VERIFICATION OF COMPUTATIONAL ELECTROMAGNETIC PROGRAMS

Although software testing comprises a large body of knowledge and is e xtensively used in verification and validation (V&V) of software and s oftware systems, the need to verify engineering software posses unique challenges. Electromagnetic programs fall under the category of so-ca lled non-testable programs, a group that includes numerical computatio n and most other programs that use floating point operations. There ar e, however, certain techniques that can be used to check for program c orrectness in the context of expected behaviour and results. The appro ach to testing by multiple methods, multiple codes and multiple algori thms is well known as an effective tool in testing of scientific softw are. In addition, testing against canonical and known solutions, evalu ation of programs based on properties of the computation performed and error analysis are all common techniques used to verify computer prog rams. Their use in the context of the TEAM series of problems and work shop is used as an example for a unique method of verification of prog rams and to underscore the needs of both users and program developers in this important issue of code validation.