Swarm Intelligent Optimization Conjunction with Kriging Model for Bridge Structure Finite Element Model Updating

For the simple bridge structure, the finite element model established by drawing and elastic mechanics method is accurate. However, when faced with large and complex long-span bridge structures, there are inevitable differences between the finite element model and the physical model, where the model has to be updated. It is problematic that the updating structural matrix cannot be fed back into the existing general finite element calculation software in the traditional structural matrix updating method. In this paper, a parameter-type updating method based on the “Kriging model + swarm intelligence” optimization is proposed. The Kriging model, based on Genetic Algorithm (GA), Bird Mating Optimizer (BMO), and Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (PSO), is introduced into the finite element model, updating this to correct the design parameters of the finite element model. Firstly, a truss structure was used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed optimization method, and then a cable-stayed bridge was taken as an example. Three methods were used to update the finite element model of the bridge, and the results of the three optimization algorithms were compared and analyzed. The results show that, compared with the other two methods, the GA-based model updating method has the least time due to the small computation. The results of the BMO-based model were time consuming compared to the other two algorithms, and the parameter identification results were better than the GA algorithm. The PSO algorithm-based model updating method to solve the finite element model was repeated, which required a large amount of computation and was more time consuming; however, it had the highest parameter correction accuracy.

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