Efficient Model-Assisted Probability of Detection and Sensitivity Analysis for Ultrasonic Testing Simulations Using Stochastic Metamodeling

Model-assisted probability of detection (MAPOD) and sensitivity analysis (SA) are important for quantifying the inspection capability of nondestructive testing (NDT) systems. To improve the computational efficiency, this work proposes the use of polynomial chaos expansions (PCEs), integrated with least-angle regression (LARS), a basis-adaptive technique, and a hyperbolic truncation scheme, in lieu of the direct use of the physics-based measurement model in the MAPOD and SA calculations. The proposed method is demonstrated on three ultrasonic testing cases and compared with Monte Carlo sampling (MCS) of the physics model, MCS-based kriging, and the ordinary least-squares (OLS)-based PCE method. The results show that the probability of detection (POD) metrics of interests can be controlled within 1% accuracy relative to using the physics model directly. Comparison with metamodels shows that the LARS-based PCE method can provide up to an order of magnitude improvement in the computational efficiency.