A Simulation Based Approach to Digital Twin’s Interoperability Verification & Validation

The digital twins of production systems are one of the pillars of the Indus-try of the Future. Despite numerous on-going research and development initiatives the verification and validation of the digital twin remains a major scientific obstacle. This work proposes a simulation-based approach to achieve this goal: support Digital Twin verification and validation through the definition of a dedicated framework. A simulation model is used in place of the real-world system for ensuring the digital twin behaves as expected and for assessing its proper interoperability with the system to be twinned with. Then the simulation model is replaced by the real-world sys-tem, to interoperate with the verified and validated digital twin. With such an approach, the interoperability middleware, i.e. the IoT between the sys-tem and its digital twin can also be modeled, simulated, verified and vali-dated. Consequently, an optimized solution can be built for an entire value chain, from the system to its digital twin and conversely. © 2022 CEUR-WS. All rights reserved

Business models for distributed-simulation orchestration and risk management

Nowadays, industries are implementing heterogeneous systems from different domains, backgrounds, and operating systems. Manufacturing systems are becoming more and more complex, which forces engineers to manage the complexity in several aspects. Technical complexities bring interoperability, risk management, and hazards issues that must be taken into consideration, from the business model design to the technical implementation. To solve the complexities and the incompatibilities between heterogeneous components, several distributed and cosimulation standards and tools can be used for data exchange and interconnection. High-level architecture (HLA) and functional mockup interface (FMI) are the main international standards used for distributed and cosimulation. HLA is mainly used in academic and defense domains while FMI is mostly used in industry. In this article, we propose an HLA/FMI implementation with a connection to an external business process-modeling tool called Papyrus. Papyrus is configured as a master federate that orchestrates the subsimulations based on the above standards. The developed framework is integrated with external heterogeneous components through an FMI interface. This framework is developed with the aim of bringing interoperability to a system used in a power generation compan

The use of the IEEE HLA standard to tackle interoperability issues between heterogeneous components

Classical simulation methods become not flexible and performant enough in complex models, necessitating the use of a distributed simulation technique to split the load and heterogeneity into separate sub-components and manage the simulation time between them. In this type of simulation, interoperability and reusability issues arise and should be addressed. The IEEE High-Level Architecture (HLA) standard for distributed simulation emphasizes federates interoperability and reusability, as well as time management and advanced data distribution techniques. This paper presents the methodologies and techniques used to develop the HLA federates, as part of the Simulation Exploration Experience (SEE) project, to virtually recreate a mission on the moon. This project is organized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO). For each SEE component, an HLA interface was developed to make it compliant with other SEE federates and reusable during the simulation run. Based on HLA mechanisms, heterogeneous components with an HLA interface were able to interexchange objects/attributes and interactions/parameters

A Multicomponent Distributed Framework for Smart Production System Modeling and Simulation

In order to control manufacturing systems, managers need risk and performance evaluation methods and simulation tools. However, these simulation techniques must evolve towards being multiperformance, multiactor, and multisimulation tools, and this requires interoperability between those distributed components. This paper presents an integrated platform that brings interoperability to several simulation components. This work expands the process modeling tool Papyrus to allow it to communicate with external components through both distributed simulation and cosimulation standards. The distributed modeling and simulation framework (DMSF) platform takes its environment into consideration in order to evaluate the sustainability of the system while integrating external heterogeneous components. For instance, a DMSF connection with external IoT devices has been implemented. Moreover, the orchestration of different smart manufacturing components and services is achieved through configurable business models. As a result, an automotive industry case study has successfully been tested to demonstrate the sustainability of smart supply chains and manufacturing factories, allowing better connectivity with their real environments

Experimental and theoretical confirmation of an orthorhombic phase transition in niobium at high pressure and temperature

