Time-varying systems identification using continuous wavelet analysis of free decay response signals

This paper proposes a time-varying approach used for identification of time-varying systems and presents a simulation example of a simple vibration system with time-varying mass, stiffness and damping characteristics, which is a five-storey shear-beam building model. Free decay acceleration response signals are analyzed to reveal time-varying nature of the system. Wavelet analysis is used for system identification. The method is based on a recently developed direct identification algorithm. Numerical results confirm that the proposed method is accurate and effective in identification of the time-varying system.