Using the Concept of Information to Optimally Design Experiments With Uncertain Parameters

Abstract

When thermal systems are described by models, it is necessary to know the properties and parameters of the model to ensure accurate results. These properties are usually determined from experiments designed to maximize the precision of the estimated properties. Achieving such high precision requires that all of the other properties be known with certainty. This paper describes a method of design and estimation based upon Fisher’s concept of information that achieves good precision in estimating thermal properties even when the other parameters are known only approximately.