Application of genetic algorithms for the identification of elastic constants of composite materials from dynamic tests

This work has been placed within the framework of the identification of sti ffness properties of composite materials from dynamic tests. More precisely , the used approach has been inserted in the general context of model updat ing. The genetic algorithms method has been used as a complementary techniq ue allowing a first estimation of the elastic coefficients. In other words, the initial finite element model is estimated The refinement of solutions can thus be made by a classical updating method, such as the sensitivity me thod. The procedure allows the simultaneous estimation of several propertie s from a single test. Properties of extension, bending, twisting and transv erse shear effects can be identified. Results obtained by numerical simulat ion show the efficiency and robustness of the genetic algorithms. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.