Identification of non-linear hysteretic isolators from periodic vibration tests

This paper addresses the parameter identification of friction-type hysteretic isolators based on the versatile Bouc-Wen differential model. A frequency domain method is developed to identify the model parameters from the experimental data of periodic vibration tests. All the five parameters in the hysteretic model are obtained by a one-stage parameter estimate scheme. Numerical simulations show that the proposed method is insensitive to the noise in the observation signals. This method is then implemented to model and identify the experimental hysteresis loops of wire-cable vibration isolators, and the accuracy of the parameter identification is verified by comparing the measured and identified harmonic components of the hysteretic restoring force.