THE ROLE OF SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS IN ENGINEERING PROBLEMS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of sensitivity analysis in engineering problems. The domain of application of sensitivity analysis is very large. Sensitivity functions carry very valuable information for the synthesis of automatic control systems. If suitable computer methods are developed for the calculation of sensitivity functions in higher order nonlinear systems, systematic sensitivity analysis will become regular practice in engineering design. There are two trends in general applications of sensitivity analysis. The majority of optimal systems were designed with performance indices based on state and control variables. However, sensitivity coefficients can be taken as a third set of coordinates entering in the performance criterion. This procedure makes it possible to consider the combined affect of the desired performance index and the system insensitivity to perturbations. Inverse sensitivity analysis may also become a powerful tool in fighting against the gradual deterioration of system performance. Inverse sensitivity analysis makes it possible to conceive monitoring equipment that will follow closely the performance deterioration of automatic control system and locate their causes.