A fourth-order algorithm with automatic stepsize control for the transient analysis of DSPNs

This paper presents an efficient and numerically reliable method for the transient analysis of deterministic and stochastic Petri nets. The transient behavior is described by state equations derived by the method of supplementary variables. Significant features of the proposed solution algorithm of fourth order are an automatic stepsize control and a two-stage relative error control. Furthermore, a formal way of dealing with discontinuities in the transient state equations is developed. This resolves the problems posed by initially enabled deterministic transitions and also improves the accuracy of numerical results. Experiments with a queueing system with failure and repair illustrate the efficiency (with respect to both CPU-time and memory space) and the numerical quality of the new algorithm.