Math 412 (Computer Simulation)

Instructor:Dr. Mahmoud Alrefaei.

 Email:alrefaei@just.edu.jo

 Objectives:
Course Description:
Grading Policy:
 Text Book:
References:
Schedule:
Installing GPSS/H:

 

Objectives:

The Main objective of the course is to model practical problems and solve them using simulation through the computer simulation language GPSS/H. By the end of this course the student should be able to:
  1. Formulate a real life problem into a mathematical model.
  2. Identify the components of the GPSS/H that are required for the given model.
  3. Write a GPSS/H model file.
  4. Implement the model file and analyze the results of the simulation run.

Course Description:

This course introduces building and experimenting with simulation models using a powerful and well-established simulation language; GPSS/H (General Purpose Simulation System). The following are the major units in this course:
  1. Introduction to simulation: This unit builds a solid background of the simulation concept, the importance of simulation in Operations Research, and give a description where simulation can be used in practice. It also provides a comparison of simulation versus other alternatives such as mathematical models or physical experiments. For better understanding of simulation methodology, a realization of systems and models is provided.
  2. The types of systems for which simulation models are built using GPSS/H can include components that behave in random fashion so a review of random variables and basic concepts of probability and statistics is provided here. We also discuss how we can get a pseudo random numbers that pass some statistical tests to be used as random numbers.
  3. Introduction to GPSS/H. This unit provides the base for the GPSS/H, the approaches for building a GPSS/H models. We also provide the concepts of transactions and their creation, movement, and destruction. The simulated clock, interarrival times, block diagrams are also introduced. Running GPSS/H in the test-mode manner.
  4. The fundamental modeling of single servers. This unit describes the principal method used in GPSS/H to model single servers. It also provides the concept of queue and the different queue disciplines and how they can be modeled using GPSS/H.
  5. Modeling Groups of identical servers. More blocks and control statements are given here give the user more flexibility with modeling a variety of system.
  6. Generating non-uniform random variables using GPSS/H such as the Exponential, Normal, and Erlang distribution.
  7. Statistical experiment. This is the most important unit in this course. In this unit we learn how to estimate the mean average of performance measures of complex stochastic systems both in terminating (transient) simulation and the long run (steady state) simulation and give some level of confidence for this estimate.

Grading Policy:

First Exam 
20%
Second Exam 
25%
Assignments and a Project 
15 %
Final Exam 
40%

Text:

SchriberT. J. An Introduction to Simulation Using GPSS/H. Wiley, New York, 1991.

References:

  1. Bank, J, J. S. Carson, and J. N. Sy. Getting Started with GPSS/H. Printice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1989
  2. Maltoff, N. S. Probability Modeling and Computer Simulation. PWS-Kent, Boston, Massachuestts, 1988.
  3. Neelamkavil, F. Computer Simulation and Modeling. Wiley, New York, 1987.
Week  Subject 
1  Introduction to Simulation: General Concept.
2  Applications of Simulation, Comparison with Alternatives.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Simulation. 
Steps in a Simulation Study.
3  Introduction to GPSS/H. Transactions, their Creation, 
Movement, and Destruction.
The Structure and the Statements of GPSS/H. 
4  How Transaction are Managed by GPSS/H. 
Running GPSS/H Under the Test-Mode.
5  A Test-Mode Demonstration of Generate Block. 
The Scan Phase and the Clock Update Phase.
6 Fundamental Modeling of Single Servers: The Facility Entity.
Facility Reports, Documentation Pattern for Case Studies.
A Manufacturing Case Study. 
7  Zero-Time Blocks, Dummy Facility, Overlapping of SEIZE and 
RELEASE Blocks. 
8  The Nature of the Queue Entity.
Queue Reports and Examples of the Queue Use. 
9  Another Case Study from Manufacturing.
Modeling Groups of Identical Servers: STORAGE Control Statement.
Types of Queuing Systems which use a Storage Model. 
10  A Case Study of a System that Contains Multiple Servers. 
Additional Blocks that Controlling Transaction Direction and Timing. 
11  Generating Non-Uniform Random Variables 
12  Applications of Discrete Distributions. Sampling from Continuous Distributions.
Statistical Experiments with Single Servers: DO/ENDDO Control Statement. 
13  Types of Simulations: Transient and Steady-State Simulations. 
14  Interval Estimates of the Mean.
The Use of Pilot Studies to Estimate Required Sample Size. 
Case Studies: Ships Unloading Cargo at Harber. 
15  A Model of a Hospital's Emergency Room.
A Job Shop Model and some Case studies from Real Life.


Installing GPSS/H:
 
  1. Make a directory called gpssh in your root directory
  2. Download the file Unzip.exe put it in the directory gpssh
  3. Download gpss.zip put it in the directory gpssh
  4. on the directory gpssh type C:\gpssh>unzip -o gpss
  5. Follow the directions on Appendix A page 373 in your text.

File translated from TEX by TTH, version 2.51.
On 17 Dec 2000, 09:43.