A BEM based pattern search solution for a class of inverse elastostatic problems

boundary element based solution, employing the Hooke-Jeeves pattern search method, is developed to determine internal cavity geometries in the inverse elastostatics problem. In contrast to existing methods which employ gradient based solutions, the developed method does not require gradient information, and consequently results in a simpler solution procedure. A boundary difference function (BDF) that provides a guide for the initial guess is introduced. The unknown cavity geometry is first assumed to be circular, and the algorithm is run until the general location of the cavity is determined. Subsequent refinement of the detected cavity geometry is a&ted using a periodic cubic spline discretixation. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the boundary difference function and to demonstrate the successful detection of the cavity. The effects of simulated experimental inputs with prescribed error are also presented. Copyright 0 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd