Observation DOF’s optimization for structural forces identification

Frequently, in industrial application, the knowledge of the force distribution acting on complex structures is required. Generally, the direct measurement of these force fields is impossible to perform, mainly due to the difficulties associated with the transducers placement. Therefore, the development of force identification techniques is a very important topic in applied mechanics. Unfortunately, this inverse problem is typically ill-conditioned. In recent decades, some force identification procedures has been developed, but it is difficult to enforce these techniques in operating condition. In this paper, a procedure to design the operative setup is proposed in order to determine the best configuration of sensors position. To this aim, two indices are used and, through a Finite Element Model of the structure, they are calculated. The procedure allows to reach the best configuration of the measurement points in order to minimize the ill-conditioning of the problem. To validate the procedure, the results of an experimental test on a complex structure are compared with the numerical results.