# Modeling and Simulation in Python

Case study.



In [1]:

# Configure Jupyter so figures appear in the notebook
%matplotlib inline

# Configure Jupyter to display the assigned value after an assignment
%config InteractiveShell.ast_node_interactivity='last_expr_or_assign'

# import functions from the modsim.py module
from modsim import *



### Unrolling

Let's simulate a kitten unrolling toilet paper. As reference material, see this video.

The interactions of the kitten and the paper roll are complex. To keep things simple, let's assume that the kitten pulls down on the free end of the roll with constant force. Also, we will neglect the friction between the roll and the axle.

This figure shows the paper roll with $r$, $F$, and $\tau$. As a vector quantity, the direction of $\tau$ is into the page, but we only care about its magnitude for now.



In [2]:

m = UNITS.meter
s = UNITS.second
kg = UNITS.kilogram
N = UNITS.newton



And a few more parameters in the Params object.



In [3]:

params = Params(Rmin = 0.02 * m,
Rmax = 0.055 * m,
Mcore = 15e-3 * kg,
Mroll = 215e-3 * kg,
L = 47 * m,
tension = 2e-4 * N,
t_end = 120 * s)



make_system computes rho_h, which we'll need to compute moment of inertia, and k, which we'll use to compute r.



In [4]:

def make_system(params):
"""Make a system object.

params: Params with Rmin, Rmax, Mcore, Mroll,
L, tension, and t_end

returns: System with init, k, rho_h, Rmin, Rmax,
Mcore, Mroll, ts
"""
L, Rmax, Rmin = params.L, params.Rmax, params.Rmin
Mroll = params.Mroll

init = State(theta = 0 * radian,
y = L)

area = pi * (Rmax**2 - Rmin**2)
rho_h = Mroll / area
k = (Rmax**2 - Rmin**2) / 2 / L / radian

return System(params, init=init, area=area, rho_h=rho_h, k=k)



Testing make_system



In [5]:

system = make_system(params)




In [6]:

system.init



Here's how we compute I as a function of r:



In [7]:

def moment_of_inertia(r, system):
"""Moment of inertia for a roll of toilet paper.

r: current radius of roll in meters
system: System object with Mcore, rho, Rmin, Rmax

returns: moment of inertia in kg m**2
"""
Mcore, Rmin, rho_h = system.Mcore, system.Rmin, system.rho_h

Icore = Mcore * Rmin**2
Iroll = pi * rho_h / 2 * (r**4 - Rmin**4)
return Icore + Iroll



When r is Rmin, I is small.



In [8]:

moment_of_inertia(system.Rmin, system)



As r increases, so does I.



In [9]:

moment_of_inertia(system.Rmax, system)



## Exercises

Write a slope function we can use to simulate this system. Here are some suggestions and hints:

• r is no longer part of the State object. Instead, we compute r at each time step, based on the current value of y, using

$y = \frac{1}{2k} (r^2 - R_{min}^2)$

• Angular velocity, omega, is no longer constant. Instead, we compute torque, tau, and angular acceleration, alpha, at each time step.

• I changed the definition of theta so positive values correspond to clockwise rotation, so dydt = -r * omega; that is, positive values of omega yield decreasing values of y, the amount of paper still on the roll.

• Your slope function should return omega, alpha, and dydt, which are the derivatives of theta, omega, and y, respectively.

• Because r changes over time, we have to compute moment of inertia, I, at each time step.

That last point might be more of a problem than I have made it seem. In the same way that $F = m a$ only applies when $m$ is constant, $\tau = I \alpha$ only applies when $I$ is constant. When $I$ varies, we usually have to use a more general version of Newton's law. However, I believe that in this example, mass and moment of inertia vary together in a way that makes the simple approach work out. Not all of my collegues are convinced.



In [10]:

# Solution goes here



Test slope_func with the initial conditions.



In [11]:

# Solution goes here



Run the simulation.



In [12]:

# Solution goes here



And look at the results.



In [13]:

results.tail()



Check the results to see if they seem plausible:

• The final value of theta should be about 220 radians.

• The final value of omega should be near 4 radians/second, which is less one revolution per second, so that seems plausible.

• The final value of y should be about 35 meters of paper left on the roll, which means the kitten pulls off 12 meters in two minutes. That doesn't seem impossible, although it is based on a level of consistency and focus that is unlikely in a kitten.

• Angular velocity, omega, should increase almost linearly at first, as constant force yields almost constant torque. Then, as the radius decreases, the lever arm decreases, yielding lower torque, but moment of inertia decreases even more, yielding higher angular acceleration.

Plot theta



In [14]:

def plot_theta(results):
plot(results.theta, color='C0', label='theta')
decorate(xlabel='Time (s)',

plot_theta(results)



Plot omega



In [15]:

def plot_omega(results):
plot(results.omega, color='C2', label='omega')

decorate(xlabel='Time (s)',

plot_omega(results)



Plot y



In [16]:

def plot_y(results):
plot(results.y, color='C1', label='y')

decorate(xlabel='Time (s)',
ylabel='Length (m)')

plot_y(results)




In [ ]: