Characterization of mechanical sources is complicated since up to six forces and moments contribute at a contact and the response at one contact is the result of forces and moments at all contacts. For the transmission process, the quantity of prime interest is the complex power, and, therefore, a proper source characterization should relate to it. The source descriptor does so and offers a consistent base for studies of source characterization. Theoretical and experimental progress on the source descriptor is reviewed. From inspection of the source descriptors and the mobilities from which they are composed, it is observed that the uncoupled component source descriptors can establish the bandwidth and dominant components of excitation. The 'signatures' of the point mobilities required allows contacts to be classified as mass-, stiffness- or resonance-controlled component, establishing simplifications with respect to source characterization.
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