Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/N16334/01
Title:	MODEL STRUCTURE DETERMINATION (VF)
Principal Investigator:	Mottershead, Professor J
Other Investigators:	Friswell, Professor MI
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	School of Engineering
Organisation:	University of Liverpool
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	06 July 2000	Ends:	05 January 2001	Value (£):	21,070
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials testing & eng.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Aerospace, Defence and Marine Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
It is well known that finite element models quite often disagree with experimental vibration tests. They may be adjusted (by finite element model updating) but the resulting model will not be unique in reproducing the measurements. The purpose of model structure determination is to obtain the 'structure' of the mathematical (finite element) model from tests carried out on the physical system. Thus we aim to determine the important physical relationships that must be represented in the governing differential equations, the connectivities of the model, whether there are nonlinearities present and the nature of the boundary conditions and joints.The proposed visit will enable one aspect of this research to be carried out by an expert who has experience of similar inverse problems. The Fellow will develop the methodology based on a Taylor series expansion of the equations for finite element nodes (from identified discrete stiffness and mass matrix terms) to form partial differential equations from which the physical meaning of the system under consideration can be understood. Not only can one determine the type of structure (beam, plate, etc) but also the effects involved in the behaviour of the structure (shear deformation, rotary inertia, warping, stress-stiffening etc.) that are often neglected in the construction of finite element models. The method will be validated by a test carried out on a physical structure provided by the industrial partners.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.liv.ac.uk