Combining dimensional analysis with model based systems engineering

Abstract

The model based systems engineering (MBSE) approach describes a system using consistent views to provide a holistic model as complete as possible. MBSE methodologies end with the physical architecture of the system, but a physical model is clearly incomplete without the study of its associated physical laws and phenomena related to the whole system or its parts. However, the computational demands could be excessive even for modest projects. Dimensional analysis (DA) is common in fluid dynamics and chemical engineering, but its application to systems engineering is still limited. We describe an engineering methodological process, which incorporates DA as a powerful tool to understand the physical constraints of the system without the burden of complex analytical or numerical calculations. A detailed example describing a microantenna is presented showing the benefits of this approach. The selected example describes a problem rarely covered in modern expositions of DA in order to show the wide benefit of these techniques. The information provided by this analysis is very useful to select the best physically realizable architectures, testing design, and conduct trade-off studies. The complexity of modern systems and systems of systems demands new testing procedures in order to comply with increasingly demanding requirements and regulations. This can be accomplished through research in new DA methods. Finally, this article serves as a fairly comprehensive guide to the use of DA in the context of MBSE, detailing its strengths, limitations, and controversial issues.

A Software Verification Method for the Internet of Things and Cyber-Physical Systems

“…According to Martínez-Rojas et al [34], dimensional analysis is a widely used methodology in physics and engineering. It is employed to discover or verify relationships among physical quantities by considering their physical dimensions.…”

Model‐based systems engineering approach to the study of electromagnetic interference and compatibility in wireless powered microelectromechanical systems

“…As can be seen, even at this preliminary design stage, some specific ideas about the physical architecture must be known in order to perform a preliminary EMC study. However, this is not always possible, so that an alternative is to create a list of EMC unit operations, as proposed in our previous work, 67 and translate them into possible physical solutions, as shown in the antenna example. In this way, a rough estimate of the main EMC problems can be inferred.…”