Time-domain Galerkin method for dynamic load identification

Summary This paper proposes a new method called time‐domain Galerkin method (TDGM) for investigating the structural dynamic load identification problems. Firstly, the shape functions are adopted to approximate three parameters, such as the dynamic load, kernel function response, and measured structural response Secondly, defining a residual function could be expressed as the difference of the measured response and the computational response. Thirdly, select an appropriate weighting function to multiply the defined residual function and make integral operation with respect to time to be zero. Finally, when the shape functions are chosen as the weighting function, it establishes the forward model called TDGM. Furthermore, the regularization method could have effectiveness in solving the ill‐posed matrix of load reconstruction and obtaining the accurate identified results of the dynamic load. Compared with the traditional Green kernel function method (GKFM), TDGM can effectively overcome the influences of noise and improve the accuracy of the dynamic load identification. Three numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the correctness and advantages of TDGM. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.