Simulation of measurement uncertainties and their effect on practical applications of test data

Abstract

Many modal analysis applications these days try to incorporate experimental data of test structures into their formulations because experimental data represents the most accurate form of information one can gather about that structure. Ironically, in the effort to measure structural responses with higher accuracy using modern measurement equipment; experimental errors are also unveil. This thesis therefore seeks to study two types of experimental errors in detail: shaker-structure interaction phenomenon and structural nonlinearities. Experimental evidences of shaker-structure interaction phenomenon and structural nonlinearities are provided. The thesis further examines -by numerical simulation- the influence of structural nonlinearities on modal parameter estimation and model updating.