1 Introduction. - 1. 1 Research Goals. - 1. 2 Research Approach. - 1. 3 Outline. - 2 Background. - 2. 1 Loop Analysis. - 2. 2 Program Analysis and Understanding. - 3 Overview and Basic Definitions. - 3. 1 Definitions. - 3. 2 A Loop Taxonomy. - 4 Analysis of Flat Loops. - 4. 1 Normalization of the Loop Representation. - 4. 2 Decomposition of the Loop Body. - 4. 3 Formation of the Loop Events. - 4. 4 A Knowledge Base of Plans. - 4. 5 Analysis of the Events. - 5 Analysis of Nested Loops. - 5. 1 Definitions. - 5. 2 Analysis of Inner Loops. - 5. 3 Representation of Inner Loops Analysis Results. - 5. 4 Analysis of Outer Loops. - 5. 5 Adaptation of Inner Loops Specifications. - 6 Discussion of the Analysis Approach. - 7 Case Study. - 7. 1 Objectives. - 7. 2 Method. - 7. 3 Results and Analysis. - 8 Prototype Implementation. - 8. 1 Design. - 8. 2 Operation. - 9 Applications. - 9. 1 Assisting Maintenance and Reuse. - 9. 2 Assisting Formal Development. - 10 Conclusions. - 10. 1 Summary of Approach. - 10. 2 Observations. - 10. 3 Future Work. - References. Language: English