Coupling DEM Particles to MBS Wheel Loader via Co-Simulation

A co-simulation scheme is developed that couples an MBS wheel loader model with the ITWM/DEM code for soil simulation, in order to realize a framework in which different loading maneuvers can be simulated and analyzed. An important issue for such analyses is to provide reaction forces during digging and loading that are sufficiently accurate to address questions of durability and energy efficiency. We present the coupling strategy, the coupled simulation approach as well as its realization that has been evolved during a project collaboration between the Fraunhofer ITWM and Volvo CE.