An effective computational tool for parametric studies and identification problems in materials mechanics

Parametric studies and identification problems require to perform repeated analyses, where only a few input parameters are varied among those defining the problem of interest, often associated to complex numerical simulations. In fact, physical phenomena relevant to several practical applications involve coupled material and geometry non-linearities. In these situations, accurate but expensive computations, usually carried out by the finite element method, may be replaced by numerical procedures based on proper orthogonal decomposition combined with radial basis function interpolation. Besides drastically reducing computing times and costs, this approach is capable of retaining the essential features of the considered system responses while filtering most disturbances. These features are illustrated in this paper with specific reference to some elastic–plastic problems. The presented results can however be easily extended to other meaningful engineering situations.