Simcenter Amesim


Simcenter Amesim is a commercial simulation software for the modeling and analysis of multi-domain systems. It is part of systems engineering domain and falls into the mechatronic engineering field.
The software package is a suite of tools used to model, analyze and predict the performance of mechatronics systems. Models are described using nonlinear time-dependent analytical equations that represent the system’s hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, electric or mechanical behavior. Compared to 3D CAE modeling this approach gives the capability to simulate the behavior of systems before detailed CAD geometry is available, hence it is used earlier in the system design cycle or V-Model.
To create a simulation model for a system, a set of libraries is used, they contain pre-defined components for different physical domains. The icons in the system have to be connected and for this purpose each icon has ports, which have several inputs and outputs. Causality is enforced by linking the inputs of one icon to the outputs of another icon.
Simcenter Amesim libraries are written in C language and also support Modelica which is a non-proprietary, object-oriented, equation based language to model complex physical systems containing, e.g., mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, thermal, control, electric power or process-oriented subcomponents. The software runs on Linux and on Windows platforms.
Simcenter Amesim is a part of the Siemens PLM Software Simcenter portfolio. This combines 1D simulation, 3D CAE and physical testing with intelligent reporting and data analytics. This portfolio is intended to provide engineers and analysts with a comprehensive solution for development of complex products that include smart systems, through implementing a Predictive Engineering Analytics approach.

History

The Simcenter Amesim software was developed by Imagine S.A. a company which was acquired in June 2007 by LMS International, which itself was in November 2012 by Siemens AG.
The Imagine S.A. company was created in 1987 by Dr Michel Lebrun from the University Claude Bernard in France, to control complex dynamic systems coupling hydraulic servo-actuators with finite-elements mechanical structures. The initial engineering project involved the deck elevation of the sinking Ekofisk North Sea petroleum platforms.
In the early 1990s, the association with Pr C. W. Richards, coming from the University of Bath in England, led to the first commercial release of Simcenter Amesim in 1995 which was then dedicated to fluid control systems.
Simcenter Amesim is used by companies in the automotive, aerospace and other advanced manufacturing industries.

Usage

Simcenter Amesim is a multi-domain software. It allows to link between different physics domains. It is based on the Bond graph theory.
The modelling of a system is done in four steps:
Between the submodel and parameter mode, the Simcenter Amesim model is compiled.
Under the Windows platform, Simcenter Amesim works with the free Gcc compiler, which is provided with the software. It also works with the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler and its free Express edition. Since the version 4.3.0 Simcenter Amesim uses the Intel compiler on all platforms.

Platform facilities

Simcenter Amesim features:
To create a system simulation model in Simcenter Amesim, components from different physical domains are assembled. The physical libraries have been developed through engineering services and partnerships with customers. In version 2019.1, Simcenter Amesim offered 48 libraries to answer various application requirements.
Some Simcenter Amesim libraries:
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Simcenter Amesim is used by engineering schools and universities.
It is also the reference framework for various Research projects in Europe. A free Simcenter Amesim Student Edition license can be downloaded .

Release history

Name/VersionBuild NumberDate
AMESim-1995
AMESim 1.0v1001996
AMESim 1.5v1501997
AMESim 2.0v2001998
AMESim 2.5v250April 1999
AMESim 3.0v300June 2000
AMESim 3.5v350May 2001
AMESim 4.0v400March 2002
AMESim 4.1v410April 2003
AMESim 4.2v420September 2004
AMESim 4.3v430October 2005
AMESim Rev 7Av700April 2007
AMESim Rev 7Bv710December 2007
AMESim Rev 8Av800June 2008
AMESim Rev 8Bv810December 2008
AMESim Rev 9v900November 2009
AMESim Rev 10v1000November 2010
AMESim Rev 11v1100November 2011
AMESim Rev 12v1200March 2013
AMESim Rev 13v1300December 2013
LMS Imagine.Lab Amesim 14v1400February 2015
LMS Imagine.Lab Amesim 15v1501July 2016
Simcenter Amesim 16v1600January 2018
Simcenter Amesim 17v17October 2018
Simcenter Amesim 2019.1v2019.1April 2019