Unlocking the Power of MBSE: A High-Level Overview

Have you ever wondered how modern engineering projects manage to stay on track despite their increasing complexity? The answer often lies in a methodology known as Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). Whether you’re a seasoned engineer or just starting out, understanding MBSE can revolutionize the way you approach system design and analysis.

What is Model-Based Engineering?

Model-Based Engineering (MBE) involves using digital models to perform engineering analysis. This approach is familiar to many engineers across various industries. For instance:

• Mechanical Engineers: MCAD tools such as Ansys Discovery are likely familiar to designers, while tools like Ansys Mechanical, Fluent, and LS-Dyna are commonly used for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
• Electrical Engineers: Similarly, ECAD tools such as MotorCAD may be familiar to electrical design engineers, whereas tools such as Ansys Maxwell and HFSS are used for electromagnetic field simulations.
• Optical Engineers: Tools including Zemax OpticStudio and SPEOS are commonly used to design and simulate optical performance.
• Software Engineers: Tools like Ansys SCADE are used to design, develop, simulate, and test software for mission and safety-critical embedded systems.

As you should be able to see, MBE has been a cornerstone of the technological advancements we’ve seen over the past few decades.

Introducing MBSE

So, what sets MBSE apart from MBE? The key difference lies in the focus on systems. MBSE enables Systems Engineers to perform analyses using model-based tools, rather than relying on physical documents and test data. This methodology allows for rapid iteration through design spaces and scenarios, ensuring that stakeholder, system, and component-level requirements are met.

Developing a System Architecture Model

By developing a System Architecture Model, system engineers and specialists alike will benefit from a streamlined workflow that connects multiple analyses. Often, a systems engineer will develop a system architecture before much, or any Model-Based Engineering has occurred. This allows the engineer to explore and understand the design space of the system earlier in the development cycle with a connected workflow. The fidelity of the system design and simulation can increase consistently throughout the entire design cycle. This enables team members to make more informed decisions earlier, saving significant time and resources.

Why should I care?

Because MBSE is a newer methodology within the systems engineering discipline, it can sometimes be met with pushback, especially from companies with robust processes already in place. One might ask, “Why should we switch to MBSE, if we’re already successful?”. The answer is almost always unique to each organization. However, here are some key points to consider.

• Facilitates the integration of MBSE within the design process of new engineering systems, as mandated by the D.O.D.
• Dramatically improves the ability to connect and automate complex engineering workflows using vendor-neutral tools.
• Provides traceability across a system and its requirements are needed to understand the entire design space.
• Ensures design constraints are captured, and requirements are met early in the engineering lifecycle.
• Enables a single, authoritative source of truth for all engineering disciplines.

Conclusion

While MBSE was a flashy new concept at one point, there’s no doubt of the value it brings to engineering teams across disciplines. If there is any confusion about what it means for organizations, teams, or even individual system engineers, we’d love to discuss the topic. In practice, the MBSE methodology has empowered those who use it to make better decisions, faster than ever before. It also allows a user to make more informed engineering and business decisions as a result of utilizing the tools and methods laid out.

If Model Based Systems Engineering is a topic you’re curious about, don’t hesitate to reach out to PADT for more information. We’d be happy to provide an overview of the MBSE tools, materials, or even a demonstration depending on your needs.
This is Noah, signing out. Have a great day.