On the synthesis of the system graph for 3D mechanics

This paper presents a methodology for deriving the system graph of a 3D mechanism from CAD models. That is, a linear graph that captures the energy flow in a system. This work is part of a larger research effort in composable simulation. In composable simulation, CAD models of system components are augmented with simulation models describing the component's dynamic behavior in different energy domains. By composable simulation we mean the ability to automatically generate system-level simulations through composition of individual component models. From the system graph, the system-level dynamic equations can be derived independently of the underlying energy domains.