D-4415-5 1

Answers to Exercises for Chapter 17 INTRODUCTION TO DELAYS

from
INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SIMULATION
written by

Nancy Roberts

David F. Andersen

Jonathan Choate

Ralph M. Deal

Michael S. Garet

William A. Shaffer

Models translated to STELLA II 3.0 and Answers provided

by

Kamil Msefer

Mark Choudhari

Prepared for

MIT System Dynamics Education Project

Under the Supervision of

Dr. Jay W. Forrester

System Dynamics Group

Sloan School of Management

August 5, 1994

Vensim Examples added October 2001

Copyright © 2001 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Permission granted for non-commercial educational purposes

2 D-4415-5

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SIMULATION can be ordered from

Productivity Press, Inc., Dept. 315
P.O. Box 13390, Portland, OR 97213

The Chapter has also been provided under Road Maps Five in pdf format.
4 D-4415-5

Please read Chapter 17: Introduction to Delays from Introduction to

Computer Simulation by Nancy Roberts et. al. However, the chapter in the book

has its models built using the DYNAMO simulation language, and as you are

probably using Vensim, STELLA or iTHINK, we have translated the models for

your convenience. This paper contains these translated versions of the models for

the first seven exercises from the book. Later, we also suggest answers to these

exercises for you to measure your answers against.

NOTE FROM THE TRANSLATOR: All the models in this paper have rates that
flow in both directions. This is to encourage the readers to make the direction of the
flow explicit in the equation, and not in the plumbing. In DYNAMO, there is no
biflow-uniflow toggle. All rates are biflows.

Example 1: The Martan Chemical Company

We present the model of dumping of the Nobug pesticide by the Martan
Chemical Company, as translated from DYNAMO to STELLA. A causal loop and
flow diagram of the Martan case are shown in Figure 1.
The equations for the model are as follows:

NOBUG(t) = NOBUG(t - dt) + (Dump_rate - Absorb_rate) * dt

INIT NOBUG = 0

OUTFLOWS:

ABSORB_RATE = NOBUG/NAT

NAT = 2

D-4415-5 5

NOBUG

DUMP RATE ABSORB RATE

NOBURG ABSORP TIME

Figure 1. Diagram of the Martan Case

These equations show that the level of NOBUG in the Sparkill River is
influenced by the DUMP RATE and the ABSORB RATE; and the ABSORB RATE
is equal to the level of NOBUG divided by the Nobug Absorption Time NAT (2
days).

Exercise 1: Preliminary Nobug Model

a. Create a STELLA II model for the Nobug case, adding the DUMP RATE
equation, and other needed specifications. Run the model, setting the initial level of
NOBUG = 0 and choosing DT = 0.25 days. Set length of simulation (in the Time
specs window under the Run menu) to 25 days, the range of Nobug (in the Range
specs window under the Run menu) from 0 to 250 gallons and the range of the
absorption rate from 0 to 100 gallons/day. What behavior does the model generate?
6 D-4415-5

b. Rerun the model, setting the Nobug Absorption Time, NAT = 4. How do the
results differ? Rerun the model, setting NAT = 1. How do these results differ?

USING THE PULSE FUNCTION TO REPRESENT THE DUMPING RATE

We use the corresponding STELLA functions instead of the DYNAMO
functions in these exercises. The STELLA PULSE function permits modifying the
model to represent the dumping of Nobug in once a week batches. The following
rate equation indicates that 420 gallons of Nobug are dumped into the river on day 1
of the simulation, and 420 are dumped again at regular intervals of 7 days.
DUMP RATE = PULSE(420,1,7)
Figure 2 shows the dumping rate over the first 25 days of the simulation. Please see
the chapter in the book for further reading.

1: DUMP RATE
1: 1680.00

1: 840.00

1: 0.00 1 1 1 1
0.00 6.25 12.50 18.75 25.00

Graph 3 Days 6:32 PM 7/25/94

Figure 2. Dumping rate

The PULSE function can also be used to examine the response of the system
D-4415-5 7

to the dumping of just one batch of NOBUG. It is possible to do this by making the
following change in the equation for DUMP RATE.
DUMP RATE = PULSE(420,1,0)
This equation indicates that the dumping rate rises from zero to 1680 on day
one (for only a quarter of the day)and stays at zero for the rest of the simulation.
Figure 3 shows a simulation of the Nobug system, with one batch of Nobug
released into the river on day one. As can be seen, the level of NOBUG in the river
rises sharply to 420 gallons on day one, and then drifts slowly toward zero.

