Co-Simulation: Error Estimation and Macro-Step Size Control

Efficiency and accuracy of a co-simulation may considerable be increased by using a variable communication time grid. Therefore, an error estimator for controlling the macro-step size is required. Here, error estimators are derived and investigated for explicit and implicit co-simulation approaches. The manuscript focuses on mechanical co-simulation models. The basic results may, however, also be applied to arbitrary, non-mechanical co-simulation models.