Dynamic Behavior of Supported Structures from Free-Free Modal Tests Using Structural Dynamic Modification

Abstract

Several structures are completely or partially manufactured in a factory and then transported to the final situation where they are going to be located. An accurate methodology to check the serviceability of the structure in the factory, previously to the transportation and final assembly, will diminish significantly the costs of validation of its dynamic behavior. The structural dynamic modification (SDM) can be used to predict the modal parameters of a supported structure from the experimental modal parameters corresponding to the same structure but tested in a configuration easy to reproduce in a factory, such as the free-free condition. However, the accuracy obtained with this technique depends on how well the boundary conditions modelled with the SDM replicate the real support conditions. In this paper the SDM theory is used to predict the modal parameters of a pinned-free beam, a cantilever beam, and a 3D steel beam structure from the experimental natural frequencies and mode shapes of the same structures tested in free-free configuration. The predictions provided by the SDM theory are validated by operational modal testing on the supported structures. It is shown how the aforementioned boundary conditions can be modelled with the SDM, and the accuracy provided by the technique is investigated.