On the Identification Problem in Linear Viscoelasticity

Abstract

AbstractThis paper discusses a class of identification problems in linear viscoelasticity, in particular a procedure for determining a suitable constitutive functional structure from experimental information is presented.The problem is viewed as a linearization procedure of a general nonlinear stress‐strain functional relationship in the neighborhood of some stress‐strain histories, in the presence of noise. The highly nonlinear optimization problem posed by this approach is solved using ideas of differential approximation and quasilinearinzation. The characteristic viscoelastic are ultimately given as the solutions of suitable differential equations subject to initial conditions, a convenient functional parametrization if a digital computer is to be used in subsequent stress‐analysis. Several examples are presented to illustrate the feasibility and accuracy of the method.