3.1.2.6. Gradient-free Parameter Estimation

It is not uncommon for engineering problems that the gradient of a computational model with respect to the model parameters is not reliably estimated. Sometimes, the objective function for deterministic calibration is not differentiable. In such situations, a gradient-based local search algorithm might fail to locate the optimum parameter values that provide the best fit of the model predictions to the data. A gradient-free local search method can be employed for deterministic calibration instead of a gradient-based algorithm in such scenarios.

Gradient-free optimization methods are used to minimize an objective function based solely on an evaluation of the objective function values without the use of any derivative information or any approximation of the derivatives. When concerned with parameter estimation, the objective function is typically the sum of the squared differences between the predictions from a model and the calibration data. However, any objective function that the user desires can be employed. When performing gradient-free parameter estimation, the model (or the post-processing script, if any), should be defined in a way that returns the objective function value (a single scalar quantity) in a file called results.out.

The parameters of the model (which is defined in the FEM panel) are defined in the RV panel. The bounds of the domain within which the optimal values of the parameters need to be searched for are also specified in the RV panel, along with the initial point at which the search will start. No prior specification of the distribution associated with the random variables is necessary.

The output from the model is the objective function value, and this can be given a name that is defined in the EDP panel. The length must be set equal to 1.

The algorithms employed will find a set of parameter values that minimize the objective function.

The panel that is presented to the user when this Dakota Category is chosen, is as shown in Fig. 3.1.2.6.1.

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Fig. 3.1.2.6.1 Input panel for gradient-free parameter estimation using Dakota.