An object-oriented analysis of complex numerical models

Modelling the behaviour of metal alloys during their thermo-mechanical processing relies on the physical and mathematical description of numerous phenomena occurring in several space scales and evolving on different characteristic times. Although it is possible to develop complicated multi-scale models, it is often simpler to simulate each phenomenon separately in a single-scale model and link all the models together in a global structure responsible for their good interaction. Such a structure is relatively difficult to design. Both efficiency and flexibility must be well balanced, keeping in mind the character of scientific computing. In that context, the Agile Multiscale Modelling Methodology (AM3) has been developed in order to support the object-oriented designing of complex numerical models [. In this paper, the application of the AM3 for designing a model of the metal alloy behaviour is presented. The basis and some consequences of the application of the Object-Oriented design of a sub-models structure are investigated. The object-oriented (OO) design of a 3 internal variables model of the dislocations evolution is presented and compared to the procedural one. The main advantages and disadvantages of the OO design of numerical models are pointed out