Experimental Modal Analysis and Computational Model Updating of a Car Body in

To validate Finite Element models, test data, e.g. from an experimental modal analysis, may be utilized. The modal data themselves must be highly accurate since they form the basis for all subsequent validation efforts. This implies that systematic test design accompanied by careful modal testing is mandatory. If the deviations between test and analysis are not acceptable (poor test/analysis correlation), the idealization of the investigated elastomechanical system must be reviewed. Because of the number of uncertain model parameters usually being very high for industrial applications, an appropriate ‘manual’ update based on engineering skills will most likely fail. Here, computational model updating techniques must be applied, which allow for a simultaneous update of multiple model parameters. In this paper an integrated validation strategy is presented that takes into account the complete process chain from model based test design, over modal testing, data evaluation, test/analysis correlation to computational model updating. By means of a real car body in white the single steps of the validation strategy will be highlighted, and it will be shown that very encouraging validation results can be obtained even for very complex systems.