Identification of 'effective' linear joints using coupling and joint identification techniques

Almost all real-life structures are assembled from components connected by various types of joints. Unlike many other parts, the dynamic properties of a joint are difficult to model analytically. An alternative approach for establishing a theoretical model of a joint is to extract the model parameters from experimental data using joint identification techniques. The accuracy of the identification is significantly affected by the properties of the joints themselves. If a joint is stiff, its properties are often difficult to identify accurately. This is because the responses at both ends of the joint are linearly-dependent. To make things worse, the existence of a stiff joint can also affect the accuracy of identification of other effective joints (the term "effective joints" in this paper refers to those joints which otherwise can be identified accurately). This problem is tackled by coupling these stiff joints using a generalized coupling technique, and then the properties of the remaining joints are identified using a joint identification technique. The accuracy of the joint identification can usually be improved by using this approach. Both numerically simulated and experimental results are presented.