Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Blair, M. A..
The paper describes the On-orbit Transfer Function Test (TFT) designed for on-orbit vibration testing of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The TFT provides means for extracting accurate on-orbit characteristics of HST flexible body dynamics, making it possible to check periodically the state of the vehicle on-orbit and to assess changes in modal parameters.
Previously cited in issue 13, p. 1957, Accession no. A84-31736
Identification of modal parameters is made more difficult if the system has repeated frequencies or even closely spaced frequencies. This paper discusses the problems associated with closely-spaced-frequency modes and describes two related methods for dealing with these problems. It is demonstrated that proper identification of the system parameters of such systems requires information from multiple inputs and/or multiple outputs. The analytical basis for the 'minimum coincident response method' is outlined, and examples of the use of these two techniques to extract model parameters are presented.
A new method for experimental determination of the modal parameters of a structure is presented. The method allows for multiple input forces to be applied simultaneously, and for an arbitrary number of acceleration response measurements to be employed. These data are used to form the equations of motion for a damped linear elastic structure. The modal parameters are then obtained through an eigenvalue technique. In conjunction with the development of the equations, an extensive computer simulation study was performed. The results of the study show a marked improvement in the mode shape identification for closely-spaced modes as the number of applied forces is increased. Also demonstrated is the influence of noise on the method's ability to identify accurate modal parameters. Here again, an increase in the number of exciters leads to a significant improvement in the identified parameters.