Worst-case flow model of VL for worst-case delay analysis of AFDX

Worst-case delay analysis is important for avionics full duplex switched Ethernet (AFDX) standardised as ARINC 664. The flow model of virtual link (VL) in the worst-case delay analysis of AFDX is inaccurate, which depends only on the parameters of VL and ignores the impact from the network, so it makes the worst-case delay analysis of AFDX impractical. A worst-case flow model of VL, which takes the worst impact from the network into account, is proposed to mend the worst-case delay analysis of AFDX. This worst-case flow model of VL is applied in one of the main theoretical approaches for worst-case delay analysis, the network calculus approach. It assists the network calculus approach to get the real upper bound of delay for VL.