Introducing Simulation Models
A simulation model is a tool capable of processing information and data and predicting the responses of a real system to certain inputs, providing effective support for analysis, performance evaluation, and decision-making processes. The term simulation refers to reproducing the behavior of a system. In a simulation, we can use a real model, perhaps in scale, or a numerical model, which reproduces reality using a computer. An example of a real model is a scale model of an airplane, which is then placed in a wind tunnel to run simulated tests to estimate suitable performance measures.
Although, over the years, physicists have developed theoretical laws that we can use to obtain information on the performance of dynamic systems, often, the application of these laws to a real case takes too long. In these cases, it is convenient to construct a numerical simulation model that allows us to simulate the behavior of the system under certain conditions. This elaborated model will allow us to test the functionality of the system in a simple and immediate way, saving considerable resources in terms of time and money.
In this chapter, we’re going to cover the following main topics:
- Introducing simulation models
- Classifying simulation models
- Approaching a simulation-based problem
- Exploring discrete event simulation
- Dynamical systems modeling
- How to run efficient simulations to analyze real-world systems
