In response to the problems of excessive measurement points and low nonlinear segment reconstruction efficiency in the deformation field reconstruction of ship structures, this paper proposes a deformation field reconstruction method (iFEM-PSO) based on dynamic measurement field optimization combining inverse finite element method (iFEM) and particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO). Taking three typical hull plate structures of flat plates, open flat plates and open reinforced plates as objects, different order buckling modes are applied as initial defects to obtain different failure characteristics, and the reconstruction accuracy under the input of optimized measurement points and full measurement points is compared and analyzed. The results show that the iFEM-PSO method can reduce the number of required strain sensors by about 75%, and the overall reconstruction error remains within 15%, effectively verifying its accuracy and efficiency in nonlinear deformation reconstruction. The optimized measurement points are mainly concentrated in areas with large initial defects, structural boundaries and stress concentration areas (such as the periphery of the opening, the connection between the ribs and plates), and the reconstruction accuracy is proportional to the degree of failure, revealing the inherent correlation between the failure characteristics and the sensitive areas of the measurement point, and providing theoretical basis and technical support for the optimization arrangement of the reconstruction measurement points of the typical structural deformation field of the ship.