QPRC 2016

Comparing Traditional versus Modern Test Designs via Meta-Models

Raymond R. Hill and Brent Russell

Air Force Institute of Technology

Abstract

There are many testing situations that historically involve a large number of runs.  The use of experimental design methods can reduce the number of runs required to obtain the information desired.  Example applications include wind tunnel test campaigns, computational experiments and live fire tests.   In this work we present three case studies comparing the information obtained via a historical experimental approach with the information obtained via an experimental design approach.  The first case study involves a large scale wind tunnel experimental campaign.  The second involves a computational fluid dynamics model of a missile through various speeds and angles of attack.  The third case involves ongoing live fire testing involve laser weaponry. In each case, results suggest a tremendous opportunity to reduce experimental test efforts without losing test information.