Is it possible to update the parameters of a Simscape block using the output of another block in Simulink?

I am trying to use the output of a simulink integrator as one variable in the "Breakaway friction torque" parameter of a Simscape Rotational Friction block. Is there a way to do this so that the target parameter responds to changes during the model run?

The physical description of my objective is: This is a rotating mechanical system with a friction device within. The friction device changes its breakaway torque as a function of a system response that can't be calculated beforehand. So this property must be tracked and used to continuously update the properties of the rotational friction block.

Answer 1

[Nicolas Schmit]

So you want to change the breakaway friction torque during the simulation. I think the simplest way to do that is to create a custom component where the breakaway torque is defined as an input instead of a parameter.

1. Create a copy the source code of the Rotational Friction block.
2. Add a "input" section
3. Move the line "brkwy_vel = { 0.1, 'rad/s' }; % Breakaway friction velocity" from the "parameter" section to the "input" section
4. Add a Simscape Component block to your model, and use the modified source code.

The newly created Simscape Component will have a physical signal input that let you set the breakaway torque during the simulation.