1: DUMP RATE 2: NOBUG 3: ABSORB RATE

1: 2000.00
2: 500.00
3: 250.00

1: 1000.00
2: 250.00
3: 125.00

2
3

1: 0.00 2 3
2: 0.00 2 3
3: 0.00 1 2 1 1 1
0.00 2.50 5.00 7.50 10.00

Graph 3 Days 6:43 PM 7/25/94

Figure 3. Release of one batch of NOBUG

The general form of the PULSE function is

PULSE(AMOUNT, FIRST, INTERVAL)
where AMOUNT indicates the amount to be inputted in the pulse; FIRST indicates
the time at which the first pulse occurs; and INTERVAL indicates the time interval
between pulses. Setting INTERVAL to 0, indicates to STELLA that you only want
8 D-4415-5

one pulse.

Exercise 2: The Halving Time for NOBUG

Revise your STELLA equations to include a PULSE function for the DUMP RATE.
Choose an interval of 0, in order to examine the effects of just one pulse.
a. What is the halving time for the amount of NOBUG in the Sparkill River?
b. Experiment with various values of NAT. How does the choice of NAT influence
the halving time?
c. Using your result for part (b), select a value of NAT to produce a halving time
that corresponds to the data shown below in Figure 4.

Exercises 3: Simulating Repeated Batches

a. Select NAT equal to the value you determined in Exercise 2, part (c). Use the
D-4415-5 9

PULSE function to simulate the effect of dumping 420 gallons of Nobug into the
river at 7-day intervals. Compare your results with the data shown in , Figure 4
above.
b. Assume Martan Chemical Inc. changed the chemical composition of Nobug,
such that the halving time of Nobug was lengthened to seven days, resulting in an
increase in the Nobug absorption time NAT. Change the value of NAT in your
model to reflect the change in the chemical composition of Nobug. How does the
system respond?

NOBUG AND MATERIAL DELAYS

Please read the chapter for an introduction to the concept of a first-order
material delay.
LEVEL

INFLOW OUTFLOW

ADJUSTMENT TIME

Figure 5. First-order material delay

When a first-order material delay is used in a model, there are two ways to
write the equations. One approach is to simply to write out individual equations,
exactly as was done in the Nobug case. But because first-order material delays are
frequently used, a special STELLA function is available that can be used to replace
the set of individual equations. Note that we are using the equivalent STELLA
functions instead of the DYNAMO functions used in the book. The following
equation can be used to indicate that the OUTFLOW rate is a first-order delayed
response to the INFLOW rate, with an adjustment AT.
10 D-4415-5

OUTFLOW = SMTH1(INFLOW, AT)

LEVEL

INFLOW OUTFLOW

Figure 6. First-order material delay using SMTH1 function.

The SMTH1 function is simply a shorthand notation. When the model is run,
STELLA will substitute the full level and rate formulation for a first-order delay,
whenever the SMTH1 function appears in the model.

NOTE FROM THE TRANSLATOR:

Exercise 4 from the original text has been left out intentionally.

Exercise 5: The Mail Delay

The Nifty Department Store sends out bills to its charge-card customers once a
month, and the credit department has learned that on the average, it takes about
three days for the bills to arrive in the mail.
a. Draw a causal-loop diagram, flow diagram, and equations for the Nifty
Department Store case. (Hint: See figure 7). Assume that NIFTY has 1000 charge
customers.
b. Run the Model and examine the results.
c. How many bills take more than six days to arrive?
D-4415-5 11

