Finite element model updating is the process of ensuring that
finite element analysis
The finite element method (FEM) is a popular method for numerically solving differential equations arising in engineering and mathematical modeling. Typical problem areas of interest include the traditional fields of structural analysis, heat ...
results in
models that better reflect the measured data than the initial models. It is part of
verification and validation of numerical models.
The process
The process is conducted by first choosing the
domain in which data is presented. The domains used include
time domain,
frequency domain, modal domain, and time-frequency domain.
The second step is to determine which parts of the initial models are thought to have been modeled incorrectly.
The third task is to formulate a
function which has the parameters that are expected to be design variables, and which represents the distance between the ''measured'' data and the finite element model ''predicted'' data.
The fourth step is to implement the
optimization method to identify parameters that
minimize this function. In most cases, a gradient-based optimization strategy will be used. For
nonlinear analysis, more specific methods like
response surface modeling,
particle swarm optimization,
Monte Carlo optimization, and
genetic algorithm
In computer science and operations research, a genetic algorithm (GA) is a metaheuristic inspired by the process of natural selection that belongs to the larger class of evolutionary algorithms (EA). Genetic algorithms are commonly used to gene ...
s can be used. Recently, finite element model updating has been conducted using
Bayesian statistics which gives a probabilistic interpretation of model updating.
References
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*Marwala, T., and Heyns, P.S., "A multiple criterion method for detecting damage on structures" AIAA Journal, 195(2), 1998, pp. 1494-1501.
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External links
FEMtools : Software for finite element model updating in static and dynamic structural analysis
{{DEFAULTSORT:Finite Element Model Updating
Finite element method