Time Domain Analysis and Animation
	Operating Deflection Shapes
	Modal Analysis
	Advanced Curve Fitting
	Structural Dynamics Modifications
	Forced Response Simulation

Today's most complete PC based structural analysis system, the STAR6 System™ combines the latest structural analysis technology with an intuitive interface based on Microsoft Windows™. From operating deflection shapes to modal and time domain analysis, from advanced analysis of multireference parameter estimation to structural dynamics modifications, STAR6 does it all.

The STAR6 System™, the single most comprehensive solution for structural dynamic test.

The Comprehensive Noise and Vibration Solution

Take Advantage of the All-In-One Source for Structural Test
Combining powerful technical capabilities, networking, and an easy to use interface based on Microsoft Windows™, the STAR6 System™ is unparalleled in its flexibility for handling a variety of structural test requirements.

The STAR6 System™ integrates all the engineering capabilities you require from time-domain animation and operating deflection shape analysis to advanced modal analysis. Each of its dynamic analysis methods illuminates a specific aspect of a structure's dynamic behavior. Built in animation capabilities let you clearly visualize structural behavior and identify problems.

You can leverage your existing investment in hardware and software because the STAR6 System™ imports data from other systems and exports it to a variety of applications. For example, you can import test data directly from our CATS Data Acquisition System or from many common databases, and you can copy data and graphics for pasting into word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet applications.

Ease of Use for Greater Productivity

The STAR6 System™ features intuitive pull down menus and the point and click interface of the Windows operating environment, minimizing training time and expense. Using the powerful analysis modules in the STAR6 System requires little more than clicking icons on the tool bar and navigating through the logical menu structure. New and occasional users can guide themselves step by step through the structural test process by referring to the STAR6 Show Assistant - Checklist, a process oriented dialog.

Complete Measurement Acquisition, Display, and Analysis

Easily Import STAR Data or via Database Translation

The STAR6 System™ works directly with measurements from operating deflection tests, impact modal tests, and Multi lnput MultiOutput (MIMO) or shaker tests from the Spectral Dynamics PUMA and Cougar system. The STAR6 System™ also accepts measurement data saved to disk by other popular systems. You import the data into the STAR6 System using data disk translators, which allows you to select from a variety of measurement labeling methods and data types.

To simplify documentation of test results, all measurement data in the STAR6 System™ includes a descriptive header that indicates measurement location, type, and other parameters.

Versatile Measurement Display

The STAR6 System™ has added new versatility to the Measurement display. The users can now add up to 16 separate measurement views within the Measurement display window, each containing up to 16 individual measurement plots. The measurement plot colors may be selected from our new color palette.

The STAR6 System™ measurement display is designed specifically for the time and frequency based measurements common to structural analysis. The display is interactive, enabling you to manipulate real and complex valued data and display it in full, overlay, or split formats.

You can select from a variety of convenient y axis options such as real/imaginary, phase, magnitude, and log magnitude. The STAR6 System™ computes linear, log, and RPM x axis displays at a click of the mouse. In addition, you can easily select a special display option for a Nyquist plot and also easily create Bode diagrams, and co quad plots.

To highlight key results you can take advantage of zooming, automatic or manual scaling, and many other display options. Then, you can copy graphics and data and paste them into presentation or word processing applications for reports, or spreadsheet applications for custom analysis.

Comprehensive Measurement Math

The STAR6 System™ provides an extensive set of measurement math calculation options for time or frequency based data. For example, you can use measurement display data blocks to perform operations such as FFT, IFFT, add, subtract, multiply, divide, conjugate, integrate, and differentiate. Simply edit the Channel Range or the Frequency Range values to indicate whether you want to execute the operations on all or part of a measurement. To focus investigation on areas of interest, you can even define your own time domain band pass, low pass, or high pass filters.

Time Domain Analysis

See How a Structure Moves Over Time

Animation of time history data shows the structure's actual movement over a measured time period. This is often the first step in solving vibration or motion related problems. Time-domain analysis is uniquely suited for transient, nonlinear, or frequency variant events-for example, machine run up/coast-down; shock response; or dynamic changes in mass, stiffness, or damping during the measurement period.

Innovative Time Domain Analysis Techniques

The STAR6 System™'s rich feature set allows you to efficiently analyze and animate results for fast problem solving. For example, accurate integration of data to displacement units shows actual motion and helps you locate areas of maximum deflection. Digital time domain frequency filtering lets you isolate problem areas to animate for further study. And Batch Inverse FFT calculations on Frequency Response Function (FRF) measurement data sets enable you to animate structural motion in response to an impulse. The STAR6 System™ processes the impulse response functions as regular time histories that can be digitally filtered and integrated.

Operating Deflection Shape Analysis

View a Structure's Motion at a Specific Operating Speed or Frequency

Structural motion caused by external forces, gear chatter, imbalance, loose mounting, and other factors is easily analyzed and animated. By creating Operating Deflection Shapes (ODS), the STAR6 System™ enables you to analyze a structure using frequency domain measurements. In most cases, the ODS analysis is performed on a machine in its normal operating condition. You select the frequencies of interest, optionally animating the results to further understand structural dynamics problems.

Accurate Operating Deflection Shape Analysis

The STAR6 System™ generates scaled operating deflection shapes by using autopower and cross spectra in addition to transmissibility measurements- all with the same instrumentation setup. The result: You get accurate deflection shapes that are scaled to acceleration, velocity, displacement, or g's. These deflection shapes enable you to compare the amplitude of motion for different shapes-a capability not possible with transmissibility measurements alone.

