Some innovative industrial prospects centered on inverse analyses

This chapter presents several applications of various parameter identification methods to practical engineering problems. The focus is here on novel industrial uses of inverse analyses as integrations of experimental and computational mechanics and on the potential benefits which derive, or may reasonably be expected in the near future. The parameter identification problems discussed herein with some details from the above standpoint concern the following topics: micro and nano-indentation tests supplemented by the imprint mapping; local properties in heterogeneous materials assessed on the basis of conventional overall tests. Four other practical problems solved by inverse analysis are more concisely presented subsequently and some new methodological features are pointed out.