Surrogate modeling terminology for acoustics: verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification

Surrogate models are emerging as established parts of commercial problem-solving spaces including aeronautics, financial estimating, marketing, automotive, and weather predictions. Being less computationally expensive, these models generally require less expensive hardware, and less time for engineering design. When surrogate models ultimately inform safety and policy decisions prior to monetary decisions, one needs to demonstrate credibility for decision makers. Engineers should be sure that the uncertainty of models are quantified and that the models are verified and validated (a field called VVUQ). To create clarity when discussing VVUQ terminology especially applied to acoustics, we survey the way these terms are currently used and create a glossary for guidance going forward. We use the modeling process applied to a canonical structural dynamics system to demonstrate the application of this vocabulary.