Vehicle modular simulation in system dynamics

Modeling and simulation of complex vehicle systems are often relieved by a modular approach in which the global system is divided into subsystems. Advantages raise from independent and parallel modeling of subsystems, over easy exchange of the resulting modules, to the option to use different software for each module. Each subsystem may be simulated independently and in parallel with adapted numerical integration methods and step sizes. Data exchange between subsystems only takes place at discrete times with variable communication intervals. Different methods of simulator coupling are investigated and it will be shown that stability is guaranteed only for iterative simulator coupling schemes. A wheel suspension serves as example.