ASCEND
Encyclopedia
ASCEND is a free, open source
, mathematical modelling system developed at Carnegie Mellon University
since the late 1978. ASCEND is an acronym which stands for Advanced System for Computations in ENgineering Design. Its main uses have been in the field of chemical process modelling although its capabilities are general. It was a pioneering piece of software in the chemical process modelling field, with its novel modelling language conventions and powerful solver, although it has never been commercialised and remains as an open source software project.
ASCEND includes nonlinear algebraic solver
s, differential/algebraic equation solvers, nonlinear optimisation
and modelling of multi-region 'conditional models'. Its matrix operations are supported by an efficient sparse matrix
solver called mtx.
ASCEND differs from earlier modelling systems because it separates the solving strategy from model building. So domain experts (people writing the models) and computational engineers (people writing the solver code) can work separately in developing ASCEND. Together with a number of other early modelling tools, its architecture helped to inspire newer languages such as Modelica
. It was recognised for its flexible use of variables and parameters, which it always treats as solvable, if desired
The software remains as an active open-source software project, and has been part of the Google Summer of Code programme in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
, mathematical modelling system developed at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
since the late 1978. ASCEND is an acronym which stands for Advanced System for Computations in ENgineering Design. Its main uses have been in the field of chemical process modelling although its capabilities are general. It was a pioneering piece of software in the chemical process modelling field, with its novel modelling language conventions and powerful solver, although it has never been commercialised and remains as an open source software project.
ASCEND includes nonlinear algebraic solver
Solver
A solver is a generic term indicating a piece of mathematical software, possibly in the form of a stand-alone computer program or as a software library, that 'solves' a mathematical problem. A solver takes problem descriptions in some sort of generic form and calculate their solution...
s, differential/algebraic equation solvers, nonlinear optimisation
Optimization (mathematics)
In mathematics, computational science, or management science, mathematical optimization refers to the selection of a best element from some set of available alternatives....
and modelling of multi-region 'conditional models'. Its matrix operations are supported by an efficient sparse matrix
Sparse matrix
In the subfield of numerical analysis, a sparse matrix is a matrix populated primarily with zeros . The term itself was coined by Harry M. Markowitz....
solver called mtx.
ASCEND differs from earlier modelling systems because it separates the solving strategy from model building. So domain experts (people writing the models) and computational engineers (people writing the solver code) can work separately in developing ASCEND. Together with a number of other early modelling tools, its architecture helped to inspire newer languages such as Modelica
Modelica
Modelica is an object-oriented, declarative, multi-domain modeling language for component-oriented modeling of complex systems, e.g., systems containing mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, thermal, control, electric power or process-oriented subcomponents.The free Modelica languageis...
. It was recognised for its flexible use of variables and parameters, which it always treats as solvable, if desired
The software remains as an active open-source software project, and has been part of the Google Summer of Code programme in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
See also
- Art WesterbergArt WesterbergArt Westerberg is an emeritus professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has been a major contributor to the field of numerical methods for solving chemical engineering problems, and has been involved since the 1980s with a mathematical modelling package named ASCEND.-...
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- ModelicaModelicaModelica is an object-oriented, declarative, multi-domain modeling language for component-oriented modeling of complex systems, e.g., systems containing mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, thermal, control, electric power or process-oriented subcomponents.The free Modelica languageis...
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