Identification of Unknown, Time-Varying Forces/Moments in Dynamics and Vibration Problems Using a New Approach To Deconvolution

Abstract

In this paper an alternative approach to the classical deconvolution idea is used to obtain a new and practical method for real-time identification of unknown, time-varying forces/moments in a general class of linear (linearized) dynamics and vibration problems with multiple-inputs and multiple-measurements. This new method for force/moment identification is unique in the respect that the uncertainty in the force/moment time-variations is not characterized by random-process methods, but rather by a generalized spline-model with totally unknown weighting coefficients and completely known basis-functions. The basis-functions are custom chosen in each application to reflect, qualitatively, the known characteristics of the force/moment time-variations to be identified. The method does not involve explicit identification of the unknown weighting coefficients. General-purpose identification algorithms for both continuous-time and discrete-time measurements are developed, and a worked example including computer simulation results is presented.