Probabilistic Finite Element Model Updating of Civil Engineering Structures: A Comparative Study

Abstract

<p>Finite element (FE) model updating of civil engineering structures is usually performed under the modal domain. According to this approach, the value of the main physical parameters of the structure is modified in order to reduce the relative differences between the experimental and numerical modal parameters of the structure. To date, two methods are widely used to perform the FE model updating: (i) the maximum likelihood method and (ii) the Bayesian method. The second method is usually implemented via sampling methods. Thus, the FE model updating consists in determining an efficient sampling of each considered physical parameter of the model. Herein, two sampling techniques, the Metropolis-Hastings (M-H) algorithm and the Slice Sampling (SS) algorithm, are compared when they are implemented for the FE model updating of a laboratory steel footbridge.</p>