Figure 7. Causal loop representing a delay in mail delivery

EXAMPLE II: The GOAL-GAP FORMULATION, DELAYS AND

CYCLES IN APARTMENTS
Please read the chapter for an introduction to this example. A causal-loop
diagram and flow diagram for this system are shown in Figure 8.
Exercise 6: Apartments-Part I
a. Build the apartment model shown in Figure 8 using STELLA. Assume that the
desired number of apartments is 10,000 and the time required to respond to the gap
is one year. (Do not include an explicit construction delay in your formulation-it
will be added in the next exercise.)
b. Run the model and examine the behavior. Determine the equilibrium value for
the number of apartments.
c. Start the model in equilibrium, and use a STEP function to test the response of
the system to an increase in the number of apartments desired from 10,000 to
15,000.
12 D-4415-5

Apartments

Apartments Desired

Construction Rate

Adjustment Rate Gap

Figure 8. Diagrams expressing a housing gap

Please read the chapter for a discussion of why a delay should be added to the
model. One way to do this is shown in figure 9.

Apartments in Construction Total # of Apartments

Initiation Rate Completion Rate

Initiation Time
Completion Time CT

Desired Apartments
Difference

Figure 9. Apartment model with completion delay

D-4415-5 13

Exercise 7: Apartments-Part II
For the questions in this exercise, please refer to the chapter.

INFORMATION DELAYS
Please read the chapter for an introduction to information delays.

EXAMPLE III: MARINA’S BAKE SHOP

Please read the chapter for an introduction to Marina and her Bake Shop.

NOTE FROM THE TRANSLATOR: This paper presents only the first seven
exercises from Chapter 7 in the book. We will discuss higher order delays later in
Road Maps.

Now, we present our suggestions for the answers to the exercises.

Answers to Exercises
Exercise 1
a.
NOBUG

DUMP RATE ABSORB RATE

TIME CONSTANT NOBURG ABSORP TIME

INFLOWS:
DUMP_RATE = 60/TIME_CONSTANT
DOCUMENT: The DUMP RATE is how fast Nobug is dumped into the river. In this case it is
60 gallons per day, which was given in the text.
Units: gallons/day

TIME_CONSTANT = 1
14 D-4415-5

DOCUMENT: The time constant is the time over which the dump rate is calculated.
Units: days

The DUMP RATE is not shown in the graph below because it is constant. As the
content of NOBUG increases (because of the DUMP RATE), the ABSORB RATE also
increases since it is dependent on the content of NOBUG in the river. The system
reaches equilibrium when the ABSORB RATE equals the DUMP RATE at 60
gallons/day and the level of Nobug is 120 gallons.
1: NOBUG 2: ABSORB RATE
1: 250.00
2: 100.00

2 2 2

1: 125.00
2: 50.00 1 1 1

1
1: 0.00
2: 0.00
0.00 6.25 12.50 18.75 25.00

Graph 2 Days 6:09 PM 7/25/94

b. For NAT=4, the behavior is shown below.
D-4415-5 15

1: NOBUG 2: ABSORB RATE

1: 250.00
2: 100.00 1
1

2 2
1: 125.00 2
2: 50.00

1
1: 0.00
2: 0.00
0.00 6.25 12.50 18.75 25.00

Graph 2 Days 6:16 PM 7/25/94

When NAT=4, it takes twice as long to reach equilibrium, because the ABSORB RATE
is twice as small as in part a. Also, the new equilibrium level of Nobug is at 240
gallons.

For NAT=1, the behavior is shown below.

1: NOBUG 2: ABSORB RATE
1: 250.00
2: 100.00

2 2 2

1: 125.00 2
2: 50.00

1 1 1

1
1: 0.00
2: 0.00
0.00 6.25 12.50 18.75 25.00

Graph 2 Days 6:23 PM 7/25/94

When NAT=1, equilibrium is reached in half the time it takes in part a. That is because
the ABSORB RATE is twice as large as in part a. The new equilibrium level of Nobug
is at 60 gallons.
16 D-4415-5

Exercise 2
a. The level of NOBUG drops from 420 gallons at day 1 to about 210 gallons in 2.5
days. The halving time is then about 1.5 days.

b. After experimentation, you should find that an increase or decrease in the Nobug
Absorption Time correspondingly increases or decreases the halving time.

c. Figure 4 shows a halving time for NOBUG of about 1 day (ie. half-life = 1 day). The
value of NAT that produces this behavior can be calculated as (half-life)/.69 or 1.4
days. With this value for NAT the outcome matches Figure 4.

