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Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.

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Configure SysML Simulation

The Configure SysML Simulation window is the interface through which you can provide run-time parameters for executing the simulation of a SysML model. The simulation is based on a simulation configuration defined in a SysMLSimConfiguration Artifact element.

Access

Ribbon

Simulate > System Behavior > Modelica/Simulink > SysMLSim Configuration Manager

Other

Double-click on an Artifact with the SysMLSimConfiguration stereotype.

Toolbar Options

Option

Description

See also

Click on the drop-down arrow and select from these options:

  • Select Artifact — Select and load an existing configuration from an Artifact with the SysMLSimConfiguration stereotype (if one has not already been selected)
  • Create Artifact — Create a new SysMLSimConfiguration or select and load an existing Configuration Artifact
  • Select Package — Select a Package to scan for SysML elements to configure for simulation
  • Reload — Reload the Configuration Manager with changes to the current Package
  • Configure Simulation Solver — Display the 'Simulation Solver Path' dialog, in which you type or browse for the path to the Solver to use. For MATLAB/Simulink, the path will be automatically detected so this only needs to be changed if there are issues with the automatic detection, or there are multiple versions of MATLAB installed.

Click on this button to save the configuration to the current Artifact.

Click on this icon to specifically validate the model against the SysML configuration now. The results of the validation display in the 'SysML Simulation' tab of the System Output window. You can also select an option to automatically pre-validate the model before each simulation is executed. See the 'Pre-validate' option in the Simulation Tab table.

Click on this icon to expand every item in the hierarchy in the 'Name' column of the window.

Click on this icon to collapse all the expanded items in the model hierarchy in the 'Name' column of the window.

Click on this icon to display a list of object types that can be suppressed in the simulation. Click on the checkbox against each object to suppress, or click on the All button to select all items for suppression.

You can also use the Filter Bar at the top of the 'Option' column to only display items having the specified letter or text string in the name.

text field

Click on the drop-down arrow and select the application under which the simulation is being run - such as OpenModelica or Simulink.

Start test.

Click on this button to generate, compile and run the current configuration, and display the results.

Comma-separated values (CSV)

After simulation, the result file is generated in either plt, mat or csv format. That is, with the filename:

  • ModelName_res.mat (the default for OpenModelica)
  • ModelName_res.plt   or
  • ModelName_res.csv

Click on this button to specify a directory into which Enterprise Architect will copy the result file.

Click on this button to select from these options:

  • Run Last Code - Execute the most recently generated code
  • Generate Code — Generate the code without compiling or running it
  • Open Simulation Directory — Open the directory into which OpenModelica or Simulink code will be generated
  • Edit Templates — Customize the code generated for OpenModelica or Simulink, using the Code Template Editor

Simulation Artifact and Model Selection

Field

Action

See also

Artifact

Click on the Browse. icon and either browse for and select an existing SysMLSimConfiguration Artifact, or create a new Artifact.

Select Dialog

Package

If you have specified an existing SysMLSimConfiguration Artifact, this field defaults to the Package containing the SysML model associated with that Artifact.

Otherwise, click on the Browse. icon and browse for and select the Package containing the SysML model to configure for simulation. You must specify (or create) the Artifact before selecting the Package.

Package Objects

This table discusses the types of object from the SysML model that will be listed under the 'Name' column in the Configure SysML Simulation window, to be processed in the simulation. Each object type expands to list the named objects of that type, and the properties of each object that require configuration in the 'Value' column.

Many levels of the object types, names and properties do not require configuration, so the corresponding 'Value' field does not accept input. Where input is appropriate and accepted, a drop-down arrow displays at the right end of the field; when you click on this arrow a short list of possible values displays for selection. Certain values (such as 'SimVariable' for a Part) add further layers of parameters and properties, where you click on the Browse. button to, again, select and set values for the parameters. For datasets, the input dialog allows you to type in or import values, such as initial or default values; see the Model Analysis using Datasets Help topic.

Element Type

Behavior

See also

ValueType

ValueType elements either generalize from a primitive type or are substituted by SysMLSimReal for simulation.

Block

Block elements mapped to SysMLSimClass or SysMLSimModel elements support the creation of data sets. If you have defined multiple data sets in a SysMLSimClass (which can be generalized), you must identify one of them as the default (using the context menu option 'Set as Default Dataset').

As a SysMLSimModel is a possible top-level element for a simulation, and will not be generalized, if you have defined multiple datasets the dataset to use is chosen during the simulation.

Properties

The preferred way to specify constants or variables and their settings is to use the SysPhS stereotypes PhSConstant and PhSVariable on the Properties themselves. The PhSVariable stereotype has built-in properties for isContinuous, isConserved and changeCycle.

The Properties will be listed under either PhSConstant or PhSVariable and the Value cannot be changed.

It's also possible to define the settings within the Configure SysML Simulation window. In this case they will be listed under 'Properties'.

Properties within a Block can be configured to be either SimConstants or SimVariables. For a SimVariable, you configure these attributes:

  • isContinuous — determines whether the property value varies continuously ('true', the default) or discretely ('false')
  • isConserved — determines whether values of the property are conserved ('true') or not ('false', the default); when modeling for physical interaction, the interactions include exchanges of conserved physical substances such as electrical current, force or fluid flow
  • changeCycle — specifies the time interval at which a discrete property value changes; the default value is '0'
         -  changeCycle can be set to a value other than 0 only when
            isContinuous = 'false'
         -  The value of changeCycle must be positive or equal to 0

Port

No configuration required.

SimFunction

Functions are created as operations in Blocks or ConstraintBlocks, stereotyped as 'SimFunction'.

No configuration is required in the Configure SysML Simulation window.

Generalization

No configuration required.

Binding Connector

Binds a property to a parameter of a constraint property.

No configuration required; however, if the properties are different, the system provides an option to synchronize them.

Connector

Connects two Ports.

No configuration required in the Configure SysML Simulation window. However, you might have to configure the properties of the Port's type by determining whether the attribute isConserved should be set as 'False' (for potential properties, so that equality coupling is established) or 'True' (for flow/conserved properties, so that sum-to-zero coupling is established).

Constraint Block

No configuration required.

Simulation Tab

This table describes the fields of the 'Simulation' tab on the Configure SysML Simulation window.

Field

Action

See also

Model

Click on the drop-down arrow and select the top-level node (a SysMLSimModel element) for the simulation. The list is populated with the names of the Blocks defined as top-level, model nodes.

Creating a Parametric Model

Data Set

Click on the drop-down arrow and select the dataset for the selected model.

Model Analysis using Datasets

Pre-Validate

Select this checkbox to automatically validate the model before each simulation of the model is executed.

Start

Type in the initial wait time before which the simulation is started, in seconds (default value is 0).

Stop

Type in the number of seconds for which the simulation will execute.

Format

Click on the drop-down arrow and select either 'plt', 'csv' or 'mat' as the format of the result file, which could potentially be used by other tools.

Parametric Plot

  • Select this checkbox to plot Legend A on the y-axis against Legend B on the x-axis.
  • Deselect the checkbox to plot Legend(s) on the y-axis against time on the x-axis

Note: With the checkbox selected, you must select two properties to plot.

Use Simscape

(if the selected math tool is Simulink) Select the checkbox if you also want to process the simulation in Simscape.

Dependencies

Lists the types that must be generated to simulate this model.

Properties to Plot

Provides a list of variable properties that are involved with the simulation. Select the checkbox against each property to plot.