Identifying approximate linear models for simple nonlinear systems

This paper addresses the identification (realization) of approximate linear models from response data for certain nonlinear dynamic systems. Response characteristics for several typical nonlinear joints are analyzed mathematically and represented by series expansions. The parameters of the series expansion are then compared with the modal parameters of a linear model identified by the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm. The agreement of the identified model and the analytically derived representation is excellent for the cases studied. Also laboratory data from a model which exhibited stiffening behavior was analyzed using the Eigensystem Realization algorithm and Fast Fourier Transform. The laboratory experiment demonstrated the ability of the technique to recover the model characteristics using real data.