Exercise 3
a. When the model is run with 420 gallons dumped by MARTAN every 7 days, with a
NAT of 2 days, the output is a good match. Note that a run of NAT = 1.4 would give
essentially the same run.
1: NOBUG
1: 420.00

1: 210.00

1: 0.00 1
0.00 8.00 16.00 24.00 32.00

Graph 3 Days 7:06 PM 7/25/94

b. With the halving time of Nobug lengthened to seven days, the new value of NAT is
12 days (ie. half-life/.69). Since halving time is so long, Nobug is not eliminated from
the river within the 7 days. As a result, content of Nobug continues to increase with
each successive dumping of Nobug. However, the level of Nobug stabilizes again!
The level stabilizes when the quantity of Nobug dumped into the river (ie. 420 gallons
once a week) is equal to the quantity absorbed (ie. the area under the curve of the
ABSORB RATE) during the week.
D-4415-5 17

1: NOBUG 2: ABSORB RATE

1: 1000.00
2: 160.00 1

1
1: 500.00
2: 80.00
1
2
2
2

1: 0.00
2: 0.00
0.00 18.75 37.50 56.25 75.00
Graph 3 Days 8:01 PM 7/25/94

Exercise 4
a.

BILLING
+
BILLS IN
RATE
- MAIL

BILLS
+
ARRIVAL
RATE
18 D-4415-5

Bills in the mail Bills received

Billing Rate Bill Arrival Rate

Mail Arrival Delay

Bills_in_the_mail(t) = Bills_in_the_mail(t - dt) + (Billing_Rate - Bill_Arrival_Rate) * dt

INIT Bills_in_the_mail = 0

DOCUMENT: Initially there are no bills in the mail.

Units: bills

INFLOWS:

Billing_Rate = PULSE(1000,1,0)

DOCUMENT: 1000 bills are sent out on the first day of the month. The interval was set to 0

because in this case we are only interested in studying the first pulse.

Units: bills/day

OUTFLOWS:

Bill_Arrival_Rate = Bill_Arrival_Rate/Mail_Arrival_Delay

DOCUMENT: This is a first order material delay, where bills arrive on average 3 days after

they are sent.

Units: bills/days.

Mail_Arrival_Rate = 3

Document : Time it takes for mail to arrive to destination.

Units: days

Another way of modeling the same behavior using the SMTH1 function is shown below.
The behavior of this model should be the same as the graph below.

Bills in the mail Bills received

Billing Rate Bill Arrival Rate

Billing_Rate = PULSE(1000,1,0)

Bill_Arrival_Rate = SMTH1(Billing_Rate, 3)

DOCUMENT: The adjustment time or delay is 3 days.

b.
D-4415-5 19

1: Bills received 2: Bill Arrival Rate

1: 1000.00 1
2: 333.33 1

2 1

1: 500.00
2: 166.67

1: 0.00 2
2: 0.00 1 2
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00
Graph 1 Days 3:11 PM 7/26/94

The pattern in the output is a mail arrival rate that decays exponentially from an initial
peak just after the mail is sent. This is an unrealistic modeling of the mail process since
no mail will be received immediately after the mail is sent.

c. From the tabular output, at the end of 6 days, 806 bills have been received or
194 bills (ie. 1000-806) will take more than 6 days to arrive.

Exercise 6
a.
Apartments

Apartments Desired
Construction Rate

Adjustment Rate

Gap

Apartments(t) = Apartments(t - dt) + (Construction_Rate) * dt

INIT Apartments = 0

DOCUMENT: Apartments built so far.

Units: apartments

INFLOWS:

Construction_Rate = Gap/Adjustment_Rate

20 D-4415-5

DOCUMENT: Apartments per year constructed.

Units: apartments/year

Adjustment_Rate = 1

DOCUMENT: Time to respond to the gap is one year.

Units : years

Apartments_Desired = 10000

DOCUMENT: Units : apartments

Gap = Apartments_Desired-Apartments

DOCUMENT: Difference between the number of desired apartments and actual apartments.

