Overview
In the frame of electrical network architecture development for aircrafts, system integration is a key issue. Advanced powerful simulation tools, such as SABER software developed by Synopsys, have demonstrated in previous European research projects such MOET and Airbus aircraft programs that they are precious in the V&V (Validation and Verification) process to contribute to specification definition and validation, to optimize designs and to achieve verification of electrical performances at both equipment and system levels.
SABER simulation platform contribution to current AIRBUS program development and research project is vital, facing an increase of on-board electric power threw new distributed voltages (230VAC and 540VDC) and new electrical loads (environmental control systems, wing ice protection systems, electro-mechanical actuators, motor control units and engine starters).
To reach numeric objectives, an adequate simulation platform was developed to successfully address the following steps:
- Modelling system through modelling language;
- Computing simulation through dedicated solver;
- Post processing data through advanced analysis tools;
- Display and record data.
Currently, several powerful software are able to build such a standardised modelling process, each of them with their inherent advantages and drawbacks. Existing software such as SABER, which already demonstrated their ability to fully support aircraft electrical network V&V process, are in constant amelioration through feedback from AIRBUS to Synopsys.
In order to define a standardised modelling tool, comparison assessment has then to be performed using last software release.
In this context, assessing the suitability of SABER software to build up a standardised modelling process required that a SABER specialist develops models and performs simulations to demonstrate the full potential of the simulation tool.