Abstract

In this paper, a new model updating scheme is introduced to adjust the system matrices of a finite-element model by using experimental operating deflection shapes (ODS). An ODS is defined here as the response vector when the system is driven at a given degree of freedom with a unit force of fixed frequency. The proposed algorithm adjusts the numerical model in an iterative way. The matrix equilibrium equation is solved by first taking into account the frequency shift that appears between the non-updated finite element model and the experimental structure. In this way, numerical instabilities observed in state-of-the-art methods are avoided. We present results on two well-known numerical and experimental benchmark cases. They show the good convergence properties of the proposed approach. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.