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Many efficient modeling methods have been developed for analyzing the effects of component-level variations and uncertainties on the system-level response of complex structures. However, relatively little work has addressed the efficient or agile modeling of variations in the connections between components. Such a capability would be useful for simulation (e.g., performing reliability analysis accounting for spot welding variations) and design (e.g., determining fastener locations for up-armor kits) of commercial and military ground vehicle structures. In this work, a component mode synthesis approach to structural modeling is enhanced by also modeling variations in the connections between components. With this framework, changes in the joining or fastening of the components can be considered in a structural analysis or design process. The components are condensed statically or dynamically with all the candidate joining nodes being retained as active degrees of freedom.

The integration of sensors, actuators, and real-time control in transportation systems enables intelligent system operation to minimize energy consumption and maximize occupant safety and vehicle reliability. The operating cycle of military ground vehicles can be on- and off-road in harsh weather and adversarial environments, which demands continuous subsystem functionality to fulfill missions. Onboard diagnostic systems can alert the operator of a degraded operation once established fault thresholds are exceeded. An opportunity exists to estimate vehicle maintenance needs using model-based predicted trends and eventually compiled information from fleet operating databases. A digital twin, created to virtually describe the dynamic behavior of a physical system using computer-mathematical models, can estimate the system behavior based on current and future operating scenarios while accounting for past effects.