Finite element model updating of bridges by using virtual distortion method

Superelement-based virtual distortion method (VDM) was proposed to improve the efficiency of finite element model (FEM) updating of large-scaled bridges by using the static information. On one side, VDM was deemed as a new type of meta-model for static analysis of structures, i.e., a surrogate model of FEM of bridges. In this way, the efficiency of FEM updating could be improved dramatically since a large number of iterative calculations have to be implemented during the process of FEM updating. On the other side, the superelement was applied to reduce the size of the influence matrix that was the kernel of building VDM, so it is effective to enhance the efficiency of generating the meta-model (VDM) of large-scale bridges. Finally, the effectiveness of proposed method was demonstrated by updating the FEM of a practical bridge with the measured static deformation.