Identification of Lack of Knowledge Using Analytical Redundancy Applied to Structural Dynamic Systems

Reliability of sensor information in today’s highly automated systems is crucial. Neglected and not quantifiable uncertainties lead to lack of knowledge which results in erroneous interpretation of sensor data. Physical redundancy is an often-used approach to reduce the impact of lack of knowledge but in many cases is infeasible and gives no absolute certainty about which sensors and models to trust. However, structural models can link spatially distributed sensors to create analytical redundancy. By using existing sensor data and models, analytical redundancy comes with the benefits of unchanged structural behavior and cost efficiency. The detection of conflicting data using analytical redundancy reveals lack of knowledge, e.g. in sensors or models, and supports the inference from conflict to cause.