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 Mulitbody blocks in release R2018a?

For example, I would like to use the "Pneumatic Piston Chamber" and other blocks from the Simscape 1D domain in my Simscape Multibody model.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

There is no block that directly interface between the 3D and 1D domains in release R2018a. However, it is possible to do this 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 take a look at the following examples:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/sm/ug/translational-interface-radial-engine-with-gas-force-model.html

In MATLAB R2018a run the following command for another example:

web(fullfile(docroot, 'physmod/sm/examples/hydraulic-interface-dump-trailer-with-hydraulic-cylinder.html'))

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. New interface blocks were added in release R2021a.

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/37636-simscape-multibody-multiphysics-library

Please follow the below link to search for the required information regarding the current release:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/

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