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An engineer performing modal testing.

Simcenter

Modal testing

Characterize your structure's dynamic behavior with accurate FRFs.

Powerful features and a broad range of excitation

Accurate frequency response functions (FRFs) are essential to many experimental noise vibration and harnesses (NVH) analyses, such as modal analysis, transfer path analysis, and vibration troubleshooting. They provide a complete yet simple representation of the structure's dynamic behavior, and they can be further exploited to identify modal parameters.

There is no single way of measuring FRFs. Simcenter testing solutions offer a wide range of capabilities to obtain accurate FRFs. Rely on our dedicated solutions for impact hammer and shaker testing, as well as on our wide selection of excitation profiles, to execute your testing scenarios and obtain top-quality data quickly and efficiently.

Understand the basics and mathematics behind modal analysis

Attend this webinar and learn the basics of modal analysis and how modal analysis can help you get to the root cause of noise or vibration issues.

Watch webinar

Modal testing capabilities

Broadband shaker testing

Shaker tests allow you to excite structures over a wide frequency range, have more repeatable measurements, and optimize your FRF measurements to meet the highest quality standard. Ensure that even local resonances are properly captured by driving up to 16 shakers with the broadest range of excitation signals.

Simcenter shaker.

Impact testing

Test your structures in a wide frequency range and in all conditions with the impulse excitation of a modal hammer. The hammer gives you the opportunity to quickly excite several points without changing your sensor configuration, as well as the flexibility to access even difficult locations. Modal hammer testing is an ideal solution for in-field testing as the required instrumentation is minimal.

An engineer performing modal analysis.

Normal mode testing

Tests of extremely critical structures, such as aircraft, require very accurate and reliable identification of single modes rather than excitation over a wide frequency band. Normal mode testing allows you to control the shakers and lock them on a predefined mode, relying on the so-called phase appropriation testing technique.

Modal testing units attached to an airplane.

Sweeping frequency shaker testing

When testing larger structures, you realize the importance of maximizing the energy per frequency line in order to improve FRF measurements. For critical or expensive components, you want to control the amplitude of excitation and maintain it at a predefined level in order to preserve the structural integrity. Our solutions for sweeping frequency shaker testing allow you to excite structures in an optimal way. You can also verify whether your structure exhibits non-linear behavior by controlling the force level.

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Explore modal testing products

Portable mobile units and autonomous smart recorders that are part of the Simcenter SCADAS hardware.
Simcenter

Simcenter SCADAS hardware

Gain productivity with a broad range of test data acquisition hardware for multiphysics measurement campaigns. Simcenter SCADAS includes portable mobile units, autonomous recorders and high-channel-count laboratory systems.
Simcenter Testlab software.
Simcenter

Simcenter Testlab software

Boost testing efficiency and deliver more reliable results. Simcenter Testlab is an integrated solution for test-based engineering, combining high-speed data acquisition with integrated testing, analytics and modeling tools.
The hardware part of the Simcenter Qsource.
Simcenter

Simcenter Qsources Hardware

Easily measure driving points and structural and vibroacoustic frequency response functions. Use a suite of sound and vibration excitation hardware consisting of compact electrodynamic shakers and volume velocity monopole sources.