Single Source of Truth
SMILE follows the concept of a single source of truth. There is only one representation of the physical object for all numerical simulations. The specific input for the different simulation disciplines and simulation tools will be created from the SMILE model.
Modification in the design of the physical object has to be made only at one place: The SMILE model and will be forwarded to the specific inputs. This enables a multi domain optimization.
Democratization of Simulation
A SMILE model contains only physical information about the represented object. All numerical settings, which depend on the simulation discipline and the simulation tools that are used, will be added automatically from modelling guidelines. This strict separation of physical properties and numerical settings enables the user to focus on engineering tasks. The numerical simulation know-how is stored in modelling guidelines.
This is a key-enabler for democratization of simulation. Even engineers without simulation know how are able to create SMILE models and execute simulations. Simulation experts are responsible for the modelling guidelines.
Modelling Guidelines
Modelling guidelines will be organized in a hierarchical structure. They can be created from the simulation tool vendor for different disciplines, but also from the company to consider best practices, and even from the engineer for very special investigations.
These cascading modelling guidelines give control about the simulation model quality without restricting the user in his daily work.
Object Oriented Approach
A SMILE model is object oriented. In SMILE, there is a consequent separation of a component and the physical issues, that are investigated in the SMILE configuration file. This enables a template based working approach, since the SMILE configuration file can be reused for similar physical objects.
Level of Detail and CAD-References
A SMILE model can be composed by more than one finite element discretisation. Thus it is possible to use a SMILE model for detailed investigations with a fine mesh and the same SMILE model in an assembly with a coarser mesh.
Additionally, SMILE offers the possibility to use references to a CAE geometry. This enables features like iso-geometric analysis, contact surface smoothing or automatic mesh generation.
Hierarchical structure
A SMILE assembly uses a hierarchical structure instead of flat input files which are used by most solvers. Therefore in SMILE Sub-assemblies can be replaced in an easy way and independently investigated. Moreover, this allows to use the same part and assembly structure that is used for the geometrical models in a PLM system.
Portability
SMILE was designed to use web-technologies like XML and DTD or XML-schema to define the language for SMILE models and configuration files and XSLT for defining the translation rules from SMILE to a specific simulation tool input.
Using these well-established technologies allows an easy port and integration in third party products. For Experts the SMILE Code ist even readable in any Texteditor.