Identification of multiple joint dynamics using the inverse receptance coupling method

A lot of effort has been put into accurately modelling virtual prototypes prior to physical building of structures, in order to minimize cost and time while improving performance. However, there are often significant discrepancies between the dynamics of virtual prototypes and actual physical structures, which are mainly caused by improper joint dynamics modelling and assumptions. To overcome these challenges, we propose a method for the identification of multiple joints in structures using the inverse receptance coupling method. This method enables the determination of the joint properties by finding the differences between the measured receptances of the assembled structures and the simulated receptances obtained from rigidly coupled substructures. The receptances are obtained either through the finite element model or experimental modal measurements. The only measurements required in the proposed identification method are measurements on the translational degrees of freedom of the substructures and assembled structure. Knowing the joint’s dynamic properties allows for the prediction of behavior of a new assembled structure that uses the same joint configuration, without the necessity of direct measurements on the structure.