System and method of simulating a drive-train system

1. A computer-implemented method of simulating a drive-train system, the method being performed using one or more processing units, the method comprising:

developing a drive-train simulation model having a mathematical drive-train equation, the drive-train simulation model being represented in a tree-type typology;

trimming the mathematical drive-train equation to a steady-state condition; and

executing a time domain simulation of the drive-train system with the one or more processing units using a recursive algorithm, the recursive algorithm comprising:

first, performing an outward kinematics recursion;

second, performing an inward dynamics recursion to compute a rotational inertia quantity and a torque quantity; and

finally, performing an outward acceleration recursion;

wherein the outward acceleration recursion is based upon the rotational inertia quantity and the torque quantity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tree-type topology represents the drive-train system as a base member and a plurality of elements in one or more branches, such that each element is limited to a rotational degree of freedom.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the trimming the mathematical drive-train equation to a steady-state condition involves allowing a deflection acceleration of a shaft element to equal zero, wherein the shaft element is included in the plurality of elements in one or more branches.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the executing a time domain simulation of the drive-train system with a recursive algorithm prevents the need to multiply a matrix equation so as to allow for efficient real-time simulation of the drive-train system.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of elements in one or more branches are associated to each other in parent/child relationships.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the performing the outward kinematics recursion is performed to calculate a state of a dependent variable of the plurality of elements in one or more branches.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the performing the outward acceleration recursion is performed to calculate at least one acceleration of rotational deflection.

8. A method of simulating a drive-train system comprising:

modeling the drive-train system in a tree-type topology, the tree-type topology comprising:

a base member to represent inertia of a component in the drive-train system;

one or more branches attached to the base member, each branch comprising a group of elements such that each element represents one of: a gear ratio, a shaft deflection, and a rotational inertia; and

wherein each branch is general enough to have sub-branches without forming a closed loop;

executing a time domain simulation of the drive-train system, using a computer, with a recursive algorithm, the recursive algorithm comprising:

an outward kinematics recursion for calculating an angular displacement and an angular velocity in each of the elements in all the branches;

an inward dynamics recursion to calculate a rotational inertia quantity and a torque quantity in each of the elements in all the branches; and

an outward acceleration recursion to calculate an acceleration of rotational deflection across each of the flexible shaft elements in all the branches;

wherein the outward acceleration recursion is based upon the rotational inertia quantity and the torque quantity.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the executing the time domain simulation of the drive-train system with the recursive algorithm is an iterative process.

10. A simulation system for simulating a drive-train system, the simulation system comprising one or more processing units and non-volatile memory storing computer-readable instructions for:

executing a time domain simulation of the drive-train system with the one or more processing units using a recursive algorithm, the recursive algorithm comprising:

performing an outward kinematics recursion;

performing an inward dynamics recursion;

wherein the performing the inward dynamics recursion is performed to calculate a rotational inertia quantity and a torque quantity; and

performing an outward acceleration recursion based upon the rotational inertia quantity and the torque quantity;

wherein the drive-train system is schematically represented in a tree type topology for purposes executing the time domain simulation using the recursive algorithm.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising computer-readable instructions for:

trimming a mathematical drive-train equation to a steady-state condition.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the trimming the mathematical drive-train equation to a steady-state condition involves allowing a deflection acceleration of a shaft element to equal zero.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the tree-type topology represents the drive-train system as a base member and a plurality of elements in one or more branches, such that each element is limited to a rotational degree of freedom.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the executing a time domain simulation of the drive-train system with the recursive algorithm prevents the need to multiply a matrix equation so as to allow for efficient real-time simulation of the drive-train system.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the performing the outward kinematics recursion is performed to calculate a state of a dependent variable of the plurality of elements in one or more branches of the tree type topology.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the performing the outward acceleration recursion is performed to calculate at least one acceleration of rotational deflection in a shaft element of the tree type topology.