Hello Everyone,
I am a final year Mechanical Engineering student from Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune, India. Recently, I along with my three group members have carried out a project at Dassault Systèmes, Pune. Our task was to create virtual labs in the domain of Mechanical Engineering using the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. This was a 5-month long assignment, in which we learned how to use CATIA Dymola Behavior Modeling for modeling and simulation of complex multi-domain systems. For this project, we have created virtual labs for the domain of Fluid Mechanics, Machinery, and Fluid Power. These labs can be used to teach students remotely as well as students themselves can use these labs to get more familiar with the experiment before performing it physically in the actual lab. The virtual labs were a very useful tool in this pandemic because it was impossible to attend college and perform the experiments on actual setup.
To create these virtual labs, we have followed acausal approach as well as some of the experiments are completely program-based. To build the program-based labs, we have learned about the Modelica language. For this project, we have created 13 labs in total and out of these 13, 10 are created using acausal approach. For example, we have created, a virtual lab to conduct a Trial on Centrifugal Pump’ using the Standard Modelica Library. The following image shows the simulation setup:
The pump is usually designed to operate at a particular speed, discharge, and head. But it might happen that the pump is running at some different operating point, that is why it is necessary to conduct tests or trials on a pump to predict its behavior and performance under varying conditions. The results obtained through these tests are called characteristic curves. Characteristic curves are of 2 types: 1) Main Characteristics and 2) Operating Characteristics. Using the virtual lab that we have created; we can carry out both of these trials on the setup and we can plot the required graphs. For example, the following results were obtained from the test that we have carried out on this setup:
Main Characteristics:
Operating Characteristics:
To plot these graphs, we have used scripting in which we have utilized a function which was there in Dymola Commands. The following image shows one such script.
Apart from this one lab on Centrifugal Pump, we have created 12 more labs that will help the students. To complete these labs, we were constantly guided by our faculty and our company guide. Working on these labs helped us to get familiar with 3DEXPERIENCE platform and CATIA Dymola Behavior Modeling. As a part of this assignment, we got to know about the basics of the Modelica language. Also, we have prepared a research manuscript titled, ‘Development of Virtual Lab for Trial on Centrifugal Pump using 3DEXPERIENCE Platform and Effect of Varying Impeller Diameter and Speed on its Performance’, which is under the publication process. We are certainly sure that the work that we have carried out will help us in the future. We are sure that this assignment will help me in further studies and grabbing job opportunities.
Students Involved:
1) @AK
2) @VP
3) @PP
4) @VW
Edu 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA Dymola Behavior Modeling Work Showcase Virtual Labs
