Applying Modular Decomposition in Simulink

Modular decomposition is widely used in software engineering to support design, testing and maintenance of software intensive systems. Model-Based Development (MBD) is a paradigm for developing complex software systems using graphical approaches, with MathWorks’ Simulink being a popular choice. How to develop modular Simulink models with stable interfaces, that facilitate understanding and testing, and achieve low coupling and high cohesion, is relatively understudied. This paper applies a new modular decomposition approach to Simulink case studies from the aerospace and nuclear domains. We evaluate how well it supports information hiding, and its impact on coupling and cohesion, interface complexity, cyclomatic complexity, testability, and performance.