Modern Modal Testing: A Cautionary Tale IMAC XXVIIOver the past 50 years, great advances have been achieved in both analytical modal analysis (i.e. finite element models and analysis) and experimental modal analysis (i.e. modal testing) in aerospace and other fields. With the advent of more powerful computers, higher performance instrumentation and data acquisition systems, and powerful linear modal extraction tools, analysts and test engineers have a breadth and depth of technical resources only dreamed of by our predecessors. However, some observed recent trends indicate that hard lessons learned are being forgotten or ignored, and possibly fundamental concepts are not being understood. These trends have the potential of leading to the degradation of the quality of and confidence in both analytical and test results. These trends are a making of our own doing, and directly related to having ever more powerful computers, programmatic budgetary pressures to limit analysis and testing, and technical capital loss due to the retirement of the senior component of a bimodal workforce. This paper endeavors to highlight some of the most important lessons learned, common pitfalls to hopefully avoid, and potential steps that may be taken to help reverse this trend.
Document ID
20190025349
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Akers, James (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Otten, Kim (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Sills, Joel (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Larsen, Curtis (Texas Christian Univ. Fort Worth, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
May 24, 2019
Publication Date
January 28, 2019
Subject Category
Computer Programming And SoftwareEngineering (General)