Achieving dynamic adaptation via management and interpretation of runtime models

In this article, we present a generic model-centric approach for realizing fine-grained dynamic adaptation in software systems by managing and interpreting graph-based models of software at runtime. We implemented this approach as the Graph-based Runtime Adaptation Framework (GRAF), which is particularly tailored to facilitate and simplify the process of evolving and adapting current software towards runtime adaptivity. As a proof of concept, we present case study results that show how to achieve runtime adaptivity with GRAF and sketch the framework's capabilities for facilitating the evolution of real-world applications towards self-adaptive software. The case studies also provide some details of the GRAF implementation and examine the usability and performance of the approach.     

Mechanical properties of glass frit bonded micro packages

Frit glass bonding is a widely used technology for encapsulation of surface micro-machined structures like inertial sensors or gyroscopes on wafer level. Since for sensors in automotive applications, a lifetime of 15–20 years has to be guaranteed for, a reliable lifetime prediction is necessary. Different material parameters have to be known for a lifetime estimation based on stress corrosion cracking, which determines the long-term strength behaviour of most bonded interfaces of microsystems. Parameters needed for lifetime prediction have to describe the material’s resistance against crack propagation (fracture toughness K _IC), the stress situation in a micro package and the long-term strength behaviour. Results for fracture toughness investigations presented in this paper were determined by the micro chevron test. The stress situation in a micro package was calculated by a thermo-mechanical Finite Element Analysis. Furthermore the residual stress in the glass layer and the linear thermal expansion coefficient were determined by a crack width measurement in an environmental scanning electron microscope.     

Hardware-assisted feature analysis and visualization of procedurally encoded multifield volumetric data

We take a new approach to interactive visualization and feature detection of large scalar, vector, and multifield computational fluid dynamics data sets that is also well suited for meshless CFD methods. Radial basis functions (RBFs) are used to procedurally encode both scattered and irregular gridded scalar data sets. The RBF encoding creates a complete, unified, functional representation of the scalar field throughout 3D space, independent of the underlying data topology, and eliminates the need for the original data grid during visualization. The capability of commodity PC graphics hardware to accelerate the reconstruction and rendering and to perform feature detection from this functional representation is a powerful tool for visualizing procedurally encoded volumes. Our RBF encoding and GPU-accelerated reconstruction, feature detection, and visualization tool provides a flexible system for visually exploring and analyzing large, structured, scattered, and unstructured scalar, vector, and multifield data sets at interactive rates on desktop PCs.     

e-R&D – Effectively Managing Process Diversity

Managing process diversity becomes increasingly relevant in software development. Software organizations typically do not work on the greenfield and thus need to integrate external workflows with R&;D internal workflow management and heterogeneous development and maintenance processes. To stay competitive with its software development, Alcatel has put in place an orchestrated improvement program of its processes and the underlying engineering tools environment. Why do we call this “e-R&;D”? For two reasons. These improvement activities necessarily fit into the wider context of Alcatel's business process improvement and corporate e-business initiatives. The “e-R&;D” also means enabling of interactive R&;D processes and increasing collaborative work across the globe. At Alcatel we realized, during a substantial reengineering of our development and industrialization processes, that the approach to acquire an off-the-shelf process and tailor it to our needs was not applicable. Different processes need to be seamlessly integrated to avoid inconsistencies and inefficiency caused by replicated work. Specific focus is given within this article on how we manage process diversity in a product line where various components are embedded in individual architectures, asking for different but defined development and maintenance processes depending on pre-selected criteria.