About the course

V&VSDM This two day course on the Verification and Validation of Structural Dynamics Models (V&VSDM) taught by dr. F. Hemez, introduces methods to quantify prediction uncertainty, which includes the two broad classes of, first, numerical uncertainty caused by truncation effects in the discretisation of partial differential equations and, second, parametric uncertainty caused by the variability of model parameters. Quantification includes the propagation and assessment of how much uncertainty is produced in a simulation. It also includes understanding what controls the uncertainty ("is it predominantly the mesh discretisation, parameter variability, or interaction effects?").

Topics addressed in the V&VSDM course

code and solution verification
the design of computer experiments
sensitivity analysis and meta-modeling
sampling and the propagation of parametric uncertainty
test-analysis correlation

The examples discussed emphasize structural dynamics even though the techniques presented are general-purpose and can be applied to any numerical simulation. The applications include finite element simulations for nonlinear vibrations or transient dynamics, hydrodynamics simulations of fluid flows, and the vibration of wind turbine blades.

Course goals

Describe the model validation paradigm of sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty analysis
Describe the process for selecting and computing appropriate features from the model outputs
Understand techniques for global sensitivity analysis and effect screening
Explain the role of designs of experiments and analysis of variance in model validation
Define appropriate test/analysis correlation metrics for model revision and parametric updating
Discuss when model calibration may, or not, be needed
Develop a procedure for practical code verification
Quantify the effects of truncation errors in numerical simulations
Assess the trade-offs between more computing resources and more small-scale testing

Who should attend

The course on Verification and Validation of Structural Dynamics Models (V&VSDM) is intended for graduate students, researchers and engineers seeking an introduction to the concepts and techniques of model validation. Even though essential techniques, such as sensitivity analysis and uncertainty propagation, are introduced, they are not explained in depth. Instead, their usefulness is motivated through application examples. The emphasis is placed on explaining how these techniques can be organized into a procedure to validate computational models.

Graduate students and researchers will be pointed towards essential techniques without having to endure several months of literature review. Practicing engineers will understand how to integrate them into a logical process for their applications of interest. Project managers will be exposed to way to define quality controls for the numerical simulations that their projects and customers rely on. Only familiarity with the finite element method, or another technique of numerical analysis, and basic knowledge of probability and statistics are required.