Life-cycle-oriented method for development and production of large-scale industrial mathematics software

Abstract

Mathematics software is of growing importance for computer simulation in industrial computer-aided engineering. Mathematics software not only has to fulfil functional requirements to be applicable in industry, also performance requirements have to be met. The performance requirements concern availability, continuity, integrity, accessibility and timeliness. In general mathematics software for simulation of aspects of e.g. fluid and solid mechanics is complex. Besides, the mathematics software must be able to cooperate with other software. The total software collection will be implemented in industry on a variety of interconnected computer systems. The mathematics software must be structured in such a way that functions and performance can be maintained easily. This means easy adaptation to extensions and improvements in the complex combination of hardware and software in which mathematics software in integrated in the industrial environment. In the present paper a method is described for structuring of mathematics software in such a way that these requirements can be met. For application of the method it is considered necessary that representatives from various specialisms contribute to the development and production of mathematics software. In view of this, the method is designed to enable efficient cooperation of groups of skilled specialists in development and production of mathematics software. © 1992.