Application of a posteriori error estimation for structural model updating

The aim of structural model updating is to define an error that characterizes the quality of the model with respect to the experimental data and then to minimize this error. The method developed herein to solve this inverse problem is based on the concept of the error of the constitutive relation. It represents an extension of the work conducted in the field of ` a posteriori' error estimation for quantifying the quality of a finite-element computation. This error can deal with either damping effects or nonlinearities, and it can also use all available experimental results (free or forced vibration as well). An example is worked out which illustrates the capabilities of this method.