Parameter estimation of structures from static response. I. computational aspects

Two algorithms are proposed for estimating member constitutive properties of a finite-element model with known geometry and topology from measured displacements under a known static loading. The proposed algorithms are based on the concept of minimizing an index of discrepancy between the model and the measurements, the first using the error in nodal forces and the second using the error in displacements at the measurement sites. The problem is set up as a constrained least-squares minimization and is solved with the recursive quadratic programming method. Both estimators are capable of making estimates with spatially incomplete measurements, and both are amenable to the modeling of complex structures.