Units: apartments.

b.
1: Construction Rate 2: Apartments
1: 10000.00 2 2
2:
2
1

1: 5000.00
2:
2

1
1:
2: 0.00 1 1
0.00 1.50 3.00 4.50 6.00
Graph 2 Years 3:42 PM 7/26/94

From the plot, the number of apartments at equilibrium will be 10000, as expected for
this simple model with no demolition process.

c. The equation for desired apartments should be changed to:

Apartments_Desired = 10000 + STEP( 5000,1)
D-4415-5 21

1: Construction Rate 2: Apartments

1: 8000.00 2 2
2: 15000.00
2

1: 4000.00
2: 7500.00

1: 0.00 1
2: 0.00 1 1
0.00 1.50 3.00 4.50 6.00
Graph 2 Years 3:47 PM 7/26/94

Exercise 7
a.
Apartments in Construction Total # of Apartments

Initiation Rate Completion Rate

Initiation Time
Completion Time CT

Desired Apartments
Difference

Apartments_in_Construction(t) = Apartments_in_Construction(t - dt) + (Initiation_Rate ­

Completion_Rate) * dt
INIT Apartments_in_Construction = 0

INFLOWS:
Initiation_Rate = Difference/Initiation_Time
OUTFLOWS:
Completion_Rate = Apartments_in_Construction/Completion_Time_CT
Total_#_of_Apartments(t) = Total_#_of_Apartments(t - dt) + (Completion_Rate) * dt
INIT Total_#_of_Apartments = 10000
22 D-4415-5

INFLOWS:

Completion_Rate = Apartments_in_Construction/Completion_Time_CT

Completion_Time_CT = 4

Desired_Apartments = 10000+STEP(5000,1)

DOCUMENT: Units : apartments

Difference = Desired_Apartments-Total_#_of_Apartments

DOCUMENT: Difference between the number of desired apartments and actual apartments.

Units: apartments.

Initiation_Time = 1

b& c. Set the Total # of Apartments equal to 10,000 to start the model in equilibrium.
The STEP function is used to increase the Desired Apartments from 10,000 to 15,000.
The stock for the Total # of Apartments must not be left checked as a non-negative
stock in the dialog box for this stock. This is because it is possible to have a negative
construction rate. See part (f) for further explanation.

1: Completion Rate 2: Total # of Apartm… 3: Initiation Rate 4: Difference

1: 4000.00
2: 20000.00
3: 6000.00
4:

1: 0.00 3 4 2
2: 15000.00 4 2 1 4
1 3
3: 0.00 3 1
4:

1
2
4

1: -4000.00 2
2: 10000.00
3:
4: -6000.00
0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00
Graph 1: Page 1 Years 6:50 PM 7/26/94

c. The system generates oscillating behavior. The oscillations in this case are
damped oscillations. The Total # of Apartments oscillates around 15,000 apartments
and eventually converges to this value in equilibrium.

d. A delay in a negative feedback loop leads to oscillation. There are different types
of oscillatory behavior- sustained, expanding and damped oscillations. The linkage
between the stock for the Total # of Apartments and it’s outflow causes the system to
exhibit damped oscillations.
D-4415-5 23

e. Try three runs with Completion Times CT of 3, 4, and 6 years. In all cases, the
number of apartments will oscillate about the equilibrium value, the main effect of
changing the construction delays time is to change the period of oscillation. An
increase in the Completion Time increases the period of oscillation and makes it take
longer for the system to achieve equilibrium. In all cases, the oscillations are damped,
becoming smaller and smaller in amplitude from each cycle to the next.

f. A negative apartment construction rate appears to be physical nonsense. However,

it could correspond to the destruction of buildings or to the cancellation of contracts to
build, even after construction has started. The prediction was to be made for a period
twice as long as your run. Since you have made several runs, you have several
possibilities. Consider the case of CT (construction delay time) being 6 years. The
period of oscillation for this value of CT is about 15 years so you could expect new
maxima in the rate of completion of apartments at 35 and 50 years but much smaller in
size than those at 5 and 20 years. A run for 50 years shows just that pattern.
24 D-4415-5

