A robust online parametric identification method for non-deteriorating and deteriorating distributed element models with viscous damping

The online parametric identification of deteriorating and non-deteriorating distributed element models (DEMs) with viscous damping is studied using a generalization of Masing model to provide the proper framework for identification. The approach renders the hysteretic response of the DEM into a time-independent single-valued mapping from equivalent displacement values into equivalent force values, while considering the effect of damping as a parallel element. This approach allows for parametric identification of this non-linear rate-dependent hysteretic behavior to be performed using non-linear optimization techniques. A changing objective function, defined as a norm of force estimation error over a shifting window of recent data, is employed so that classic non-linear optimization techniques can be used for the online identification problem. A variation of the steepest descent method is used with significant modifications. Special measures are taken to guarantee robustness of the results in presence of noise. The results show that the proposed identification method exhibits a very good performance in identifying the correct values of the parameters in real time, and is robust in dealing with noise. The proposed method can be applied to many other types of hysteretic behavior as well.