Conclusions
ASCI has brought to the fore many important issues related to the ability of computational simulations to predict the response of a wide variety of complex engineered systems. The building blocks of our confidence assessment are verification of computer codes and validation of computational models. We contend that a new type of experiment, a validation experiment, is needed so that more quantifiable statements of level of agreement between computational results and experimental data can be made. Only with experimentalists and computational analysts working closely together can we better understand the limits of computational models and improve our experimental capabilities. We must also improve our understanding of how validation evidence for our computational models can be used to quantify our assessment of prediction accuracy.
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Editors Note: This is the second of a series of articles that describe recent work on computational model validation being conducted at the nuclear weapons laboratories within the Department of Energy This article describes what computational model validation is, and how validation experiments are designed, executed, and analyzed. The next article will present a framework for assessing confidence in computational predictions based on validation experiments. The final article will highlight the application of validation methods within industry and explain how these methods can be applied by the practicing engineer.
Sandia National Laboratories is operated by Lockheed Martin Corp. for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract No. DE-AC04-94AL85000.
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Oberkampf, W.L. What are validation experiments?. Exp Tech 25, 35–40 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1567.2001.tb00023.x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1567.2001.tb00023.x