Model Updating of Modal Parameters from Experimental Data and Applications in Aerospace

Abstract

The research in this thesis is associated with different aspects of experimental analyses of structural dynamic systems and the correction of the corresponding mathematical models using experimental data. A comprehensive finite-element model updating software technology is assembled and various novel features are implemented. The software technology is integrated into an experimental test facility for structural dynamic identification and used in a number of real life aerospace applications. An iterative correction parameter selection technique and novel approaches for the correction of structural components with non-isotropic and viscous material properties are proposed. The influence of experimental errors on the accuracy of the model corrections is investigated using a numerical simulation procedure. To improve the quality of the experimental reference data a non-iterative method for the computation of optimised multi-point excitation force vectors for Phase Resonance Testing is introduced. Finally, possible advantages of model updating in association with a model-based method for the identification and localisation of structural damage are investigated.