Impact force identification using the general inverse technique

Abstract

The general inverse technique has been applied to the problem of impact force identification. The force identification problem can be stated as follows: ‘Given the response of a structure, what impact force is required to produce this response?’ Experimental measurement data was used to describe the velocity response of an impacted cantilever beam. The inverse technique used these measurements to predict the impact force which resulted in the beam response. A spectrum analyzer was used to measure the beam accelerations within 40 μs time intervals. The accelerations were integrated so that the response was in suitable velocity form for use in the inverse algorithm. The analyzer and impact hammer also allowed the measurement of the actual dynamic load, and thus provided a means of comparison against the predicted impact force given by the inverse technique.