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Convergence Study in Global Sensitivity Analysis

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1561829· OSTI ID:1561829
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
  2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)

Monte Carlo (MC) sampling is a common method used to randomly sample a range of scenarios. The associated error follows a predictable rate of convergence of $$1/\sqrt{N}$$, such that quadrupling the sample size halves the error. This method is often employed in performing global sensitivity analysis which computes sensitivity indices, measuring fractional contributions of uncertain model inputs to the total output variance. In this study, several models are used to observe the rate of decay in the MC error in the estimation of the conditional variance, the total variance in the output, and the global sensitivity indices. The purpose is to examine the rate of convergence of the error in existing specialized, albeit MC-based, sampling methods for estimation of the sensitivity indices. It was found that the conditional variances and sensitivity indices all follow the $$1/\sqrt{N}$$ convergence rate. Future work will test the convergence of observables from more complex models such as ignition time in combustion.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States); Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1561829
Report Number(s):
SAND--2016-7756R; 646515
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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