A fuzzy arithmetical approach to finite element model updating applied to an automotive brake system

This thesis is concerned with the analysis of epistemic uncertainties in the model-updating process. In model updating, the parameters of a model are identified on the basis of the results of experimental analyses of the investigated system. The model-updating process is often subject to epistemic uncertainties. These, for example, can result from model deficiencies, as in many cases, not enough information is available to describe the analyzed system in detail, or due to intended modeling simplifications which are often made inpractice to speed up the modeling process. For the investigation of epistemic uncertainty, methods based on fuzzy arithmetic proved to be particularly appropriate. Thus, the focus of this thesis is on the analysis of epistemic uncertainties in the framework of model updating using fuzzy arithmetical techniques. Thereby, a number of new contributions are made with respect to epistemic uncertainty representation as well as uncertainty analysis.