DIRECT PARAMETER-ESTIMATION FOR LINEAR AND NONLINEAR STRUCTURES

A method is presented for directly estimating the physical parameter matrices, i.e., mass, stiffness and damping, of linear and non-linear structures by using measured time data. The structure is modelled by an equivalent lumped parameter system with symmetric parameter matrices. A least squares strategy which makes use of these symmetry relations is adopted to allow the estimation of all the parameters and requires excitation at only one location. The validity of the method is demonstrated by using both computer simulation and experimental procedures. © 1992.