Modelling cables in simulink

Hi!

I'm just doing a work for university which includes a small cable driven multibody phisical simulation. I've been looking up and down and I've not found nothing like a cable in Simscape.

Am I forgetting some block? Is there a way to model them acurrately, or should I just put some serial articulated bars and try that?

Thanks in advance, Luis B.

Answer 1

[Amish]

Hi Luis,

Simscape Multibody does have ways to model cable-driven systems, but it might not be immediately obvious. Here are a few approaches you can consider to model it:

• Belts and Pulleys Library: Simscape Multibody includes a library for belts and pulleys, which can be adapted for cable-driven mechanisms. This library allows you to model systems like block and tackle, non-planar mechanisms, and even tower cranes with trolleys and hoists.

Refer to the following link for more information on the Belts and Pulleys Library:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/66519-simscape-multibody-belts-and-pulleys-examples

• Custom Cable Models: If the built-in blocks don’t meet your needs, you can create a custom cable model using a series of rigid bodies (bars) connected by joints. This method can be more complex but offers greater flexibility and accuracy for specific applications.
• Spring-Damper Systems: Another approach is to use spring-damper systems to simulate the elasticity and damping properties of cables. This can be combined with the rigid body approach to create a more realistic model.

I hope the above mentioned ideas provide you some insights on developing small cable driven multibody physical simulations using Simscape.