Methodologies for coupling simulation models and codes in mechatronic system analysis and design

The design and analysis process of mechatronic systems requires a wide range of different engineering methods and tools. The demands on simulation model descriptions and solver functionalities are rising due to the increase of system complexity. A development process can only be carried out in an effective way, if all needed models, methods and codes are linked together to an integrated CAE-environment. In the future, the variety of interfaces and types, from a simple model import/export up to a complex co-simulation, will be further extended by new concepts to combine models and codes. A classification of coupling strategies can help to estimate the effects on simulation performance, functionality and accuracy which is important for the decision of an optimal interface type in case of a specific task.