Welcome to SBEL!
The Simulation-Based Engineering Lab (SBEL) investigates modeling approaches and develops software solutions that enable fast computers to accurately predict how complex mechanical systems change in time. Such modeling approaches are useful in systems as varied as vehicles operating on soft deformable terrain, ensembles of millions of elements in the flow of granular material and vessels finding their way through brash ice north of the Arctic Circle.
NEWS
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Modeling granular material dynamics and its two-way coupling with moving solid bodies using a continuum representation and the SPH method
We outline a continuum approach for treating discrete granular flows that holds across multiple scales: from experiments that focus on centimeter-size control volumes, to tests that involve landslides and large buildings. The time evolution of the continuum used to capture the granular dynamics is resolved in space via the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method. The interaction between…
A Sensor Simulation Framework for Training and Testing Robots and Autonomous Vehicles
Computer simulation can be a useful tool when designing robots expected to operate independently in unstructured environments. In this context, one needs to simulate the dynamics of the robot’s mechanical system, the environment in which the robot operates, and the sensors which facilitate the robot’s perception of the environment. Herein, we focus on the sensing…
On the use of multibody dynamics techniques to simulate fluid dynamics and fluid–solid interaction problems
A multibody dynamics-based solution to the fluid dynamics problem is compared herein to two established Lagrangian-based techniques used by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) community. The multibody dynamics-based solution has two salient attributes: it enforces the incompressibility condition through bilateral kinematic constraints, and it treats the coupling with the solid phase via unilateral kinematic constraints.…
RECENT PROJECTS
Continuum Modeling of Granular Material Flows and their Interactions with Solid Bodies
This project outlines a continuous approach for treating discrete granular flows that hold across multiple scales: from experiments that focus on centimeter-sized control volumes to tests that involve landslides and tall buildings.
Chrono::Granular, Modeling and Simulation of Granular Dynamics using GPU Computing
Modeling granular system of large degree of freedom poses high computation cost. Chrono::Granular is designed to simulate granular material under the framework of Discrete Element Method (DEM) to produce realistic results.
Chrono Integration with Cognitive Systems Lab Driving Simulator
SBEL has partnered with the Cognitive Systems Lab (CSL) and Professor Sue Ahn’s lab on an NSF-sponsored project to better understand traffic flows in the context of human takeover from autonomous vehicles.
Prospective Undergraduate Volunteers
If you are an undergraduate interested in volunteering in the lab, please visit this page periodically to check the status of our openings. Currently, we do not have bandwidth for onboarding new members.