AVL LIST, a leading developer of simulation and testing software for automotive powertrains, has licensed Siemens’ D-Cubed software for integration into its AVL EXCITE rigid/flexible multi-body dynamics software product. AVL selected both the D-Cubed 3D Dimensional Constraint Manager (3D DCM) and the Assembly Engineering Manager (AEM) contact-based motion solver from Siemens’ product lifecycle management (PLM) software business unit. 

"The development of powertrains and related systems is a field of engineering where our customers demand the very highest standards of functionality, usability, quality. and service," states Dr. Gotthard Rainer, vice president, AVL Advanced Simulation Technologies. “These demands apply to our family of simulation software products, and hence to Siemens as the supplier of the software components that are used in quite a few of these products. We see Siemens as a reliable partner and hence we anticipate the continuation of this relationship for many years to come.” 

“Siemens and AVL have a strong long term relationship and are both highly respected engineering companies,” says Paul Sicking, senior vice president, chief technology office, Siemens PLM Software. “AVL’s decision to expand its commitment to Siemens’ solutions further validates our position as a leading, trusted supplier of open software components for use in engineering applications.”

The 3D DCM and AEM will assist with setting up motion simulation prior to a full dynamic simulation with EXCITE, AVL’s industry leading solution for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and durability analysis of powertrains and drivelines. The set-up includes positioning the elements of the mechanism, testing whether the mechanism is over, under or well-constrained. This will allow for computing initial velocities, and testing for the validity of the motion in the presence of springs, external forces and the contacts between parts, which are potentially intermittent. AVL has been a licensee for the D-Cubed 2D DCM geometric constraint solver since 2005. 

PLM Components include Parasolid software, and the D-Cubed family of software products, which constitute widely used technologies providing 3D part and assembly modeling, editing and interoperability, 2D/3D parametric sketching, motion simulation, collision detection, clearance measurement and visualization functionality. Applications that incorporate these components cover a wide variety of categories including mechanical CAD, CAM, CAE, mold design, sheet metal, AEC, GIS, structural, plant and ship design, CMM, reverse engineering and sales configuration.