A numerical scheme for the identification of hybrid systems describing the vibration of flexible beams with tip bodies (Q1088490)

An approximation scheme is proposed for the identification of systems describing the planar transverse vibrations of beams with attached tip bodies. The model involves systems of coupled partial and ordinary differential equations which describe the motion of the beam and tip bodies, respectively. The identification problem is formulated as a least-squares fit to data subject to the dynamical equations recast as an abstract evolution equation in an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. A cubic spline-based Galerkin-like method is used which leads to a sequence of approximating finite-dimensional identification problems. Numerical results for three examples are presented. A cantilevered beam with a tip mass, a free-free beam with an attached tip body at each end and a cantilevered beam with a tip body subject to an axially directed base acceleration have been considered. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the method developed in the paper.