According to an aspect, a method includes configuring a predictive system model with a plurality of component models to correspond with a modeled state of a mechanical system. A set of perturbation inputs is applied to one or more of the component models to produce a plurality of prediction results. The prediction results are compared to a targeted mode of the mechanical system. A set of configuration parameters of the mechanical system is captured in combination with one or more of the perturbation inputs that most closely results in the prediction results matching the targeted mode of the mechanical system.