Hands-On Modal Testing & Analysis Course

4 Day Hands-On Modal Testing & Analysis Course:

Schedule:  March 19th - 22nd, 2013, July 16th - 19th, 2013, November 5th - 8th, 2013
Course Fee:  $2,450.00 per Attendee
The course fee includes participation, course notes, lunches and refreshments. A full refund will be made for all cancellations received 30 days before the start of the course. No refunds will be granted after the 30 day deadline. Substitute attendees will be accepted at any time. In the event that we have to cancel the course, the course fee will be refunded in full, but we disclaim any further liability.

Navcon Engineering Network’s Hands-On Modal Testing Seminar is intended for those engineers and technicians involved with modal test data acquisition, parameter estimation, test-analysis correlation, finite element model updating and trouble shooting noise & vibration problems. It is our goal that the attendees be able to conduct modal and operational deflection shape tests from start to finish, on their own, upon completing the training.

Most every lecture is supported by a “hands-on” laboratory with more than 50% of the time being spent acquiring, reducing and assessing modal data. Laboratories are conducted using Data Physics analyzers, ME’Scope modal software, PCB hammers, load cells, accelerometers & calibrators and APS Dynamics shakers. This seminar is not intended to be a software or hardware training, the emphasis is on modal methods and applications. Attendees will however learn how to use Data Physics SignalCalc and Vibrant ME’Scope software. Since the course is really about the technology, it should be relatively easy for those attendees with other vendors’ hardware and software to use their own systems to conduct modal and ODS tests.

 JimBeam Modal Test: More than 800 engineers and technicians have tested JimBeam since 1991. It is a bolted plate structure with stiffeners and masses which can also be used for structural dynamics modification (SDM) laboratories. To begin, students create a simple finite element model of JimBeam and conduct a pretest analysis to identify optimal accelerometer and excitation locations. The students then split into groups of two and conduct a modal test on their own JimBeam. They use a variety of parameter estimation routines to extract the modal parameters from the measured frequency response measurements. Finally, the mode shapes identified by test are compared with the finite element mode shapes (cross Mac & Orthogonality) and the FE model is updated using automated routines. JimBeam is a featured modal demo project in Vibrant Technology ME’ScopeVES and was the Round-Robin test article at IMAC 2009.

Porsche Race Car Modal: More than 800 seminar attendees have conducted a multi-channel (SIMO) modal test on Navcon’s Porsche 914-6 since 1991. The 914-6 (see pictures below) was retired from racing in August 2009 and replaced with a wide body 911 Porsche #14 (see pictures below).  The Porsche modal is conducted Wednesday evening (~ 6:30 pm to 10 pm) and is a truly unique experience. The students develop the modal model geometry, acquire the modal data and animate the mode shapes. The evening culminates with a sine dwell test allowing the students to see and feel both the vehicle’s suspension and flexural modes and compare them with the animated mode shapes. The Porsche is also used to demonstrate shaker excitation methods (random, burst random, chirp, burst chirp, etc.)

Operational Deflection Shape Laboratory: Operational deflection shape (ODS) tests are conducted to visualization a structure’s response to operational loads. They are the solution to the “forced” vibration response problem. The ODS laboratory is conducted using Navcon’s 36” x 75” laser test bed. A multi-channel shaker modal test is conducted to identify the resonant frequencies and mode shapes. The test bed is excited with an unbalanced motor and the ODS visualized using a multi-channel time domain method and two frequency domain methods (response ratio and FRF-ODS). The laser test bed is also used to demonstrate lab is also used to demonstrate linear spectrum averaging and shaker modal excitation methods.

Seminar Schedule:

• Tuesday      8:30 am to 5:30 pm - Modal Seminar

• Wednesday
  8:30 am to 5:30 pm - Modal Seminar
  5:30 pm to 6:30 pm - Dinner (Sandwiches or Pizza)
  6:30 pm to 10:00 pm - Porsche Modal Test

• Thuesday
  8:30 am to 5:30 pm - Modal Seminar
  5:30 pm to 6:30 pm - Laser Vibrometry Laboratory

• Friday          8:30 am to 3:00 pm - Modal Seminar
  [The seminar will end about 3 pm on Friday. If flying out of Orange County or Ontario, we recommend arranging for flights after 6 pm.  If flying of of LAX (OUCH), we recommend flights after 7 pm.  Attendees might also consider spending the weekend.  There are many places to see in the LA area including: Disneyland, Knott Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Venice Beach, etc.  You might also catch a car race at Willow Springs ...]

To download the seminar outline & registration form:  Modal Seminar Outline. 
To register On-line: Registration

Interested in pictures from previous seminars?  Modal Pictures

Questions / Comments - please send mail to webinfo@navcon.com ..
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Last modified: December 10, 2012