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Glossary of General Terms

Design of Experiments (DOE)

Optimization method (used in Design Exploration) where each change of the value of
any input variable requires a new analysis. To perform a "what-if study" where several
input variables are varied in a certain range, a considerable number of analyses may
be required to satisfactorily evaluate the results over the space of the input variables.
The DOE method generates a Response Surface using curve and surface fitting
algorithms to "fit" output data as a function of input data. This requires a group of
design points where each point is generated via a solve.
Design Point
A design point in which Parameter values were calculated directly in an Analysis
System, a CAD system, or DesignModeler.
Input Parameters
Those model parameters exposed by the Analysis System (geometry, boundary
conditions, materials, etc.) for Design Exploration to use in the parametric analysis.
Mean Value
A measure of location often used to describe the general location of the bulk of the
scattering data of a random output parameter or of a statistical distribution function.
Mathematically, the mean value is the arithmetic average of the data. The mean value
also represents the center of gravity of the data points. Another name for the mean
value is the expected value.
Median Value
The statistical point where 50% of the data is below the value and 50% is above.
For symmetrical distribution functions (Gaussian, uniform, etc.) the median value and
the mean value are identical, but for nonsymmetrical distributions, they are different.
Output Parameters
Parameters that define the response outputs (e.g., volume) from the analysis.
Pareto Set
A concept used in multi-objective optimization, especially where some or all of the
objectives are mutually conflicting. In such a case, there is no single point which
simultaneously yields the "best" value of all the objectives. Instead, the best solutions,
called a Pareto or non-dominated set, are a group of solutions such that selecting any
one of them in place of another will always sacrifice the quality of at least one objective

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while improving at least one other.
Response Point
A design point which has parameter values calculated in Design Exploration. As such,
the parameter values are approximate and calculated from Response Surfaces.
Response Surface
The empirical relationship between a variable of interest, y, and a set of independent
variables, x1, x2, x3, ... Usually the function y = F(x1, x2, x3, . . . ) is a polynomial or
some other well-defined relationship, which forms the response surface model of y.
When applied to design and analysis in the realm of CAD and CAE, a response
surface is the representation of the physical behavior of a structure in terms of its
independent variables. For example, a response surface can be devised for the
fundamental frequency (F) of a structure as a function of CAD geometry parameters
(R, L) and the modulus of elasticity (E); that is, F = G(R,L,E).
Sample
A unique set of parameter values that represents a particular model configuration.
A sample is characterized by uncertainty variable values. Think of a sample as one
virtual prototype. Every component manufactured represents one sample, because
you can measure its particular properties (material, geometry, etc.) and obtain specific
values for each.
In statistics, however, sample also has a wider and more general use. For example,
any single measured value of any physical property is considered to be one sample.
Because a Six Sigma Analysis is based on a statistical evaluation of the result
parameters, the values of the result parameters are also called samples.
Standard Deviation
A measure of variability (i.e., dispersion or spread) about the arithmetic mean value,
often used to describe the width of the scatter of a random output parameter or of a
statistical distribution function.
The larger the standard deviation, the wider the scatter, and the more likely it is that
there are data values further apart from the mean value.
Uncertainty Variables
Quantities that influence the result of an analysis.
In a Six Sigma Analysis, uncertainty variables are often called "drivers" because they
drive the result of an analysis. You must specify the type of statistical distribution the
uncertainty variables follow and the parameter values of their distribution functions.

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Release 12.0 - © 2009 SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contains proprietary and confidential information of ANSYS, Inc.

and its subsidiaries and affiliates