PACE 

Efficient capturing, dissemination and reuse of design knowledge and best practices

Pacelab Suite uses a consistent methodology for capturing engineering knowledge regardless of engineering discipline and of whether the object is physical or abstract. Three interoperating tools (Knowledge Designer, Knowledge Server and Engineering Workbench) provide dedicated functionality for capturing, storing/disseminating and applying that knowledge across the extended enterprise.

Fast setup and modification of the product model

Pacelab Suite uses an object-oriented knowledge modeling approach which clusters parameters and methods in generic, reusable building blocks and supports their assembly into complex systems by automatically generating mathematical relations between them. In combination, these features allow the adoption of a time-efficient, generative approach which allows a much wider exploration of the design space.

Reliable prediction of product behavior despite frequently changing requirements

Pacelab Suite’s unique solving engine has an inherent knowledge of the topology of the non-linear equation system underlying the parametric model.  As design goals change, the engineering task can be adapted without significant delay by flexibly swapping of input and output parameters and Pacelab Suite's solving engine automatically providing the answer.

Seamless integration of legacy codes and analysis tools

Through its .NET based architecture, Pacelab Suite provides a variety of integration and interfacing options to fully leverage proprietary codes, commercial analysis tools and existing MDO and federated software integration/execution environments. In addition, an open application programming interface (API) permits users to shape the basic components of the application to their exact needs.

Knowledge Components - Building-blocks for engineering models

Knowledge Components accommodate parameters, formulas, analysis methods and design strategies to describe the geometric, numeric and non-numeric properties of the product. They provide users with a highly flexible, reusable inventory of building blocks for their product model.

An annotated graphical component catalog helps engineers select the appropriate building blocks when setting up their product model.

Smart Linking - Automated and assisted setup of engineering model

Pacelab Suite’s Smart Linking technology enables users to graphically define physical and abstract connections between components (e.g. electrical wiring, chronological order or logical links) which are automatically translated into mathematical relations. A connection drawn between two electrical components, for example, will create the required power summation formulas or propagate voltages which take into account the voltage drops induced by the resistance of the physical cable connection.

Resolution System – A unique solving engine

The exploration of the product model is controlled by Pacelab Suite’s solving engine, or Resolution System. The Resolution System automatically analyzes the underlying non-linear equation system and identifies a solving sequence which satisfies all relations taking into account complex cyclic dependencies. Its inherent knowledge of the mathematical system’s topology is unique to Pacelab Suite and has two important advantages: Firstly, it allows an incremental or partial update of the system, which significantly improves the runtime performance of the application. Secondly, it enables users to flexibly swap the input or output status of parameters, i.e. to enter a target value and calculate the required inputs instead of manually tweaking input values to arrive at a given result.

Full extensibility

Legacy codes (Fortran, C, C++, VB,...) and commercial tools (Matlab, MS Excel, FEM und CAD tools) can be seamlessly integrated into the data models and methods created with Pacelab Suite. This ensures that product data and methods derived from legacy tools are represented and used in exactly the same way as natively defined ones. An open application programming interface permits users to create a customized environment for a specific set of tasks by adding highly specialized or even proprietary functionality and graphical interfaces.

Pacelab Suite for Preliminary Design

customer benefits and functional description
whitepaper pdf

Pacelab Engineering Workbench

for multidisciplinary product design
product data sheet pdf

Pacelab Knowledge Designer

for capturing engineering knowledge
product data sheet pdf

Pacelab Knowledge Server

for knowledge storage and publication
product data sheet pdf

A Modeling Methodology and Environment for Integrated Trim Analysis for a Reusable Booster System

This presentation, given during the 19th Annual External Advisory Board Review of the ASDL at Georgia Tech describes a project conducted with the Air Force Research lab that focuses on the design of a reusable booster system. Special emphasis is given on the early assessment of the vehicle’s trim characteristics, this being a major design driver for this type of aircraft.
presentation pdf