Semantic adaptation for FMI co-simulation with hierarchical simulators. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gomes, Cláudio; Meyers, Bart; Denil, Joachim; Thule, Casper; Lausdahl, Kenneth; Vangheluwe, Hans; De Meulenaere, Paul
• Is Part Of: Simulation. Volume 95:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 241
• Page End: 269
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: Co-simulation -- Functional Mockup Interface Standard -- hierarchical co-simulation -- semantic adaptation; Computer simulation -- Periodicals; 003.3
• DOI: 10.1177/0037549718759775
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0037-5497

Abstract

Model-based design can shorten the development time of complex systems by the use of simulation techniques. However, it can be hard to simulate the system as a whole if it is developed in a concurrent fashion by multiple and specialized teams. Co-simulation, with the support of the Functional Mockup Interface (FMI) Standard, is proposed as a way to promote tool interoperability while protecting the intellectual property of subsystems. The standard allows uniform communication between subsystem simulators, but does not state how the inputs and outputs should be interpreted, nor how the subsystems should interact correctly. Semantic adaptations can be quickly made to correct the interactions with subsystem simulators that were produced with different assumptions, and avoid changing those subsystems, their simulators, or the orchestration algorithm that computes the co-simulation. In this work, we explore how to describe common adaptations and what their meaning is in the context of FMI co-simulation. The result is a sound language that enables the implementation of adaptations with minimal effort. A distinct feature is that it describes adaptations for groups of interconnected subsystem simulators in the same way as for a single simulator, and the implementation is itself a simulator, thanks to a sound definition of hierarchical co-simulation. This work paves the way for research into the correct combination and interfacing of different adaptations.