Analyzing Static and Temporal Properties of Simulation Models

This paper shows how a simulation model can be specified so that its static and temporal properties can be formally analyzed. The approach adopted is based on the integration of formal methods (FMs) and the DEVS paradigm. FMs are known to allow symbolic manipulation and reasoning, while DEVS is known as being a well-establish modeling and simulation (M&S) framework. Combining them makes it possible to develop rigorous proofs of the properties of simulation models as regard to design and use requirements. This paper focuses on the so-called atomic specification. Static aspects of the model are captured with the Z formalism, while dynamic aspects are expressed in first order logic. The specification is supported by the Z/EVES tool. A case study is exhibited

[1]  Osman Balci,et al.  Issues in Enhancing Model Reuse , 2000 .

[2]  D. Richard Kuhn,et al.  Practical Application of Formal Methods in Modeling and Simulation , 2003 .

[3]  Bernard P. Zeigler,et al.  Theory of Modelling and Simulation , 1979, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics.

[4]  Richard F. Paige,et al.  A Meta-Method for Formal Method Integration , 1997, FME.

[5]  Bernard P. Zeigler,et al.  Theory of Modeling and Simulation: Integrating Discrete Event and Continuous Complex Dynamic Systems , 2000 .

[6]  Robert G. Sargent,et al.  Some approaches and paradigms for verifying and validating simulation models , 2001, Proceeding of the 2001 Winter Simulation Conference (Cat. No.01CH37304).

[7]  Edmund M. Clarke,et al.  Formal Methods: State of the Art and Future Directions Working Group Members , 1996 .

[8]  Matthias Weber,et al.  Object-Oriented Specification of Hybrid Systems Using UMLh and ZimOO , 1998, ZUM.

[9]  Kenneth L. McMillan,et al.  Symbolic model checking: an approach to the state explosion problem , 1992 .

[10]  J. Michael Spivey,et al.  The Z notation - a reference manual , 1992, Prentice Hall International Series in Computer Science.

[11]  Bernard P. Zeigler,et al.  Theory of Modelling and Simulation , 1979, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics.

[12]  Paul K. Davis,et al.  Improving the Composability of Department of Defense Models and Simulations , 2004 .

[13]  Bernard P. Zeigler,et al.  Theory of modeling and simulation , 1976 .

[14]  Graeme Smith,et al.  The Object-Z Specification Language , 1999, Advances in Formal Methods.

[15]  Mark Saaltink,et al.  The Z/EVES System , 1997, ZUM.

[16]  Axel van Lamsweerde,et al.  Formal specification: a roadmap , 2000, ICSE '00.

[17]  D. E. Stevenson,et al.  FROM DEVS TO FORMAL METHODS : A CATEGORICAL APPROACH , 2003 .

[18]  Bernard P. Zeigler,et al.  Multifacetted Modelling and Discrete Event Simulation , 1984 .

[19]  Graeme Smith,et al.  Specifying Concurrent Systems Using Object-Z , 1992 .

[20]  Osman Balci,et al.  Verification, validation, and accreditation , 1998, 1998 Winter Simulation Conference. Proceedings (Cat. No.98CH36274).

[21]  Sérgio Vale Aguiar Campos,et al.  Symbolic Model Checking , 1993, CAV.