A Program of Research in Environments for Scientific Computation

本研究的基本目标是发展必要的科学基础，以减少组装和使用计算机工具进行物理系统模拟和分析所需的时间和精力。大多数现有的模拟器解决的问题范围有限，难以修改，而且难以集成，因为每个模拟器都使用自己的表示方案。这项研究将解决这些问题，并建立一个环境，使创建模拟器的许多步骤自动化。定义模拟器需要；选择方程来模拟物理系统的行为，选择和实现求解方程的计算方法，定义处理复杂仿真控制流的机制，选择物理对象及其属性、方程等的表示方案。目前，这些步骤是隐式执行的，没有计算机辅助。研究人员将设计一种软件架构，使模拟器可以用方程和自然适合问题的数学性质来描述。该研究将发展：一个模型表示系统，用于表示在给定分析模型中描述物理行为的数量和规律；分析规范系统是一种根据规律和数量来定义仿真行为的语言；场景编辑器；以及用于集成现有模块（如数值包或有限元代码）的低级接口。

The fundamental goal of this research is the development of the science base necessary to reduce the time and effort required to assemble and use computer tools for simulation and analysis of physical systems. Most existing simulators solve a limited range of problems, are difficult to modify, and are difficult to integrate because each uses its own representation scheme. The research will address these issues and build an environment that automates many of the steps in creating a simulator. Defining a simulator requires; choosing equations to model the behavior of the physical systems, choosing and implementing computational methods for solving the equations defining mechanisms to handle the complex control flow of simulations, and choosing representation schemes for physical objects, their properties, equations, etc. Currently, these steps are carried out implicitly, without computer aid. The researchers will design a software architecture that allows simulators to be described in terms of equations and mathematical properties naturally suited to the problem. The research will develop: a model representation system for representing the quantities and laws that describe the physical behavior in a given analysis model; and analysis specification system, a language for defining the behavior of a simulation in terms of the laws and quantities; a scene editor; and a low level interface for integrating existing modules such a numerical packages or finite element codes.