Virtual test lab - a simulation based method for the optimisation of test procedures

Based on the increasing stress of competition, companies are faced by constantly shortened model cycles of products and large technological leaps. Therefore, in particular due to the integration of mechatronic systems and modern materials, time- and cost-optimized methods for the simulation based construction of components and systems are required. The numerical tools must be reliable and applicable in the computational preliminary design. Also an interface between mechanical and electronic components has to be provided. The Virtual Test Lab, which is a current field of research of the Fraunhofer Institute of Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF, offers a high potential for the fulfilment of the described requirements. The method targets an efficient coupling of numerical tools for the simulation of control units, actuators, dynamics and structural mechanics, whereby also the interaction between mechanical and electronical systems is enabled.