ViProD 2.0 - Next Generation of Virtual Product Development

The characteristics of multi-material components in modern automotive lightweight design leads to new challenges in current vehicle development. These include in particular the combination of different, partly fiber-reinforced materials, new connection technologies and new load cases. Therefore, state of the art virtual product simulation methods and material data provide insufficient prediction quality. The present project proposal comprises the development of new methods and material specifications for the fatigue discipline. In particular the hardening elastic plastic behaviour of material und low-cycle condition should modelled and simulated. Another key objective of this project proposal comprises the definition and creation of meta-information regarding connection technology in a consistent and efficient way. The finite element models (FEM) and other subsequent development disciplines in the development process are supported by this meta information. To enable efficient virtual product development, the entire design and simulation workflow is being optimized under consideration of the latest methods in knowledge-based development, targeting maximum efficiency and robustness. More precisely, the project database-driven knowledge-based methods in combination with parametric associative CAD systems and automated CAE pre-processors state the basis for an efficient CAD-CAE (FEM) workflow, which is able to scope with the high requirements of simulation-driven design processes. To fulfil the requirements of different customers as good as possible, automotive supplier companies have to face additional challenges due to predetermined heterogeneous CAx system landscapes of the respective customers. This requires not only the knowledge of different design and simulation software, but also flexible and robust processes and methods to ensure an effective and efficient vehicle development. As part of the planned project, it is essential to develop advanced knowledge-based methods, which are capable of operating in a heterogeneous multi-CAx system landscape, a new framework. This automation framework allows the knowledge-based applications to be developed in a standardized manner and to apply to the CAx systems of different software manufacturers. In this way, the development engineer is supported in the operation within a certain the CAx system landscape in the current development project. A unique workflow from design to simulation and back is created on the example of fatigue-discipline, which highlights the potential of knowledge-based development and the practical application of these results in real development process.