AN INEXPENSIVE, MICROCOMPUTER-BASED, MODAL ANALYSIS AND TESTING SYSTEM

摘要

In the past, direct linkage between modal analysis and testing has been difficult to obtain due to the substantial computational capabilities required for modal analysis and to the highly specialized instrumentation required for modal testing. With the development of the microprocessor, and subsequently the microcomputer, this situation will certainly be changing. The microcomputer has the capability to provide on-site modal analysis of moderately complex structures, as well as to emulate fairly sophisticated modal analysis testing instrumentation. More importantly, these two functions can be interfaced so as to provide for effective and efficient linkage of analytical and test results. An integrated modal analysis and testing system is described in this paper. This system is built around a "personal" microcomputer and is relatively inexpensive. The computer is capable of performing sophisticated analysis with substantial quantities of data. Of particular interest here are an interactive finite element analysis package and a general transfer matrix analysis package. The system is also capable of acquiring data at sampling rates up to about 30 kHz for performing modal (and other) testing. The general programmability of this system lends itself readily to customization for particular applications.