Project Description
IPS
Introduction
IPS Cable Simulation simulates the behavior of flexible structures such as cables and hoses in a realistic and accurate way – fast enough for real time visualization and interactive application. In this technological field, the software has taken on a pioneering role.
Any materials and cross sections can be represented by the software, CAD-constructions are easy to import and it is possible to simulate any kind of fastening with clips. The program displays the areas of contact, collision and strain and provides many possibilities of analysis. Many kinds of wires can be examined like this: single cables, as well as cable bundles and harnesses, with and without branches. It is possible to analyze the constructed space and the distances with swept-volume models and to optimize path planning by using the auto-routing function. Furthermore, the necessary assembly force can be determined and the consequences of incorrect assembly can be simulated.
The software was developed by the Swedish Fraunhofer-Chalmers-Centre in Gothenburg and the German Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics (ITWM) in Kaiserslautern in cooperation with partners from the automotive industry. Today, there is a team of thirty people in Germany and Sweden constantly working to further develop and optimize the program.
APPLICATIONS
- Automatic creation of the cable course (autorouting)
- Interactive laying in real time
- Consideration of the realistic material properties and the force of gravity
- Early detection of critical constructions
- Installation space analysis of moving parts
- Tolerance, collision and movement analysis
- Interactive optimization of cable course and length based on bending radius and other criteria
- Stress analysis of the flexible elements during the assembly and when installed
- Risk analysis for incorrect assembly
- Assembly-based construction validation
- Interactive optimization (e.g. of material parameters or cable length)
- Adjustment of clips to the assembly process
- Prevention of a repeated design process
- Physically correct simulation in real time
- Diverse possibilities of analysis (normal stress, shear stress ect.)
- Stress-based design validation in real time
- Consideration of realistic material properties (tensile, bending and torsional stiffness)
- Contact calculation (cable-cable, cable-geometry, self contact)