Compared to other body-centered cubic (bcc) transition metals, Nb has been the subject of fewer compression studies and there are still aspects of its phase diagram which are unclear. Here, we report a combined theoretical and experimental study of Nb under high pressure and temperature. We present the results of static laser-heated diamond anvil cell experiments up to 120 GPa using synchrotron-based fast x-ray diffraction combined with ab initio quantum molecular dynamics simulations. The melting curve of Nb is determined and evidence for a solid-solid phase transformation in Nb with increasing temperature is found. The high-temperature phase of Nb is orthorhombic Pnma. The bcc-Pnma transition is clearly seen in the experimental data on the Nb principal Hugoniot. The bcc-Pnma coexistence observed in our experiments is explained. Agreement between the measured and calculated melting curves is very good except at 40–60 GPa where three experimental points lie below the theoretical melting curve by 250 K (or 7%); a possible explanation is given

Outcome reporting in randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses of appendicitis treatments in children: a systematic review

Background: Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency in children. Despite this, there is no core outcome set (COS) described for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in children with appendicitis and hence no consensus regarding outcome selection, definition and reporting. We aimed to identify outcomes currently reported in studies of paediatric appendicitis. / Methods: Using a defined, sensitive search strategy, we identified RCTs and systematic reviews (SRs) of treatment interventions in children with appendicitis. Included studies were all in English and investigated the effect of one or more treatment interventions in children with acute appendicitis or undergoing appendicectomy for presumed acute appendicitis. Studies were reviewed and data extracted by two reviewers. Primary (if defined) and all other outcomes were recorded and assigned to the core areas ‘Death’, ‘Pathophysiological Manifestations’, ‘Life Impact’, ‘Resource Use’ and ‘Adverse Events’, using OMERACT Filter 2.0. / Results: A total of 63 studies met the inclusion criteria reporting outcomes from 51 RCTs and nine SRs. Only 25 RCTs and four SRs defined a primary outcome. A total of 115 unique and different outcomes were identified. RCTs reported a median of nine outcomes each (range 1 to 14). The most frequently reported outcomes were wound infection (43 RCTs, nine SRs), intra-peritoneal abscess (41 RCTs, seven SRs) and length of stay (35 RCTs, six SRs) yet all three were reported in just 25 RCTs and five SRs. Common outcomes had multiple different definitions or were frequently not defined. Although outcomes were reported within all core areas, just one RCT and no SR reported outcomes for all core areas. Outcomes assigned to the ‘Death’ and ‘Life Impact’ core areas were reported least frequently (in six and 15 RCTs respectively). / Conclusions: There is a wide heterogeneity in the selection and definition of outcomes in paediatric appendicitis, and little overlap in outcomes used across studies. A paucity of studies report patient relevant outcomes within the ‘Life Impact’ core area. These factors preclude meaningful evidence synthesis, and pose challenges to designing prospective clinical trials and cohort studies. The development of a COS for paediatric appendicitis is warranted

A Multicomponent Distributed Framework for Smart Production System Modeling and Simulation

In order to control manufacturing systems, managers need risk and performance evaluation methods and simulation tools. However, these simulation techniques must evolve towards being multiperformance, multiactor, and multisimulation tools, and this requires interoperability between those distributed components. This paper presents an integrated platform that brings interoperability to several simulation components. This work expands the process modeling tool Papyrus to allow it to communicate with external components through both distributed simulation and cosimulation standards. The distributed modeling and simulation framework (DMSF) platform takes its environment into consideration in order to evaluate the sustainability of the system while integrating external heterogeneous components. For instance, a DMSF connection with external IoT devices has been implemented. Moreover, the orchestration of different smart manufacturing components and services is achieved through configurable business models. As a result, an automotive industry case study has successfully been tested to demonstrate the sustainability of smart supply chains and manufacturing factories, allowing better connectivity with their real environments

Using business models to orchestrate a distributed simulation federating risk management

