Sensitivity and inverse analysis methods for parameter intervals

This paper proposes a sensitivity analysis method for engineering parameters using interval analyses. This method substantially extends the application of interval analysis method. In this scheme, parameter intervals and decision-making target intervals are determined using the interval analysis method. As an example, an inverse analysis method for uncertainty is presented. The intervals of unknown parameters can be obtained by sampling measured data. Even for limited measured data, robust results can also be obtained with the inverse analysis method, which can be intuitively evaluated by the uncertainty expressed in terms of an interval. For complex nonlinear problems, an iteratively optimized inverse analysis model is proposed. In a given set of loose parameter intervals, all the unknown parameter intervals that satisfy the measured information can be obtained by an iteratively optimized inverse analysis model. The influences of measured precisions and the number of parameters on the results of the inverse analysis are evaluated. Finally, the uniqueness of the interval inverse analysis method is discussed.