Define Input Variables

Input variables can be of different types with respect to their physical and/or numerical nature. Physically they can be dimensions, material properties, locations, and so on. Numerically they can be continuous numbers, discrete, integer, real, strings.

You can associate an input variable to a particular model parameter. Two input variables cannot be associated with the same model parameter. An input variable does not always need to be associated to a model parameter.

Optimization Input Variables

Input variables should be independent of each other. Selection of input variables may not be unique. In Figure 1, either r_i and r_o or r_i and t can be selected as input variables.

Figure 1. Example: Input Variable Definition

Note: The selection of input variables affects the Optimization process.

For a larger search space and increased flexibility in the solution, you need to use as many independent input variables as possible. For computational affordability, you need to identify and only include the most important input variables.

It is recommended that you use as many independent input variables as possible to promote a large search space and increased flexibility. However, for computational affordability you should only include the most important input variables.