1-Norm-based regularization scheme for system identification of structures with discontinuous system parameters

This paper presents a new class of regularization functions and the associated regularization scheme for structural system identification. In particular, 1-norm regularization functions are investigated to overcome the smearing effect of 2-norm regularization functions for the identification of discontinuous system parameters of structures. The truncated singular value decomposition is employed to filter out noise-polluted solution components and to impose the 1-norm regularization function on SI. The bilinear fitting method is proposed for selecting an optimal truncation number of the truncated singular value decomposition. The validity of the proposed method is demonstrated through the identification of an inclusion in a square plate and damaged members in a two-span truss. Copyright q 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.