Vensim Examples:
Introduction to Computer Simulation
By Lei Lei and Samitha Samaranayake
October 2001

Example 1A: Martan Chemical Company

Nobug
absorb rate
dump rate

NOBUG/DAY NOBUG
ABSORPTION
INITIAL NOBUG TIME

Figure 10: Vensim Equivalent of Diagram of the Martan Case without Pulse Function

Documentation for Martan Chemical Company Model

(01) absorb rate = Nobug/NOBUG ABSORPTION TIME

Units: gallons/day

(02) dump rate = "NOBUG/DAY"

Units: gallons/day
The dump rate is how fast Nobug is dumped into the river.

(03) FINAL TIME = 25

Units: days
The final time for the simulation.

(04) INITIAL NOBUG = 0

Units: gallons
The Initial amount of Nobug is 0 gallons.

(05) INITIAL TIME = 0

Units: days
The initial time for the simulation.

(06) Nobug = INTEG (+dump rate-absorb rate, INITIAL NOBUG)

Units: gallons

(07) NOBUG ABSORPTION TIME = 1

D-4415-5 25

Units: day
(08) "NOBUG/DAY" = 60
Units: gallons/day

(09) SAVEPER = TIME STEP

Units: days
The frequency with which output is stored.

(10) TIME STEP = 0.25

Units: days
The time step for the simulation.

Graph of Nobug and Absorb Rate for NAT=2

250 2 gallons
100 gallons/day

125 gallons 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 1 1 1 1 1 1
50 gallons/day 1 1
1
2
0 gallons
0 gallons/day 1
0 5 10 15 20 25
Time (days)

Nobug : current 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 gallons

absorb rate : current 2 2 2 2 2 gallons/day

Figure 11: Vensim Equivalent of Simulation for NAT = 2

26 D-4415-5

Graph of Nobug and Absorb Rate for NAT=4

250 4 gallons 1 1 1 1 1 1
100 gallons/day 1
1

125 gallons 2 2 2 2 2
1 2
2
50 gallons/day
2

0 gallons 2
0 gallons/day 1
0 5 10 15 20 25
Time (days)

Nobug : current 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 gallons

absorb rate : current 2 2 2 2 2 gallons/day

Figure 12: Vensim Equivalent of Simulation for NAT = 4

Graph of Nobug and Absorb Rate for NAT=1

250 1 gallons
100 gallons/day

125 gallons 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

50 gallons/day 2

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0 gallons
0 gallons/day 1
0 5 10 15 20 25
Time (days)

Nobug : current 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 gallons

absorb rate : current 2 2 2 2 2 gallons/day

Figure 13: Vensim Equivalent of Simulation for NAT = 1

D-4415-5 27

Example 1B: Dump Rate With Pulse(s)

Nobug
dump rate absorb rate

<TIME STEP>
NOBUG/DAY NOBUG ABSORPTION TIME

INITIAL NOBUG
Figure 14: Vensim Equivalent of Figure 1: Diagram of Martan Case

Documentation for Dump Rate With Pulse(s) Model

(01) absorb rate = Nobug/NOBUG ABSORPTION TIME

Units: gallons/day

(02) dump rate = "NOBUG/DAY"*( PULSE(1 ,TIME STEP)+ PULSE(8 ,TIME STEP)+
PULSE(15 ,TIME STEP)+ PULSE(22 ,TIME STEP))
Units: gallons/day
420 gallons of Nobug are dumped each quarter of a day, so 1680 gallons of Nobug are
dumped on the first day of each week

Note: This formulation is used because Vensim does not have a repeated pulses
function. We have inserted individual pulses at intervals of 7 days instead.

(03) FINAL TIME = 25

Units: days
The final time for the simulation.

(04) INITIAL NOBUG = 0

Units: gallons

(05) INITIAL TIME = 0

Units: days
The initial time for the simulation.

(06) Nobug = INTEG (+dump rate-absorb rate, INITIAL NOBUG)

Units: gallons

(07) NOBUG ABSORPTION TIME = 7

Units: day

(08) "NOBUG/DAY" = 1680

Units: gallons/day
28 D-4415-5

There are 1680 gallons of Nobug dumped per day.

