Validation of numerical software results — Application to the computation of apparent heat release in direct-injection diesel engines

Numerical simulation is used more and more for analyzing physical phenomena. Starting from a mathematical model of the phenomenon, the simulation consists in solving it on a computer, using numerical methods. Unfortunately results provided by the computer always contain errors resulting both from round-off error propagation caused by floating point arithmetic and from the uncertainties concerning the physical data of the model. Consequently, to conclude in the possible validity of the simulation, the results provided by the computer must previously be validated.