CIVIL ENGG.
DEPARTMENT
BIRLA VISHVAKARMA MAHAVIDYALAYA ENGG.
COLLEGE
VALLABH VIDYANAGAR-388120
M.TECH - TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING
Topic: Simulation Software
SUBJECT- MODELLING, ANALYSIS AND SIMULATION-
TE504
FACULTY GUIDE- PROF. PINAKIN N. PATEL
PREPARED BY:-
Sr. Student Name ID No.
No.
1
1 Karan Dadhania 17TS805
2 CONTENT
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Comparison of Simulation Packages with
Programming Languages
3.3 Classification of Simulation Software
3.4 Desirable Software Features
3.5 General-Purpose Simulation Packages
3.6 Object-Oriented Simulation
3.7 Examples of Application-Oriented Simulation
Packages
3 3.1 INTRODUCTION
Activities common to most simulations:
Random-number generation … draws from
U(0, 1) distribution
Random-variate generation … draws from
probability distributions specified as part of
the inputs to the model
Advancing simulated time
Determining the next event from the event list,
and passing control to the appropriate event
logic
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Adding records to lists, deleting records from
lists
Collecting output statistics and reporting
results
Detecting error conditions
Simulation software packages are designed to do
these things (and more) for us
3.2 COMPARISON OF
5
SIMULATION PACKAGES WITH
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
Advantages of simulation packages:
Provide most modeling features, so
“programming” effort, cost is reduced, often
significantly
Natural framework for simulation modeling
Usually make it easier to modify models
Better error detection for simulation-specific
errors
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Advantages of general-purpose programming
languages
More widely known, available
Usually executes faster … if well written
May allow more modeling flexibility
Software cost is usually lower
7 3.3 CLASSIFICATION OF
SIMULATION SOFTWARE
General-purpose vs. application-oriented packages
Traditionally: simulation languages and simulators
Languages were flexible but required programming,
simulators were easy to use but not very flexible
Now, almost all simulation software uses graphical
interface so is relatively easy to use, learn
Distinction now is between general-purpose
simulation software and applications-oriented
package
Specific applications include manufacturing, call
centers, telecommunications, etc.
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Modeling approaches
Event-scheduling approach – as in Chaps. 1
and 2
Can uses general programming languages, or some
simulation languages
During processing of an event, no simulated time
passes
Process-interaction approach
Now used by most simulation software
Instead of identifying events, identify entities (a.k.a.
processes) that are created, flow around or through
the system, maybe leave
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May have multiple realizations of an
entity/process
May have different kinds of
entities/processes
“Program” consists of a description of what
happens to the different kinds of processes
(including their entry and exit)
Usually expressed graphically, like a
flowchart
During processing of an entity/process,
simulated time usually passes
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Common modeling elements
Entities – represent customers, parts,
messages, paperwork, airplane, etc.
Attributes – Information stored with each
entity
Usually, every individual entity has the
same set of attributes, but the values differ
to distinguish the entities
Some attributes are automatic, others are
user-defined and user-maintained
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Resources – servers, machines, workers,
nodes, links, runways, gates, agents, clerks,
etc.
Queues – where entities wait if resources are
not available
12 3.4 DESIRABLE SOFTWARE
FEATURES
Hardware and software requirements
Matches platform/OS – Windows, UNIX,
MacOS
Animation and dynamic graphics
Concurrent vs. postprocessing
2D vs. 3D
Import CAD drawings
Display statistics, graphs dynamically during
execution
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General capabilities
Modeling flexibility – ability to drill down to
lower levels of programming, create custom
modeling constructs
Ease of use
Hierarchical modeling – sub models
containing sub models, etc.
Fast execution speed
Ability to create user-friendly front/back ends
for template creation
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Run-time version for wide distribution of
model
Import/export data from/to other applications
Automatic execution of models for different
input-parameter combinations
Combined discrete/continuous modeling
Ability to initialize in other than empty & idle
state
Save state at end to re-start later
Affordable
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Statistical capabilities
Adequate random-number generator for basic
U(0, 1) variates
Statistical properties, cycle length,
adequate streams and substreams
RNG seeds should have good defaults, be
fixed – not dependent on clock
Comprehensive list of input probability
distributions
Continuous, discrete, empirical
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Ability to make independent replications
Confidence-interval formation for output
performance measures:
Warmup
Experimental design
Optimum-seeking
Customer support and documentation
Output reports and graphics
Standard defaults, customizable – stored in
database for post processing
17 3.5 GENERAL-PURPOSE
SIMULATION PACKAGES
Two popular general-purpose simulation packages –
Arena and Extend
In each, builds a model of a small
manufacturing system
Mentions some additional general-purpose
simulation packages
AweSim, Micro Saint, GPSS/SLX,
SIMPLE++, SIMUL8, Taylor Enterprise
Dynamics
18 3.6 OBJECT-ORIENTED
SIMULATION
OO programming and OO simulation originated
in the same product – SIMULA, from the 1960s
OO simulation has objects that interact as
simulation progresses through simulated time
Objects contain data, methods
Also have encapsulation, inheritance, etc.
Recent software product for OO simulation –
MODSIM III
19 3.7 EXAMPLES OF APPLICATION-
ORIENTED SIMULATION
PACKAGES
Oriented toward specific classes of applications –
see book for software packages for:
Manufacturing
Communications
Process reengineering and service systems
Health care
Call centers
Standalone animation – links to multiple
simulation-modeling packages
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