CALIBRATION OF THE NUMERICAL MODEL OF A STAND IN DRAGÃO STADIUM BASED ON GENETIC ALGORITHMS

This paper is focused on the experimental calibration of the numerical model of a stand in Dragão stadium based in genetic algorithms. A finite element numerical model of a group of seating deck units including the connections between them and the connections with the stands, was developed. Also a dynamic test was performed in the South stand in order to characterize the local dynamic properties of a group of seating deck units, particularly its natural frequencies, modal configurations and damping coefficients. The experimental calibration of the numerical model was performed using an iterative method based on a genetic algorithm. The stability of a significant number of parameters, considering different initial populations, proved the robustness of the adopted algorithm in the scope of the optimization of the numerical model. Also the calibration results demonstrate a very good agreement between numerical and experimental modal responses and a significant improvement of the numerical model before calibration.