(09) SAVEPER = TIME STEP

Units: days
The frequency with which output is stored.

(10) TIME STEP = 0.25

Units: day
The time step for the simulation.

Graph for dump rate

1
1,680

840

0
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
Time (days)

dump rate : current 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 gallons/day

Figure 15: Vensim Equivalent of Figure 2: Simulation for dump rate

D-4415-5 29

Graph of Dump rate, Nobug, and Absorb Rate for One Pulse

2,000 gallons/day
500 gallons
250 gallons/day

1,000 gallons/day 3
250 gallons
125 gallons/day

0 gallons/day 2
0 gallons 3
0 gallons/day 2 3
12 1 1 1 2 31 2 31 2 3 1 23 1 23 1 23 12 3 12 3 12 3
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
Time (days)

dump rate : current 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 gallons/day

Nobug : current 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 gallons
absorb rate : current 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 gallons/day

Figure 16: Vensim Equivalent of Figure 3: Simulation of release of one batch of Nobug

Graph for Nobug

421.70

316.28
1

1 1
210.85
1
1

105.42

1 1
1 1 1
0 1 1 1 1
1
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
Time (days)

Nobug : current 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 gallons

Figure 17: Vensim Equivalent of Simulation of Nobug for NAT = 1.4

30 D-4415-5

Graph of Nobug and Absorb Rate for NAT = 12

1,000 gallons
1
160 gallons/day 1
1
1
1
1
500 gallons 1 1
1
80 gallons/day 1 2
2 2 2
2 2
2 2 2
1 2
2
2
0 gallons
0 gallons/day
1
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Time (days)

Nobug : current 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 gallons

absorb rate : current 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 gallons/day

Figure 18: Vensim Equivalent of Simulation of Nobug and Absorb Rate for NAT = 12

Exercise 5: The Mail Delay

INITIAL BILLS IN THE MAIL INITIAL BILLS RECEIVED

Bills in the Mail Bills Received

billing rate bill arrival rate

BILLS/DAY MAIL
<TIME STEP> ARRIVAL
DELAY
Figure 19: Vensim Equivalent of Mail Delay Model

Documentation for Mail Delay Model

(01) bill arrival rate = Bills in the Mail/MAIL ARRIVAL DELAY

Units: bills/day
This is a first order material delay, where bills arrive on average 3 days after they are sent.
D-4415-5 31

(02) billing rate = "BILLS/DAY"*PULSE(1, TIME STEP )

Units: bills/day
1000 bills are sent out on the first day of the month. The interval was set to 0 because in
this case we are only interested in studying the first pulse.

(03) Bills in the Mail =INTEG (+billing rate-bill arrival rate, INITIAL BILLS IN THE MAIL)
Units: bills
Initially there are no bills in the mail.

(04) Bills Received = INTEG (bill arrival rate, INITIAL BILLS RECEIVED)
Units: bills

(05) "BILLS/DAY"= 1000

Units: bills/day
1000 bills are sent out on the first day of the month.

(06) FINAL TIME = 20

Units: day
The final time for the simulation.

(07) INITIAL BILLS IN THE MAIL = 0

Units: bills
There are initially 0 Bills in the Mail.

(08) INITIAL BILLS RECEIVED = 0

Units: bills
There are initially 0 bills received.

(09) INITIAL TIME = 0

Units: day
The initial time for the simulation.

(10) MAIL ARRIVAL DELAY = 3

Units: day
Time it takes for mail to arrive to destination.

(11) SAVEPER = TIME STEP

Units: day
The frequency with which output is stored.

(12) TIME STEP = 0.0625

Units: day
The time step for the simulation.
32 D-4415-5

Graph of Bills Received and Bill Arrival Rate

1 1 1 1 1 1
1,000 bills 1 1
333.32 bills/day 1
1

500 bills 1
166.66 bills/day 2

2
0 bills
2 2
0 bills/day 2 2 2
2
1 1 2 2 2
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Time (day)

Bills Received : current 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 bills

bill arrival rate : current 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 bills/day

Figure 20: Vensim Equivalent of Simulation of Bills Received and Bill Arrival Rate

Exercise 6A: Apartments-Part 1

INITIAL APARTMENTS

Apartments
construction rate
APARTMENTS
ADJUSTMENT DESIRED
RATE gap

Figure 21: Vensim Equivalent of Apartments Model-Part 1

Documentation for Apartments Model-Part 1

(01) ADJUSTMENT RATE = 1

Units: year
Time to respond to the gap is one year.

