Hierarchical structures provide a means to systematically deconstruct an engineering system of arbitrary complexity into its subsystems, components, and physical processes. Model validation hierarchies can aid in understanding the coupling and interaction of subsystems and components, as well as improve the understanding of how simulation models are used to design and optimize the engineering system of interest. The upper tiers of the hierarchy address systems and subsystems architecture decompositions, while the lower tiers address physical processes that are both coupled and uncoupled. Recent work connects these two general sections of the hierarchy through a transition tier, which blends the focus of system functionality and physics modeling activities. This work also includes a general methodology for how a model validation hierarchy can be constructed for any type of engineering system in any operating environment, e.g., land, air, sea, or space. We review previous work on the construction and use of model validation hierarchies in not only the field of aerospace systems, but also from commercial nuclear power plant systems. Then an example of a detailed model validation hierarchy is constructed and discussed for a surface-to-air missile defense system with an emphasis on the missile subsystems.

层次结构提供了一种将任意复杂性的工程系统系统地解构为其子系统、组件和物理过程的方法。模型验证层次结构可以帮助理解子系统和组件的耦合和交互，并提高对如何使用仿真模型来设计和优化感兴趣的工程系统的理解。层次结构的上层处理系统和子系统架构分解，而下层处理耦合和非耦合的物理过程。最近的工作通过过渡层将层次结构的这两个一般部分连接起来，该过渡层融合了系统功能和物理建模活动的重点。这项工作还包括如何为任何操作环境（例如陆地、空中、海洋或太空）中的任何类型的工程系统构建模型验证层次结构的通用方法。我们回顾了先前在航空航天系统领域以及商业核电站系统中构建和使用模型验证层次结构的工作。然后，构建并讨论了地对空导弹防御系统的详细模型验证层次结构的示例，重点是导弹子系统。