Graph analysis of non-uniform rational B-spline-based metamodels

Abstract

Over the past decade metamodels, also known as surrogate models, based on non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBs) have been developed. These metamodels exhibit unique properties that enable a wide range of computationally efficient analyses. Thus far, the analysis of these metamodels has been of a geometric nature, but in this article an approach based on graph theory is used. The properties of NURBs enable the interpretation of NURBs-based metamodels as graphs, and enable the demonstration of several analyses based on this structure. The general case of an analytically defined continuous-variable problem is given in the first example. A specific application in the field of robotic path planning constitutes the second example. Finally, an observation on the current state of this research, its merits and drawbacks, and an outline of future efforts that may increase its utility is provided.