Int. J. Str. Stab. Dyn. 2014.14. Downloaded from www.worldscientific.com by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA @ DAVIS on 02/05/15. For personal use only.identi¯cation algorithm. For this purpose, a numerical model is set up with a beam¯nite element model using the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF), which enables the modeling of geometrical and possible material nonlinearities. The in°uencing parameters as well as the system properties have been determined by using a genetic optimization algorithm. The impact of the main in°uencing parameter is carved out by an included sensitivity study. Thē nal model with automatically identi¯ed parameters shows high agreement with the experimental setup. With this approach the in°uences and nonlinearities, e.g. material parameters, rigid behavior, real boundary conditions, etc., come up to surface leading to a deeper understanding of the structural behavior of the system itself. Therefore, the present approach can be utilized for further investigations of nonstandard structures undergoing large deformations.