Integrated Modeling and Simulation

Integrated Modeling and Simulation is a field of research and practice that allows relating architectural and design decisions to the actual or expected behavior of systems and products during manufacturing and operations. Specifically it is the goal of models and simulations to predict whether the performance, cost and risk associated with the system will meet stakeholder needs and goals.

Models are either physics-based (derived from theory and first principles) or empirical (i.e. derived from experimental data) or a hybrid of both and capture the essential relationships between form, function and behavior of a system. Typically, models will be parameterized such that a variety of instantiations of systems can be simulated under different operating conditions. Models can be characterized in terms of their purpose, fidelity, accuracy, complexity, comprehensiveness (multi-physics) as well as their credibility.

Research in the field of Integrated modeling and simulation aims at facilitating the construction, verification and execution of multidisciplinary models, while improving their fidelity and efficiency of simulations. There is significant recent interest in the area of distributed -- or federated -- models and simulations, particularly for systems that feature distributed governance, i.e. they are not fully under the control of a single organization or authority.

Specific contributions in the area of integrated modeling and simulation include:
(*) A fast time-domain solver for linear time-invariant (LTI) systems (fastlsim)
(*) Integrated modeling and simulation of space systems such as communications satellites, satellite constellations and the next generation of space telescopes (e.g. JWST)
(*) A spatial Nyquist-criterion based method for "sizing" the finite element meshes of dynamical structures with application to telescope structures
(*) Prototyping of a distributed lunar fuel economy using the IEEE-1516-2010 HLA -evolved standard for distributed and federated simulations (part of NASA/SISO - Smackdown)
(*) A discrete-event based modeling and simulation environment for Space Exploration Logistics (SpaceNet)
(*) Non-linear simulation of complex manufacturing processes such as superplastic forming, hydroforming and injection molding