Software Environment for Learning Continuous System Simulation

Abstract

In this paper, we describe a new graphical environment for learning continuous simulation. This open source software solution enables engineering students to learn and understand various real system models in the CSMP (Continuous Simulation Modelling Programme) language easily, and at the same time learn about the implementation aspects of simulation languages. The software provides efficient tools for creating, storing, and executing continuous system simulation models that are described with differential equations. The graphical block-diagram interface allows students to drag-and-drop predefined modelling blocks', connect them together and create different models of continuous systems. Further, we present an example of using the developed application in solving a typical continuous simulation problem. Finally, we present the results of the evaluation performed on a testing sample of 160 students of undergraduate course Simulation and simulation languages at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade.