A Bayesian optimized framework for successful application of unscented Kalman filter in parameter identification of MDOF structures

Abstract

The success of the unscented Kalman filter can be jeopardized if the required initial parameters are not identified carefully. These parameters include the initial guesses and the levels of uncertainty in the target parameters and the process and measurement noise parameters. While a set of appropriate initial target parameters give the unscented Kalman filter a head start, the uncertainty levels and noise parameters set the rate of convergence in the process. Therefore, due to the coupling effect of these parameters, an inclusive approach is desired to maintain the chance of convergence for expensive experimental tests. In this paper, a framework is proposed that, via a virtual emulation prior to the experiment, determines a set of initial conditions to ensure a successful application of the online parameter identification. A Bayesian optimization method is proposed, which considers the level of confidence in the initial guesses for the target parameters to suggest the appropriate noise covariance matrices. The methodology is validated on a five-story shear frame tested on a shake table. The results indicate that, indeed, a trade-off can be made between the robustness of the online updating and the final parameter accuracy.