A Technique for Estimating Linear Parameters Using Nonlinear Restoring Force Extraction in the Absence of an Input Measurement

Conventional nonlinear system identification procedures estimate the system parameters in two stages. First, the nominally linear system parameters are estimated by exciting the system at an amplitude (usually low) where the behavior is nominally linear. Second, the nominally linear parameters are used to estimate the nonlinear parameters of the system at other arbitrary amplitudes. This approach is not suitable for many mechanical systems, which are not nominally linear over a broad frequency range for any operating amplitude. A method for nonlinear system identification, in the absence of an input measurement, is presented that uses information about the nonlinear elements of the system to estimate the underlying linear parameters. Restoring force, boundary perturbation, and direct parameter estimation techniques are combined to develop this approach. The approach is applied to experimental tire-vehicle suspension system data.