Abstract: Based on the variable separation method,amethod is proposed to identify the location and time history of dynamic load,and this method improves the efficiency of load localization.The convolution relation between the response and the extermal load isestablished and discretized according to the parameters of the structural system.The load location information is extracted from theimpulse response function matrix by using variable separation method,and appropriate modes are selected in terms of the responseinformation.The regularization technique is utilized to solve theillposed problem in the process of load identification.This methodof load localization is verified by both a simulation and an experiment test of a simply supported beam.The results show that theload identification method based on variable separation method can accurately locate the position of the structural load and identifythe load time history.The overall rror is small and the correlation coefficient is large.Compared with the traditional load positionrecognition method,this variable separation method reduces the number of matrix inverses.Consequently,the eficiency of load lo-calization is improved.