Rapid Measurement of Modal Properties Using FFT Analyzers With Random Excitation

Abstract

The use of a Nyquist plot of the H2 (Syy /Sxy *) frequency response function estimates produced by an FFT based spectrum analyzer with random excitation to obtain modal amplitudes and hence modal constants has been investigated. It has been proved that, irrespective of the frequency resolution used, the H2 estimates always lie on the true modal circle so even at coarse frequency resolution, a circle fitted to these points gives accurate values of modal amplitude. The conventional H1 (Sxy /Sxx ) estimates lie inside the true modal circle. Use of the H2 technique results in major savings in the testing time required for a modal survey, particularly when measurements are to be taken at many points on the test structure.