Preparation of the Simcenter Amesim model

The data exchange with Simcenter Amesim is based on the Generic Co-Simulation Library (UserCosim interface) Generic Co-Simulation Library (UserCosim interface) ; therefore a corresponding interface block needs to be inserted in your model:

Figure 2: Creation of an interface block in Simcenter Amesim

In the following creation-dialog, you need to select UserCosim (LMS Imagine.Lab Amesim 15.2) or Automation Connect (Simcenter Amesim 16) as your Type of interface. Furthermore you can define your in- and outputs. An interface block in a model always represents the "external world", meaning Automation Connect in this case. This is why block inputs are the outputs of the Simcenter Amesim model (variables sent to Automation Connect) whereas block outputs are the inputs to the Simcenter Amesim model (variables received from Automation Connect). After defining your exchange variables (manually or by importing a template text file) you can place the block in your model and connect your in- and outputs (see following figure). After setting up the interface block you can compile your model.

Figure 3: Defining the Interface Icon in Simcenter Amesim

Note

In most cases, models containing interface blocks cannot be run as they are. However, it can be useful to perform some basic checks such as open-loop simulations to see if the configuration of your model is correct; for example to check whether it can locate all its resources (typically tables) and that it initializes correctly. See section Open-loop simulations for basic model checks for more detail on this topic.

When to use wall-clock-time synchronization?

For Hardware-in-the-Loop, it is recommended to use and enable wall-clock-time synchronization Wall-clock-time synchronization in your model; otherwise the data exchange with other real-time devices like PLCs will become very asynchronous. This wall-clock-time synchronization can be obtained using the "time-sync" component of the Simulation Library. For Software-in-the-Loop, unless you want to create a realistic model with which a user (typically an operator) needs to interact in "real time", synchronization to the wall-clock time might not be interesting e.g. if you would like to benefit from "virtual time" capabilities (i.e. being able to slow-down or accelerate the simulation, compared to the wall-clock time). See Time synchronization for further information.