Simscape™

Getting Started Guide

R2014a
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Simscape™ Getting Started Guide
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Revision History
September 2007 Online only New for Version 2.0 (Release 2007b)
March 2008 Online only Revised for Version 2.1 (Release 2008a)
October 2008 Online only Revised for Version 3.0 (Release 2008b)
March 2009 Online only Revised for Version 3.1 (Release 2009a)
September 2009 Online only Revised for Version 3.2 (Release 2009b)
March 2010 Online only Revised for Version 3.3 (Release 2010a)
September 2010 Online only Revised for Version 3.4 (Release 2010b)
April 2011 Online only Revised for Version 3.5 (Release 2011a)
September 2011 Online only Revised for Version 3.6 (Release 2011b)
March 2012 Online only Revised for Version 3.7 (Release 2012a)
September 2012 Online only Revised for Version 3.8 (Release 2012b)
March 2013 Online only Revised for Version 3.9 (Release 2013a)
September 2013 Online only Revised for Version 3.10 (Release 2013b)
March 2014 Online only Revised for Version 3.11 (Release 2014a)
 Contents

Product Fundamentals
1
Simscape Product Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Creating a New Simscape Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

Evaluating Performance of a DC Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6

v
vi Contents
 1

Product Fundamentals

• “Simscape Product Description” on page 1-2

• “Creating a New Simscape Model” on page 1-3
• “Evaluating Performance of a DC Motor” on page 1-6
 1 Product Fundamentals

Simscape Product Description

Model and simulate multidomain physical systems
Simscape™ provides an environment for modeling and simulating physical
systems spanning mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and other physical
domains. It provides fundamental building blocks from these domains that
you can assemble into models of physical components, such as electric motors,
inverting op-amps, hydraulic valves, and ratchet mechanisms. Because
Simscape components use physical connections, your models match the
structure of the system you are developing.

Simscape models can be used to develop control systems and test system-level
performance. You can extend the libraries using the MATLAB® based
Simscape language, which enables text-based authoring of physical modeling
components, domains, and libraries. You can parameterize your models using
MATLAB variables and expressions, and design control systems for your
physical system in Simulink®. To deploy your models to other simulation
environments, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) systems, Simscape
supports C-code generation.

Key Features
• Single environment for modeling and simulating mechanical, electrical,
hydraulic, thermal, and other multidomain physical systems
• Libraries of physical modeling blocks and mathematical elements for
developing custom components
• MATLAB based Simscape language, enabling text-based authoring of
physical modeling components, domains, and libraries
• Physical units for parameters and variables, with all unit conversions
handled automatically
• Ability to simulate models that include blocks from related physical
modeling products without purchasing those products
• Support for C-code generation

1-2
 Creating a New Simscape™ Model

Creating a New Simscape Model

Simscape models require certain blocks to be present in the model
configuration, such as a Solver block, or domain-specific reference blocks.
Other blocks, although not required, are highly likely to be needed, such as
Simulink-PS Converter and PS-Simulink Converter blocks. An easy way to
start a new Simscape model is by using the ssc_new command.

When you type ssc_new at the MATLAB Command prompt, the software
opens the main Simscape library and creates a new model prepopulated with
certain blocks, as shown in the following illustration.

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 1 Product Fundamentals

By default, the model name is not specified, the model contains a Solver
Configuration block with the default solver set to ode23t, a Simulink-PS
Converter block, and a PS-Simulink Converter block connected to a Scope
block.

You can use the ssc_new command arguments to specify the model name, add
a domain-specific reference block, and change the default solver. See the
ssc_new command reference page for details. For example, typing

ssc_new('rotor1','rotational','ode15s')

creates the following model.

After using ssc_new, continue developing your model by copying the blocks,
as needed, and adding other blocks from the Simscape libraries.

For electrical models, you can also use the Creating A New Circuit example as
a template for a new model. This example also opens an Electrical Starter

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 Creating a New Simscape™ Model

Palette, which contains links to the most often used electrical components.
Open the example by typing ssc_new_elec in the MATLAB Command
Window and use File > Save As to save it under the desired model name.
Then delete the unwanted components and add new ones from the Electrical
Starter Palette and from Simscape libraries.

1-5
 1 Product Fundamentals

Evaluating Performance of a DC Motor

This example shows how to simulate systems that span electrical and
mechanical domains. You learn how to model physical components with
Simscape blocks, connect them into a realistic model, use Simulink blocks as
well, and then simulate and modify a motor model.