(02) Apartments = INTEG (construction rate, INITIAL APARTMENTS)

D-4415-5 33

Units: apartments
Apartments built so far.

(03) APARTMENTS DESIRED = 10000

Units: apartments

(04) construction rate = gap/ADJUSTMENT RATE

Units: apartments/year

(05) FINAL TIME = 6

Units: year
The final time for the simulation.

(06) gap = APARTMENTS DESIRED-Apartments

Units: apartments
Difference between the number of desired apartments and actual Apartments.

(07) INITIAL APARTMENTS = 0

Units: apartments
There are 0 apartments initially.

(08) INITIAL TIME = 0

Units: year
The initial time for the simulation.

(09) SAVEPER =TIME STEP

Units: year
The frequency with which output is stored.

(10) TIME STEP = 0.0625

Units: year
The time step for the simulation.
34 D-4415-5

Graph for construction rate and Apartments With Step Function

2 2 2 2 2
8,000 apartments/year 2
2
15,000 apartments 2
2
2 2

4,000 apartments/year 1
7,500 apartments

1
0 apartments/year 1
0 apartments 1 1
1 1 1 1 1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Time (year)

construction rate : current 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 apartments/year

Apartments : current 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 apartments

Figure 22: Vensim Equivalent of Simulation with Step Function

Exercise 6B: Apartments –Part 2

INITIAL APARTMENTS IN INITIAL TOTAL # OF

CONSTRUCTION APARTMENTS

Apartments in
Total # of
Construction
initiation rate completion rate Apartments

COMPLETION
TIME CT
INITIATION TIME
difference

DESIRED APARTMENTS
Figure 23: Vensim Equivalent of Apartments Model-Part 2
D-4415-5 35

Documentation for Apartments Model-Part 2

(01) Apartments in Construction = INTEG (+initiation rate-completion rate, INITIAL

APARTMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION)
Units: apartments

(02) completion rate = Apartments in Construction/COMPLETION TIME CT

Units: apartments/year

(03) COMPLETION TIME CT = 4

Units: year

(04) DESIRED APARTMENTS = 10000+STEP(5000,1)

Units: apartments

(05) difference = DESIRED APARTMENTS-"Total # of Apartments"

Units: apartments
Difference between the number of desired apartments and actual apartments.

(06) FINAL TIME = 40

Units: year
The final time for the simulation.

(07) INITIAL APARTMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION = 0

Units: apartments
There are 0 apartments initially.

(08) INITIAL TIME = 0

Units: year
The initial time for the simulation.

(09) INITIAL TOTAL # OF APARTMENTS= 10000

Units: apartments
There are 10000 apartments initially.

(10) initiation rate = difference/INITIATION TIME

Units: apartments/year

(11) INITIATION TIME = 1

Units: year

(12) SAVEPER = TIME STEP

Units: year
The frequency with which output is stored.

(13) TIME STEP = 0.0625

Units: year
36 D-4415-5

The time step for the simulation.

(14) Total # of Apartments = INTEG (completion rate, INITIAL TOTAL # OF

APARTMENTS)
Units: apartments

Graph Showing Oscillatory Behavior

4,000 apartments/year
20,000 apartments
3
6,000 apartments/year
6,000 apartments 12
4
34 2
1 3412
1 2 3
4
1 3412 341234
2
1
-4,000 apartments/year 3
4
10,000 apartments
-6,000 apartments/year
-6,000 apartments
2
0 6 12 18 24 30 36
Time (year)
completion rate : Current 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 apartments/year
"Total # of Apartments" : Current 2 2 2 2 2 2 apartments
initiation rate : Current 3 3 3 3 3 3 apartments/year
difference : Current 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 apartments

Figure 24: Vensim Equivalent of Simulation showing oscillatory behavior