Numerically robust co-simulation using transmission line modeling and the Functional Mock-up Interface

Modeling and simulation are important tools for efficient product development. There is a growing need for collaboration, interdisciplinary simulation, and re-usability of simulation models. This usually requires simulation tools to be coupled together for co-simulation. However, the usefulness of co-simulation is often limited by poor performance and numerical instability. Achieving stability is especially hard for stiff mechanical couplings. A suitable method is to use transmission line modeling (TLM), which separates submodels using physically motivated time delays. The most established standard for tool coupling today is the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI). Two example models in one dimension and three dimensions are used to demonstrate how the next version of FMI for co-simulation can be used in conjunction with TLM. The stability properties of TLM are also proven by numerical analysis. Results show that numerical stability can be ensured without compromising on performance. With the current FMI standard, this requires tailor-made models and custom solutions for the interpolation of input variables. Without using custom solutions, variables must be exchanged using sampled communication and extrapolation. In this case, stability properties can be improved by reducing communication step size. However, it is shown that stability cannot be achieved even when using unacceptably small communication steps. This motivates the need for the next version of FMI to include an intermediate update mode, where variables can be interchanged in between communication points. It is suggested that the FMI standard should be extended with optional callback functions for providing intermediate output variables and requesting intermediate input variables.

Automated summary

Modeling and simulation are important for efficient product development, but co-simulation is often limited by performance and numerical instability. Transmission line modeling (TLM) is a suitable method to achieve stability by using time delays. The Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) is the most established standard for tool coupling, and the next version can be used with TLM. Research shows that stability can be improved by reducing communication step size and adding an intermediate update mode.