Model a Rolling Wheel

To create a new Simscape™ Multibody™ model, at the MATLAB^® command prompt, enter:

smnew

In the model, add:

Delete Scope, PS-Simulink Converter, and Simulink-PS Converter blocks. Rename and connect the blocks as showing in following figure.

Assign these properties to Wheel Location:

Assign these properties to Ramp Incline:

Assign these properties to Cylindrical Wheel:

Assign these properties Inclined Plane:

Assign these properties to Contact Force:

On the Modeling tab, select Model Settings > Model Settings to open the Configuration Parameters. In the Solver pane, under Solver details, update the following:

At this point, both the Cylindrical Wheel block and Inclined Plane block should have a geometry port. As shown in the figure, connect the geometry ports of the Inclined Plane and Cylindrical Wheel blocks to the base and follower ports of the Spatial Contact Force block, respectively.

On the Simulation tab, click Run. In the MATLAB window, the Mechanics Explorer pane opens, and you see the cylindrical wheel roll down the surface. For a more complicated model, see Using the Spatial Contact Force Block - Bumper Car.