MERGING THE PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL WORLDS THROUGH DIGITAL TWINS. APPLICATION TO MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT TO OPTIMIZE DESIGN, MONITORING, AND MAINTENANCE
A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical system or process, combining a digital model with its real counterpart. It can represent geometric, multiphysical, functional, or behavioral aspects and is used to optimize control, safety, and production. For mechanical equipment, digital twins enable monitoring, performance evaluation, and data-driven design improvements.
This work presents the state of the art of digital twins in industry and a use case for fatigue evaluation and predictive maintenance of a pressure vessel. Such equipment faces harsh operating conditions, strict regulations, and safety risks, making traditional maintenance challenging. Real-time monitoring with digital twins can reduce downtime and maintenance costs, though implementation requires careful consideration of loads, materials, geometry, and environment.
The methodology, applicable to other mechanical components, involves: designing the physical twin with optimized sensors, conducting fatigue tests under representative loads, and building the digital twin by hybridizing physical and data models.
