In this paper, we describe an approach that enables to present a finite element model of a large uniform structure by an assembly of zones of different resolution capability. While actions imposed upon a structure are located in finer resolution patches, the rougher resolution zones serve as a surrounding for finer ones in order to describe the overall behavior of the structure. As an example, a fine rectangular girder construction made of beam elements is considered as a finely refined representation of the structure. The overall behavior of the structure may be considered on the base of the continuous membrane model. The structure has been created, where analyzed girder subdomain is coupled to equivalent membrane via contact elements. Criterion of mutual matching of responses of both structures is considered to be the coincidence of displacements of respective nodes in the researched subdomains of the models. The least squares method and artificial neural network approach have been employed for the identification of the physical parameters of the equivalent membrane. The efficiency of both approaches is compared. Calculations are performed in ANSYS and MATLAB environments.