Stochastic Nonlinear Model Updating in Structural Dynamics Using a Novel Likelihood Function within the Bayesian-MCMC Framework

Abstract The study presents a novel approach for stochastic nonlinear model updating in structural dynamics, employing a Bayesian framework integrated with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling for parameter estimation by using an approximated likelihood function. The proposed methodology is applied to both numerical and experimental cases. The paper commences by introducing Bayesian inference and its constituents: the likelihood function, prior distribution, and posterior distribution. The resonant decay method is employed to extract backbone curves, which capture the non-linear behavior of the system. A mathematical model based on a single degree of freedom (SDOF) system is formulated, and backbone curves are obtained from time response data. Subsequently, MCMC sampling is employed to estimate the parameters using both numerical and experimental data. The obtained results demonstrate the convergence of the Markov chain, present parameter trace plots, and provide estimates of posterior distributions of updated parameters along with their uncertainties. Experimental validation is performed on a cantilever beam system equipped with permanent magnets and electromagnets. The proposed methodology demonstrates promising results in estimating parameters of stochastic non-linear dynamical systems. Through the use of the proposed likelihood functions using backbone curves, the probability distributions of both linear and non-linear parameters are simultaneously identified. Based on this view, the necessity to segregate stochastic linear and non-linear model updating is eliminated.