This document provides recommendations for several aspects of air-breathing gas turbine engine performance modeling using object-oriented programming systems. Nomenclature, application program interface, and user interface are addressed with the emphasis on nomenclature. The Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) modeling environment is frequently used in this document as an archetype. Many of the recommendations for standards are derived from NPSS standards. NPSS was chosen because it is an available, production system. The practices recommended herein may be applied to other object-oriented systems.

While this document applies broadly to any gas turbine engine, the great majority of engine performance computer programs have historically been written for aircraft propulsion systems. Aircraft and propulsion terminology and examples appear throughout.