compete with physical testing, in reality the two practices work to complement the overall strategy and to help generate knowledge about the specific product. Pete Dodd, vice president of system
dynamics at MSC Soſtware, explained that his work focusing both on physical testing and simulation has helped him to understand the balance that must be struck between the various disciplines that go into automotive development. He said: ‘In general when it comes to
balancing design, simulation and testing, you want all of your components that go on to make the final product to integrate well. Tat means that you want every component to
perform its intended function. You don’t want any redundancy; you do not want anything to be over-engineered or under-engineered – and of course, at a component level, you need to meet the design objectives.’ ‘You want to learn as much as you possibly
can to improve your design process and that is why this balance of simulation and testing is important,’ concluded Dodd.
Precision understanding Tis knowledge generation can come in two distinct flavours. On one hand it can be used to develop an understanding of a particular component or design and this knowledge can be shared throughout an organisation. But simulation can also be used to understand complex phenomena – which, in the case of racing motorcycles, can be extremely difficult to test with physical prototyping, because of the conditions that need to be met in order to
@scwmagazine l
www.scientific-computing.com
Alex Mappledoram/Iaroslav Neliubov/
Shutterstock.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
