A modeling technique to estimate a NARMAX model is developed to identify nonlinearities which are contained in linear-based nonlinear systems. Considering great contributions by linear parts of the NARMAX model on describing nonlinearities, a linear model, which is
estimated from small amplitude input and the corresponding output is taken as the linear part of the NARMAX model. Hence, the capabilities of the model to predict nonlinear behaviors for any input within stable region are fairly improved, and multiplicity problem in selecting a nonlinear regression model is also resolved. As an illustration, one degree offre<:dom system with cubic stiffness is identified in terms of NARMAX modeling technique using the procedure proposed in this work and conventional one, respectively. By extraction higher order
FRFs from the NARMAX models, dominant nonlinearities of the system are predicted, and the results by the two methods are compared with analytic one, which shows the priority of the modeling technique proposed.