Hashemi, Ali

This dissertation focuses on the development of data-driven and physics-based modeling for two distinct significant structural engineering applications: time-varying response variables estimation and unwanted lateral vibration control. In the first part, I propose a machine learning (ML)-based surrogate modeling to directly predict dynamic responses over an entire mechanical system during operations. Any mechanical system design, as well as structural health monitoring systems, require transient vibration analysis. However, traditional methods and modeling calculations are time- and resource-consuming. The use of ML approaches is particularly promising in scientific and engineering challenges containing processes that are not completely understood, or where it is computationally infeasible to run numerical or analytical models at desired resolutions in space and time. In this research, an ML-based surrogate for the FEA approach is developed to forecast the time-varying response, i.e., displacement of a two-dimensional truss structure. Various ML regression algorithms including decision trees and deep neural networks are developed to predict movement over a truss structure, and their efficiencies are investigated. ML algorithms have been combined with FEA in preliminary attempts to address issues in static mechanical systems.