De nos jours, la modélisation et la simulation (M&S) jouent un rôle central dans le dimensionnement des processus métiers de l’industrie en raison d’une augmentation significative des composants qui y participent. La combinaison des composants produit un système complexe et induit une augmentation proportionnelle des risques inhérents aux projets. En conséquence, il est nécessaire de caractériser et maîtriser ces derniers dans les modèles et la simulation. De plus, le système étant l’association de différents domaines , les acteurs doivent pouvoir effectuer des simulations intégrant des composants spécifiques, indépendants, hétérogènes et distribués. Plusieurs standards de co-simulation proposent des mécanismes pour orchestrer des composants distribués. Parmi eux, deux standards: High Level Architecture (HLA) et Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) permettent l’association de composants hétérogènes et possèdent respectivement des atouts d’expression des comportement et de gestion du temps. Cependant leur mise en œuvre reste compliquée avec des outils de gestion des processus et un besoin de compatibilité est toujours attendu. De plus, les implémentations conjointes des deux standards présentent des problèmes d’alignement des concepts et méthodes pour une orchestration globales des deux standards.Dans ce travail de recherche, nous proposons le développement d’une plateforme de modélisation et de simulation dans le but d’appréhender de façon plus formalisée la complexité du contexte industriel. Notre objectif est de proposer une méthode et un outil modulaire capable de résoudre différentes problématiques industrielles. Chaque thématique de recherche présentée ici sera traitée par une extension de la plateforme ayant pour rôle de répondre à une problématique en lien avec une complexité différente :- Modélisation et simulation des risques inhérents à un contexte industriel :Nous proposons une extension capable d’externaliser la définition de risques contextuels hors d’un modèle de simulation, afin de faciliter le développement et la simulation de ces derniers.- Intégration et interaction entre deux normes de cosimulation (HLA et FMI) :Nous proposons l’adaptation de notre plateforme de M&S au pilotage, et à la communication des deux standards de cosimulation.- Modélisation et orchestration d’une simulation distribuée :Nous proposons l’utilisation d’un langage graphique intégré à la plateforme pour le pilotage d’une simulation distribuée HLA.Ces contributions sont operationalisées et expérimentées dans le domaine de la production d’usines mobiles à énergies solaires par l’entreprise ALSOLENTECH. En effet, cette société a exprimé des besoins s’intégrant bien dans nos problématiques de recherches, elle nous fournit un cas d’étude et d’application et exploite nos travaux depuis les concepts jusqu’à l’exploitation des solutions proposées.Nowadays, modeling and simulation (M&S) plays a central role in the dimensioning of business processes in industry due to a significant increase in the number of components involved. The combination of components produces a complex system and induces a proportional increase in project risks. Consequently, it is necessary to characterize and control them in models and simulation. In addition, since the system is the association of different domains, actors must be able to perform simulations integrating specific, independent, heterogeneous and distributed components. Several co-simulation standards propose mechanisms to orchestrate distributed components. Among them, two standards: High Level Architecture (HLA) and Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) allow the association of heterogeneous components and respectively have advantages in terms of behaviour expression and time management. However, their implementation remains complicated with process management tools and a need for compatibility is always expected. In addition, joint implementations of the two standards present problems in aligning concepts and methods for a global orchestration of the two standards.In this research work, we propose the development of a modeling and simulation platform in order to apprehend in a more formalized way the complexity of the industrial context. Our objective is to propose a method and a modular tool capable of solving different industrial problems. Each research topic presented here will be treated by an extension of the platform whose role is to respond to a problem related to a different complexity:- Modeling and simulation of the risks inherent to an industrial context:We propose an extension capable of externalizing the definition of contextual risks outside of a simulation model, in order to facilitate their development and simulation.- Integration and interaction between two cosimulation standards (HLA and IMF) :We propose the adaptation of our M&S platform to the piloting and communication of the two cosimulation standards.- Modeling and orchestration of a distributed simulation :We propose the use of a graphical language integrated to the platform for the piloting of a distributed HLA simulation.These contributions are operationalized and experimented in the field of the production of mobile solar energy plants by the company ALSOLENTECH. Indeed, this company has expressed needs that fit well with our research problems, it provides us with a case study and application and exploits our work from the concepts to the exploitation of the proposed solutions