To investigate the application of meta-model for finite element( FE) model updating of structures,the performance of two popular meta-model,i. e.,Kriging model and response surface model( RSM),were compared in detail. Firstly,above two kinds of meta-model were introduced briefly. Secondly,some key issues of the application of meta-model to FE model updating of structures were proposed and discussed,and then some advices were presented in order to select a reasonable meta-model for the purpose of updating the FE model of structures. Finally,the procedure of FE model updating based on meta-model was implemented by updating the FE model of a truss bridge model with the measured modal parameters. The results showed that the Kriging model was more proper for FE model updating of complex structures. To investigate the application of meta-model for finite element (FE) model updating of structures, the performance of two popular meta-model, ie, Kriging model and response surface model (RSM), were compared in detail. of key-issues of the application of meta-model to FE model updating of structures were proposed and discussed, and then some advices were presented in order to select a reasonable meta-model for the purpose of updating the FE model of structures. Finally, the procedure of FE model updating based on meta-model was implemented by updating the FE model of a truss bridge model with the measured modal parameters. The results showed that the Kriging model was more proper for FE model updating of complex structures.