System identification of large space structures

The paper deals with the problem of system identifiability for a linear dynamical system. Two theorems are given relating the sufficient condition of system identifiability for certain linear structures to the total number of inputs and outputs. The principle of least squares, that seeks the minimization of a cost function is employed to carry out the system identification process. To illustrate the concept of the paper, a structural model of a beam with point masses is examined. Parameter identification methods are studied and a random search technique is introduced.