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Stop time

Simulation stop time

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Model Configuration Pane: Solver

Description

Specify the stop time for the simulation or generated code in seconds, as a double-precision value.

Settings

scalar

Default: 10

  • The stop time must be greater than or equal to the start time.

  • Specify inf to run a simulation or generated program until you explicitly pause or stop it.

  • If the stop time is the same as the start time, the simulation or generated program runs for one step.

  • Simulation time is not the same as clock time. For example, running a simulation for 10 seconds usually does not take 10 seconds. Total simulation time depends on many factors, such as model complexity, solver step size, and system speed.

  • If your model includes blocks that depend on absolute time and your design runs indefinitely, see Blocks That Depend on Absolute Time.

Examples

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Open Live Script

Open the model vdp.

mdl = "vdp";
open_system(mdl)

The model is saved with a start time of 0 seconds and a stop time of 20 seconds.

get_param(mdl,"StartTime")
ans = 
'0.0'

get_param(mdl,"StopTime")
ans = 
'20'

Simulate the model. To view the simulation results, double-click the Scope block. The Scope window displays the results from the start time to the stop time. 

out1 = sim(mdl);

The Scope displays the signals x1 and x2 for the 20-second simulation.

Change the start time to 10 seconds and the stop time to 40 seconds.

  1. On the Modeling tab, under Setup, click Model Settings.

  2. Select the Solver pane.

  3. In the Start time box, enter 10.

  4. In the Stop time box, enter 40.

  5. Click OK.

Alternatively, use the set_param function to configure the start and stop time programmatically.

set_param(mdl,"StartTime","10","StopTime","40")

Simulate the model again. The Scope window updates to reflect the longer simulation time. The time axis ranges from 0 to 30, with a 10-second offset indicated in the lower-right of the Scope window.

out2 = sim(mdl);

The Scope window displays the signals x1 and x2 for the 30-second simulation.

Open Live Script

To change the start and stop time for a simulation without modifying configuration parameter values saved in a model, use a Simulink.SimulationInput object.

Open the model vdp.

mdl = "vdp";
open_system(mdl)

As saved, the model has a start time of 0 seconds and a stop time of 20 seconds.

get_param(mdl,"StartTime")
ans = 
'0.0'

get_param(mdl,"StopTime")
ans = 
'20'

Create a Simulink.SimulationInput object to configure a simulation of the model.

simIn = Simulink.SimulationInput(mdl);

Use the setModelParameter function to specify a start time of 10 seconds and a stop time of 40 seconds for the simulation.

simIn = setModelParameter(simIn,"StartTime","10",...
    "StopTime","40");

Simulate the model using the SimulationInput object.

out = sim(simIn);

The simulation uses the start time and stop time values defined on the SimulationInput object.

tFirst = out.yout{1}.Values.Time(1)
tFirst = 
10

tLast = out.yout{1}.Values.Time(end)
tLast = 
40

The configuration parameter values in the model remain unchanged.

get_param(mdl,"StartTime")
ans = 
'0.0'

get_param(mdl,"StopTime")
ans = 
'20'

Recommended Settings

The table summarizes recommended values for this parameter based on considerations related to code generation.

ApplicationSetting
DebuggingNo impact
TraceabilityNo impact
EfficiencyNo impact
Safety precautionA positive value

Programmatic Use

Parameter: StopTime
Type: string | character vector
Values: double
Default: '10.0'

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

See Also

Model Settings

Objects

Topics