What is a Reduced Order Model (ROM) and What’s Its Product Development Role? | ANSYS Blog

What is a Reduced Order Model (ROM) and What’s Its Product Development Role? | ANSYS Blog

October 18th, 2019

Reduced order models can be used to reduce computational resources, obfuscate proprietary models and speed up development cycles.

Reduced-order models (ROMs) are simplifications of high-fidelity, complex models. They capture the behaviour of these source models so that engineers can quickly study a system’s dominant effects using minimal computational resources.

ROMs have become popular in the product development industry because engineers are facing market demands for shorter design cycles that produce higher quality products.

ROMs can be used to simplify various models from full 3D simulations, systems simulations or embedded software. As a result, engineers can use them to:

  • Optimise product designs
  • Create larger systems simulations
  • Test control software
  • Create digital twins
  • Create Internet of Things (IoT) devices
  • Enable non-experts to use simulations

As an added bonus, a ROM’s ability to simplify complex models means that they can often obfuscate proprietary information. Therefore, in many situations, organizations can share a ROM — in the form of a black box — with customers, external partners or contractors without risking their intellectual property.

How to Create a Reduced Order Model Using Response Surface Models

ROMs can be used to model various static, transient, linear and nonlinear systems. Specifically, response surface models (RSM) are a great tool to capture the behaviour of static linear systems.

Engineers can use ANSYS Fluent to create a reduced order model by mapping out a response surface model.

To create an RSM, engineers need to map the output parameters of a model based on the inputs to that model.

To do this, engineers can create a design of experiments (DOE) using ANSYS DesignXplorer. The DOE determines a series of design points that need to be tested in ANSYS Fluent. To create the RSM and ROM, the software uses advanced algorithms to predict the response between the simulation runs. The ROM can then be exported, in industry-standard formats, to other platforms.

How Reduced Order Models Improve Product Design

Engineers can use ROMs to reduce the time it takes to optimize and study a complex system. For instance, Fluent can use ROMs to explore design alternatives in the blink of an eye.

ANSYS Fluent evaluates complex reduced order models (ROM) to explore design alternatives. For a cross flow heat exchanger, the ROM capability provides a solution for each design point in as little as a second. A full simulation, however, could take over two hours. ROMs can be post processed and evaluated in ANSYS Fluent to gain insight beyond the numerical output previously available.

In fact, a full 3D computational fluid dynamic (CFD) study could take hours to simulate. However, by capturing the fidelity of the 3D model using a ROM, Fluent can assess a design in seconds.

As a result, engineers can use ROMs to reduce development cycles, shrink research budgets, get to market faster and limit computational resources.

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This blog was originally posted on ANSYS’ website here.

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