Physics-Informed Neural Networks for Solving Forward and Inverse Problems in Complex Beam Systems

IEEE Trans Neural Netw Learn Syst. 2024 May;35(5):5981-5995. doi: 10.1109/TNNLS.2023.3310585. Epub 2024 May 2.

Abstract

This article proposes a new framework using physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) to simulate complex structural systems that consist of single and double beams based on Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko theories, where the double beams are connected with a Winkler foundation. In particular, forward and inverse problems for the Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko partial differential equations (PDEs) are solved using nondimensional equations with the physics-informed loss function. Higher order complex beam PDEs are efficiently solved for forward problems to compute the transverse displacements and cross-sectional rotations with less than 1e-3 % error. Furthermore, inverse problems are robustly solved to determine the unknown dimensionless model parameters and applied force in the entire space-time domain, even in the case of noisy data. The results suggest that PINNs are a promising strategy for solving problems in engineering structures and machines involving beam systems.