Pseudo-cubic thin-plate type Spline method for analyzing experimental data

A mathematical tool, using pseudo-cubic thin-plate type Spline, has been developed for analysis of experimental data points. The main purpose is to obtain, without any a priori given model, a mathematical predictor with related uncertainties, usable at any point in the multidimensional parameter space. The smoothing parameter is determined by a generalized cross validation method. The residual standard deviation obtained is significantly smaller than that of a least square regression. An example of use is given with critical heat flux data, showing a significant decrease of the conception criterion (minimum allowable value of the DNB ratio). (author) 4 figs., 1 tab., 7 refs