How can I interface Simscape Multibody with 1D translational or rotational domains?

How do I connect blocks from the 1D Simscape mechanical libraries and the 3D Simscape Multibody blocks?

For instance, I have a Simscape Multibody model, and I want to model friction and damping in Simscape Mechanical at the joints in this system. 

What are the options for doing this, and where can I find examples illustrating such workflows? 

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

There are blocks which interface with the rotational mechanical and translational mechanical domains in the Simscape Multibody library. For more information about the usage of these blocks, please reference the documentation on Connecting Simscape Networks to Simscape Multibody Joints.

It is also possible to connect the domains by porting force and velocity information across the domains as physical signals. A "Force Sensor" block in the 1D domain can send a signal that applies the force to a joint in the 3D domain. Then the velocity of the 3D component can be constrained to the velocity of the 1D component by passing a measured velocity physical signal to a "Velocity Source" block in the 1D domain. To see how this is done, refer to the Translational Interface: Radial Engine with Gas Force Model example.

Additionally, the

Simscape Multibody Multiphysics Library

 on MathWorks File Exchange contains several interface blocks for interfacing between the 3D Multibody domain and the 1D translational and rotational Simscape domains. It also includes blocks for modeling hydromechanical and electromechanical systems.

Answer 2

[Steve Miller]

Hi all,

In R2021a we added interface blocks to more easily connect Simscape Multibody joints to 1D mechanical Simscape networks.

• See Translational Multibody Interfaceand Rotational Multibody Interface.
• See also Connecting Simscape Networks to Simscape Multibody Joints

This picture shows how they can be connected in R2021a. This model is part of the Simscape Multibody Multiphysics Library. Energy exchange is bidirectional between the mechanical and hydraulic networks.

--Steve