Finite element approaching analysis of load localization and identification for smart structures

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a numerical approaching analysis method combining the sequential unconstrained minimization technique and finite element method to identify the loading condition and geometry of smart structures accurately. Design/methodology/approach A new load identification model is built and the finite element approaching method is proposed by the combination of finite element method and optimization technique. Findings The approaching algorithm has good convergence and fast approximation speed; the accuracy can meet the engineering requirements. The approaching model is simple, and the precision is controllable and it can be used to solve the load identification problem of the smart material structure. Originality/value In view of the cited papers, the information sensed by the smart structure is limited, discrete and contains certain errors. How to derive the cause from the limited, error-containing discrete information is an important problem that needs to be solved by the self-diagnosis function. A load identification model based on structural displacement response is established and a numerical approximation method is proposed by combining the finite element method with the optimization technique; the load magnitude and position of the structure are identified according to the displacement measurement values of the internal finite point in the structure under the load condition.