Modular Assembly of Volterra Models of Nonlinear Physical Systems

The modular model assembly method (MMAM) is an energy based model distribution and assembly algorithm that distributes and assembles model information through computer networks. Using the MMAM linear and affine physical system, models can be distributed and assembled using dynamic matrices. Though the MMAM procedure can be used for a large class of systems, linear model dynamic matrices cannot be used to represent nonlinear behavior. This work is an extension of the MMAM to assemble nonlinear physical models described through Volterra expansions. Volterra expansions are models representations of smooth nonlinearities. Using the approach proposed here, complex assemblies of nonlinear physical models can be executed recursively while hiding the topology and characteristics of their structural model subassemblies. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4004039]