3. Building response surface metamodels
RSM consists of a group of mathematical and statistical techniques
that can be used to define the relationships between the response
and the independent variables. RSM defines the effect of the
independent variables, alone or in combination, on the processes.
In addition to analyzing the effects of the independent variables,
this experimental methodology also generates a mathematical
model called a metamodel. The graphical perspective of the mathematical
model has led to the term RSM [15].
Metamodels are developed to obtain a better understanding of
the nature of the true relationship between the input variables
and the output variables of the system under study. This approximate
formula could be used as a proxy for the full-blown simulation
itself in order to get at least a rough idea of what would
happen for a large number of input-parameter combinations. A
number of mathematical functions have been used to develop
these metamodels [16–18].