Nonlinear Finite Element Model Updating, Part I: Experimental Techniques and Nonlinear Modal Model Parameter Extraction

Linear structural dynamic models are often used to support system design and qualification. Overall, linear models provide an efficient means for conducting design studies and augmenting test data by recovering un-instrumented or un-measurable quantities (e.g. stress). Nevertheless, the use of linear models often adds significant conservatism in design and qualification programs by failing to capture critical mechanisms for energy dissipation. Unfortunately, the use of explicit nonlinear models can require unacceptably large efforts in model development and experimental characterization to account for common nonlinearities such as frictional interfaces, macro-slip, and other complex material behavior. The computational requirements are also greater by orders of magnitude. Conversely, modal models are much more computationally efficient and experimentally have shown the ability to capture typical structural nonlinearity. Thus, this work will seek to use modal nonlinear identification techniques to improve the predictive capability of a finite element structural dynamics model. Part I of this paper discusses the experimental aspects of this work. Linear natural frequencies, damping values, and mode shapes are extracted from low excitation level testing. Subsequently, the structure is excited with high level user-defined shaker inputs. The corresponding response data are modally filtered and fit with nonlinear elements to create the nonlinear pseudo-modal model. This is then used to simulate the measured response from a high level excitation experiment which utilized a different type of input. The nonlinear model is then employed in a reduced order, generalized structural dynamics model as discussed in Part II.