Total solution for structural mechanics problems

A concept of total solution for structural mechanics problems is proposed in this paper. It aims to establish a systematic approach to provide a comprehensive solution for practical structural mechanics problems, especially for traditional forward problems with incomplete input information (load, material property, boundary condition) and inverse problems with insufficient observations of effects (displacement, acceleration, stress, etc.). The approach for a total solution is to formulate such a structural mechanics problem as a parameter identification problem based on the forward solver of problem. All the unknown parameterized information in this forward model is determined through an iterative procedure of conducting alternately forward and inverse (or mixed) analyses. Algorithms of implementing inverse and mixed analyses are developed, which include a sensitivity matrix-based method and a modified adaptive neural networks method. Numerical investigations have been made to demonstrate the feasibility and validity of the proposed approach as well as the implementation algorithms. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.