VTB Objectives

    The VTB research team addresses several important problems faced by all engineers who design complex, large-scale, multi-technical dynamic systems. We investigate and provide tools to investigate the interdisciplinary systems, addressing issues of system stability, power quality, reconfigurability, thermal management, control systems, and power systems topology.

    Our primary focus is the continuing development of the world’s most sophisticated environment for virtual prototyping of advanced dynamic systems. The complexity of the design problem for an All-Electric Ship, for example,  makes the use of the simulation driven design crucial to success. Simulation driven design pushes the evolution of simulation efforts towards the concept of using the simulation model as the system specification. As result of that, new concepts and capabilities are required in the design environment, such as a hierarchical approach, management of uncertainty, and context-sensitive customized views of the system.

Virtual prototype of the survivable ship zonal system

    We focus on facilitating of the design of complex systems, through their modeling and simulation. Large-scale systems may consist of many interdisciplinary and nonlinear components. For example, modern power plant along with conventional power generation means may utilize fuel cells and photovoltaic arrays for power generation, and batteries for energy storage. These components invoke photovoltaic processes (in a solar array) and electrochemical processes (in a fuel cell or a battery) for energy conversion and storage. At the same time, these components interact with the circuit electrically, with the surroundings thermally, and with other supporting devices (heat exchangers, pumps, pipes, etc.) by means of liquids. Thus, electrical, mechanical, chemical, thermal and fluid disciplines are involved in the power generation and storage processes. In addition, the control discipline is also required since many controllers are used for such a system to be operational.

    The Virtual Test Bed provides capabilities to import dynamic models from a variety of environments (while enforcing data, signal, or natural coupling laws), to connect finite element models with lumped-element dynamic models, to import structural models that describe the physical properties of the system, and to create and drive advanced visualizations from within the simulation environment. In addition, we have demonstrated intercontinental distributed simulations over internet connections, as well as simulations with machinery in the loop. Refinements and generalizations of these capabilities are needed to fully support the level of distributed simulations that will yield tight collaboration amongst the industrial enterprises and research laboratories, in spite of the many miles of physical separation.

    The VTB provides a "common language" for expression of the problems addressed by the research communities, a unique capability to help solve those problems, and a powerful means to explain the solutions. The software provides a path to a fully inclusive teaming environment and is freely available to everyone. Our current objectives are to enhance the Virtual Test Bed capabilities in the following respects:

    - Develop new methods related to speed, efficiency, and accuracy of the simulation solver
    - Develop tools to help the user define new models
    - Enhance the user interface
    - Enhance the real-time capability, including hardware-in-the-loop
    - Ensure the security of the simulation environment
    - Develop processes that support simulation under uncertainty