The model is based on a Faulhaber Series 0615 DC-Micromotor. The

model uses equivalent circuit parameters for the 1.5V motor to verify
manufacturer-quoted no-load speed, no-load current, and stall torque. You
can use the model to assess motor performance in a given application by
adding the requisite mechanical load model.

Explore the Model

1 To open the Permanent Magnet DC Motor example model, type

ssc_dcmotor in the MATLAB Command Window.

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 Evaluating Performance of a DC Motor

Main Model Window

The main model window contains a DC Motor subsystem with two electrical
and two mechanical rotational ports.

The electrical ports connect to the electrical circuit, which consists of an

Electrical Reference block, representing an electrical ground, a 1.5 V DC
voltage source, and a current sensor. The current sensor connects, through
a PS-Simulink Converter block, to a Simulink scope labeled Motor Current.

On the mechanical side, a Mechanical Rotational Reference block

represents a reference point for the other elements. An ideal rotational

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 1 Product Fundamentals

motion sensor connects, through a PS-Simulink Converter block, to a

Simulink scope labeled RPM.

The motor load is represented by an Ideal Torque Source block, which on

one side connects to a Mechanical Rotational Reference block, and on the
other side to the motor shaft. A regular Simulink Step source provides
the control signal. A Simulink-PS Converter block converts the control
signal into a physical signal and applies it to the control port of the Ideal
Torque Source block.

The diagram also contains a Solver Configuration block, which is required

in any Simscape model. It contains parameters relevant to numerical
algorithms for Simscape simulations.

2 Double-click the DC Motor subsystem to open it.

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 Evaluating Performance of a DC Motor

DC Motor Subsystem

The motor consists of an electrical circuit and a mechanical circuit,

connected by the Rotational Electromechanical Converter block. The
electrical circuit consists of a Rotor Resistance block and an Inductance
block L. It contains two electrical ports, corresponding to the V+ and
V- electric terminals of the motor. The mechanical circuit contains a
Rotational Friction block, Motor Inertia J, and two mechanical rotational
ports, C and R, corresponding to the motor case and rotor, respectively.
Notice how the C and R ports of the Friction block and the Rotational
Electromechanical Converter block are connected to the C and R ports of
the motor, to preserve the correct direction of variables in the Physical
Network.

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 1 Product Fundamentals

Run the Model

1 Double-click the Motor Current and RPM scopes to open them. During
simulation, these windows display the motor current and shaft speed,
respectively, as functions of time.

2 In the toolbar of the model window, click to start the simulation. The
Simscape solver evaluates the model, calculates the initial conditions, and
runs the simulation. This process might take a few seconds. The message
in the bottom-left corner of the model window provides the status.

3 Examine the simulation results in the Motor Current and RPM scope
windows.

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 Evaluating Performance of a DC Motor

For the first 0.1 seconds, the motor has no external load, and the speed
builds up to the no-load value. Then at 0.1 seconds, the stall torque
is applied as a load to the motor shaft. Zooming in on the RPM and
Motor Current scopes shows that the model matches the manufacturer
parameters for no-load speed, no-load current, and stall torque.

Change the Supply Voltage

Reduce the supply voltage to 1.25 volts (to simulate the battery running down)
and vary the load torque to find the maximum torque at this reduced voltage.

1 Double-click the 1.5V DC Voltage Source block. Set Constant voltage to

1.25 V.

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 1 Product Fundamentals

2 Run the simulation. Note the effect of reduced voltage on the no-load speed.

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 Evaluating Performance of a DC Motor

3 Try varying the load torque to find the maximum torque at this reduced
voltage. Double-click the Step source block, enter different final values for
the input signal, and rerun the simulation.

The next illustration shows the simulation results for Final value set to
-0.2e-3, which corresponds to (1.25/1.5)*0.24mNm, as the magnitude of
the torque-speed curve is proportional to voltage for a DC motor.

1-13
 1 Product Fundamentals

Change the Motor Load

Replace the torque source with a simple mechanical load, for example, a fan,
for which the torque is defined by alpha*speed^2, where alpha is -1e-10
Nm/(rad/s)^2.

1 Delete the Step source and the Simulink-PS Converter block from the
model.

2 In the Simscape block library, open Foundation Library > Physical

Signals > Functions.

3 Drag the PS Product block and the PS Gain block to the model window.

4 Connect the blocks as shown in the following illustration. To rotate a block,

select it and press Ctrl+R.

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 Evaluating Performance of a DC Motor

5 Double-click the Gain block to open its dialog box. Enter Gain value of
-1e-10 and click OK.

6 Run the simulation and assess motor performance with the new load.

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 1 Product Fundamentals

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