Modal Testing Techniques

Abstract

This is the first of a set of three papers which describe the technology of modal testing and its application to vibration problems in rotating machinery. Modal testing embraces the processes involved in the construction of a mathematical model of a structure from test data and over the past 10–15 years, the technology has been developed and used extensively on structures of all types. Although there are particular problems associated with the vibration testing of structures which are actually rotating, these are now being addressed and overcome and there are many instances where the non-rotating components of machines must be investigated, or rotating components tested in a stationary condition, and these will be included in the following sections. This paper summarises the processes and techniques involved in modal testing.