EXTRACTION OF RITZ VECTORS FROM VIBRATION TEST DATA

Abstract

Modal parameters obtained from modal testing (such as modal vectors, natural frequencies, and damping ratios) have been used extensively in system identification, finite element model updating, and structural health monitoring. As an alternative to modal vectors, load-dependent Ritz vectors have been shown useful in various areas of structural dynamics such as model reduction and damage detection. The applications of Ritz vectors, however, have been mainly limited in analytical and numerical analyses because of the difficulty to identify them from vibration tests. This paper presents a procedure to extract load-dependent Ritz vectors using a complete flexibility matrix constructed from measured vibration test data. The proposed method cannot only construct the Ritz vectors corresponding to the actual load pattern employed in vibration tests, but also generate Ritz vectors from arbitrary load patterns. Experimental data obtained from the vibration test of a grid-type bridge structure are employed to validate and illustrate the proposed extraction procedure.