Developing modern products involves numerous domains (controlling, production, engineering, etc.) and disciplines (mechanics, electronics, software, etc.). The products have become increasingly complex while their time to market has decreased. These challenges can be overcome by Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), where all development data (requirements, architecture, etc.) is stored and linked in a system model. In an MBSE system model, product requirements at the system level can lead to numerous technical variants with conflicting objectives at the parameter level. To determine the best technical variants or tradeoffs, Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization (MDAO) is already being used today. Linking MBSE and MDAO allows for mutually beneficial synergies to be expected that have not yet been fully exploited. In this paper, a new approach to link MBSE and MDAO is proposed. The novelty compared to existing approaches is the reuse of existing MBSE system model data. Models developed during upstream design and test activities already linked to the MBSE system model were integrated into an MDAO problem. Benefits are reduced initial and reconfiguration efforts and the resolution of the MDAO black-box behavior. For the first time, the MDAO problem was modeled as a workflow using activity diagrams in the MBSE system model. For a given system architecture, this workflow finds the design variable values that allow for the best tradeoff of objectives. The structure and behavior of the workflow were formally described in the MBSE system model with SysML. The presented approach for linking MBSE and MDAO is demonstrated using an example of an electric coolant pump.
Parallel hybrid drivetrains for passenger cars have additional electric drives compared to conventional drivetrains. In the event of vehicle deceleration, the electric drives are operated as generators, thus recovering kinetic energy through regeneration. If these drives are positioned upstream of the transmission input, regeneration power must be transferred by the transmission. This creates additional loads on the individual machine elements, which has a negative effect on the transmission lifetime. This paper investigates the influence of hybridization in terms of regeneration on the lifetime of bearings as highly critical elements in a dual clutch transmission. The vehicle simulation model employed in this study consists of an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a mechanical drivetrain and the vehicle body, as well as a driver and a simple operating strategy. In this model, a detailed transmission model including its controls is embedded to determine its component loads. The resulting load spectra are used in a methodical approach to calculate the bearing lifetime of the transmission. The results show that the additional regenerative power flow reduces the bearing lifetime so that additional loads must be taken into account in the development and operation of transmission systems.