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FNODE: Flow-matching for data-driven simulation of constrained multibody systems

delete2026-03-18
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PRE
AI
H
Hongyu Wang
J
Jingquan Wang
D
Dan Negruţ
DOI:10.1016/j.cma.2026.118912delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Data-driven modeling of constrained multibody dynamics remains challenged by (i) the training cost of Neural ODEs, which typically require backpropagation through an ODE solver, and (ii) error accumulation in rollout predictions. We introduce a Flow-Matching Neural ODE (FNODE) framework that learns the acceleration mapping directly from trajectory data by supervising accelerations rather than integrated states, turning training into a supervised regression problem and eliminating the ODE-adjoint/solver backpropagation bottleneck. Acceleration targets are obtained efficiently via numerical differentiation using a hybrid fast Fourier transform (FFT) and finite-difference (FD) scheme. Kinematic constraints are enforced through coordinate partitioning: FNODE learns accelerations only for the independent generalized coordinates, while the dependent coordinates are recovered by solving the position-level constraint equations. We evaluate FNODE on single and triple mass–spring–damper systems, a double pendulum, a slider–crank with and without friction, a vehicle model, and a cart–pole, and compare against MBD-NODE, LSTM, and fully connected baselines. We also compared the error contributions between numerical differentiation and Neural Network learned field mismatch in single-mass-spring-damper system, which proves the error of learned acceleration field is dominated by the error of Neural Network and confirms the robustness of numerical differentiation. Across these benchmarks, FNODE achieves improved prediction accuracy and training/runtime efficiency, while maintaining constraint satisfaction through the partitioning procedure. Our code and scripts are released as open source to support reproducibility and follow-on research.

Journal

Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering cover
Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering
IF:
7.3
Papers:
1.3W
Citations:
5.6W

Organization

U
university of wisconsin madison
Scholars:
3.8W
Papers: 2.9W
Citations: 53