8. Experimental approach

On a day-to-day basis, RDI is an experimental activity in the broadest sense of the term, i.e. including results from modeling or calculation. However, this experimental and prototype approach is potentially costly, all the more so as the system under study is complex and its behavior depends on numerous interacting parameters. Two complementary actions can help to limit experimental effort. The first is to develop models, either numerically or on a reduced scale using scaling laws compatible with the phenomena involved. The second is to optimize the number of tests by using experimental designs [P 230] which...