In a variety of industries, from manufacturing to off-road, the efficient management of engineering resources is more important than ever as companies face increasing customer demand for high performance at peak performance and reliability. Design teams are constantly looking for new ways to improve existing hydraulic systems and technologies without reducing design integrity. The application of high-fidelity simulations is one of the ways exploited by system designers to use technology in order to achieve better results.
In the production of mobile hydraulic systems, for example, the aim of manufacturers is to develop reliable, efficient and cost-effective solutions. The predictive capabilities of the latest computer tools, which offer accuracy comparable to that of real-world conditions, enable engineers to better understand logical phenomena and make rational decisions in systems development. These physics-based simulation technologies foster shared product development practices among CAD, PDM, and supplier management systems, effectively putting innovation into practice as a response to design requirements.
To find out how simulations can be leveraged as design tools, read the case study detailing the structural and fluid mechanics of hydraulic reservoirs, presented in our whitepaper “Design Innovation Through High-Fidelity SimulationsHydraulic tank design
Defining a better structural design for hydraulic systems is an ever-present problem. A wise practice is to explore all possible dimensions of physics in order to obtain the best solution. Hydraulic tank design offers an interesting example of the effectiveness of virtual design. Here it is possible to make use of the predictive capabilities of state-of-the-art computer simulations to examine patterns of the effects of a range of conditions, including:
The impact of flow and pressure
Hydraulic reservoirs are used to receive foreign bodies with different chemical and physical properties from the return pipeline flow. Despite the fact that it is possible to separate solid contaminants from the oil flow by means of a filter on the return pipe, the latter can be traversed by air bubbles that then enter the tank. As a result, sudden pressure changes may occur, leading to cavitation and variable thermal loads.
Temperature and fluid flow
The temperature of the fluid in the return pipeline defines the operating conditions of the system and is transmitted to the internal structure of the tank, with the external surface subject to environmental conditions. This causes considerable temperature changes in the tank structure.
Structural mechanics
The structural behavior of the hydraulic reservoir in response to varying flow, pressure and thermal loads constitutes a multi-physics problem with regard to bubble motion, turbulence, heat transfer and structural dynamics.
Creation of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) models.
The creation of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) models offers the opportunity to introduce and adjust variables and to evaluate design alternatives at a far faster rate than prototype creation. This allows the design team to look at several alternatives simultaneously, resulting in faster solutions to improve the product.
Conclusions
Major design trends such as hybridization, 5G, autonomous systems, etc. are radically changing products and processes in many disciplines. Applying virtual reality to the design phase is much faster and cheaper than resorting to traditional prototyping and testing. In addition, high-fidelity simulations have undeniable value due to the fact that, for example, they suggest the most suitable materials, appropriate tolerances, the most appropriate manufacturing methods, etc. : This all involves efficient management of design resources.
Download our whitepaper “Design Innovation Through High-Fidelity Simulations” to find out how computer simulations can be leveraged to study the effects of input configurations on hydraulic reservoir flow patterns
This article was written by Dr. Jagan Gorle, chief research and development engineer, Parker Hydraulic & Industrial Process Division.
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In a variety of industries, from manufacturing to off-road, the efficient management of engineering resources is more important than ever as companies face increasing customer demand for high performance at peak performance and reliability. Design teams are constantly looking for new ways to improve existing hydraulic systems and technologies without reducing design integrity. The application of high-fidelity simulations is one of the ways exploited by system designers to use technology in order to achieve better results.
In the production of mobile hydraulic systems, for example, the aim of manufacturers is to develop reliable, efficient and cost-effective solutions. The predictive capabilities of the latest computer tools, which offer accuracy comparable to that of real-world conditions, enable engineers to better understand logical phenomena and make rational decisions in systems development. These physics-based simulation technologies foster shared product development practices among CAD, PDM, and supplier management systems, effectively putting innovation into practice as a response to design requirements.
To find out how simulations can be leveraged as design tools, read the case study detailing the structural and fluid mechanics of hydraulic reservoirs, presented in our whitepaper “Design Innovation Through High-Fidelity Simulations.”
Hydraulic tank design
Defining a better structural design for hydraulic systems is an ever-present problem. A wise practice is to explore all possible dimensions of physics in order to obtain the best solution. Hydraulic tank design offers an interesting example of the effectiveness of virtual design. Here it is possible to make use of the predictive capabilities of state-of-the-art computer simulations to examine patterns of the effects of a range of conditions, including:
The impact of flow and pressure
Hydraulic reservoirs are used to receive foreign bodies with different chemical and physical properties from the return pipeline flow. Despite the fact that it is possible to separate solid contaminants from the oil flow by means of a filter on the return pipe, the latter can be traversed by air bubbles that then enter the tank. As a result, sudden pressure changes may occur, leading to cavitation and variable thermal loads.
Temperature and fluid flow
The temperature of the fluid in the return pipeline defines the operating conditions of the system and is transmitted to the internal structure of the tank, with the external surface subject to environmental conditions. This causes considerable temperature changes in the tank structure.
Structural mechanics
The structural behavior of the hydraulic reservoir in response to varying flow, pressure and thermal loads constitutes a multi-physics problem with regard to bubble motion, turbulence, heat transfer and structural dynamics.
Creation of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) models.
The creation of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) models offers the opportunity to introduce and adjust variables and to evaluate design alternatives at a far faster rate than prototype creation. This allows the design team to look at several alternatives simultaneously, resulting in faster solutions to improve the product.
Conclusions
Major design trends such as hybridization, 5G, autonomous systems, etc. are radically changing products and processes in many disciplines. Applying virtual reality to the design phase is much faster and cheaper than resorting to traditional prototyping and testing. In addition, high-fidelity simulations have undeniable value due to the fact that, for example, they suggest the most suitable materials, appropriate tolerances, the most appropriate manufacturing methods, etc. : This all involves efficient management of design resources.
Download our whitepaper “Design Innovation Through High-Fidelity Simulations” to find out how computer simulations can be leveraged to study the effects of input configurations on hydraulic reservoir flow patterns.
This article was written by Dr. Jagan Gorle, chief research and development engineer, Parker Hydraulic & Industrial Process Division.
Related Content
Defining Our Unique Contribution to the World
Manufacturing Toolboxes Expand Efficiency and Capability
A New Approach to Machine Design and Actuator Specification
How Manufacturers are Leveraging Virtual Reality for Product Development Parker Hannifin | Parker Hannifin