System models help designers predict actual system output. Generally, variation in system inputs creates variation in system outputs. Designers often propagate variance through a system model by taking a derivative-based weighted sum of each input's variance. This method is based on a Taylor series expansion. Having an output mean and variance, designers typically assume the outputs are Gaussian. This paper presents a proof that outputs are rarely Gaussian for nonlinear functions, even with Gaussian inputs. This paper also presents a solution for system designers to more meaningfully describe the system output distribution. This solution consists of using equations derived from a second-order Taylor series that propagate skewness and kurtosis through a system model. If a second-order Taylor series is used to propagate variance, these higher-order statistics can also be propagated with minimal additional computational cost. These higher-order statistics allow the system designer to more accurately describe the distribution of possible outputs. The benefits of including higher-order statistics in error propagation are clearly illustrated in the example of a flat rolling metalworking process used to manufacture metal plates.
展开▼