The STAR6 System™ uses special algorithms to track either peaks or frequencies. You can input a specific frequency at which you want to see the structure's shape. Or, by placing a band around a peak, you can track the peak frequency in the band. Most machines change speed slightly during operation; without the peak tracking technique, it is nearly impossible to obtain accurate operating deflection shapes for machines that drift in speed by as little as one frequency resolution step.

Modal Analysis

Analyze and Solve Structural Dynamics Problems

Fully analyzing and solving structural dynamics problems require the power of modal analysis, which separates mode shapes from the overall dynamic response of the structure. The robust modal analysis features of the STAR6 System™ reflect over 15 years of technological leadership.

Identification of Modes and Modeling

Creating a modal model from FRF measurements involves two steps: identifying the mode locations and accurately estimating the modal parameters of frequency, damping, and residues. The STAR6 System™ provides both capabilities, giving you a variety of options.

To identify mode locations, the STAR6 System™ uses hybrid summation functions that help locate all of the modes in a data set, even if some are not present on a given measurement.

To accurately estimate modal parameters, the STAR6 System provides the widest variety of curve fitters in the industry.

Simple peak curve fitting methods (coincident, quadrature, and complex peak) provide quick insight into mode shapes. Local single mode (SDOF) and multiple mode (MDOF) polynomial curve fitters are effective for in depth analysis. The global curve fitter is the best solution for modes that are heavily coupled, have high damping, or have many antinodes. The SDOF, MDOF, and global curve fitters consider out of band residual effects to ensure maximum accuracy.

After you identify the location of modes and the type of curve fits, the STAR6 System™ automatically processes the entire measurement data set.

Results Verification with FRF and Modal Assurance Criterion

The STAR6 System™ synthesizes measurement results automatically after each curve fit to verify parameter estimates against the measured FRF.

After the STAR6 System™ identifies mode shapes, the Modal Assurance Criterion determines the correlation between the modes. This enables you to compare curve fits and determine the degree to which modes are coupled.

Advanced Multireference Data Analysis

The Advanced Curve Fitter of the STAR6 System™ is a special hybrid algorithm that uses Least Squares Complex Exponential (LSCE) and polynomial techniques to accurately estimate modal parameters on complex or redundant data sets. You can evaluate single reference, multireference, or MIMO data for increased flexibility in working with unique data sets.

A graphical user interface makes these advanced techniques accessible even to occasional users. For example, informative graphics help you identify single and repeated mode locations. You can choose from multiple mode indicator functions and refer to detailed stability or S plane diagrams.

The curve fitting process is fast because the Advanced Curve Fitter accommodates extremely large model sizes, enabling you to evaluate wide frequency bands for modes and repeated roots.

The STAR6 System™ has streamlined the Advanced Curve Fitter process, by eliminating the need to use the old Option menu to navigate through the ACF analysis. Mode Selection is fast and easy, select potential modes by clicking directly in the Stability Diagram display. No more pouring through the Potential Mode tables to make your selections.

Compatibility With Conventional Spectrum Analyzers

The STAR6 System™ can conduct multireference analysis using most analyzers with two or more channels. You can use two channel analyzers to collect multiple reference data, one reference at a time. Or, you can use a multichannel analyzer with a roving impact hammer to acquire multiple references at the same time. The STAR6 System™ uses the data from these tests to produce the best possible estimate of the modal parameters.

Structural Animation

View Accurate, Real Life Motion with Smooth Animation

The STAR6 System™ has added a new Model window, that shows four different views of your structures: Front, Top, Side and Perspective. This new Model window also allows the addition of up to 16 different views.

The STAR6 System™ has long set the standard for quality structural animation because of its smooth motion and real time interactive controls. Simply click controls on the View Control panel to adjust rotation, perspective, speed, amplitude, point highlighting, zooming, panning, and more.

You can display animated mode shapes or operating deflection shapes individually, side by side, or superimposed.

To focus on the behavior of a particular area of your model, you can apply color to individual components or traces, isolate the component for viewing, or move the component away from the structure for highlighting. You can specify the direction of animation x, y, and/or z axes-to study a specific aspect of the structure's motion.

Time Domain Animation of Structural Motion

Just as a video camera captures scenes for replay, time domain animation replays events measured with sensors such as accelerometers. With this capability you can animate a geometric model using time history data measured from the structure' viewing motion that is too difficult or too complex for cameras to detect. Typical applications for time domain animation include assessing structural response to shocks such as drop and impact tests, non linear motion over long time periods, transient events, operating deflection shapes of running equipment, and machine run ups and coast downs.

The STAR6 System™ provides the smoothest time domain animation in the industry. Because animation timing is critical, the animation algorithm optimizes itself for maximum accuracy on your computer. To better view the dynamics, you can use a special control panel to STAR6 and stop the animation and adjust variables such as speed.

Frequency Domain Animation of Modes and Deflections

Operating deflection shapes and mode shapes show the motion of a structure at a single frequency. The overall vibration of a structure depends on the influence of multiple frequencies. In frequency domain animation, the STAR6 System™ smoothly animates the vibration at the desired frequencies. You can view shapes individually, side by side, or superimposed. To identify and solve critical vibration problems you can apply color to selected components and take advantage of numerous animation controls.

Structural Geometry Made Easy

The STAR6 System™ now has the ability to build, display, and animate solid surface models.

The STAR6 System™ simplifies the building of structural models with its wire mesh and solids wizards. You can define model manually, generate meshes, or use your mouse to graphically draw lines quickly and easily.

Accurate Structural Models

Most test structure descriptions require more than simple meshes or shapes. That's why the modeling facilities of the STAR6 System™ are designed specifically for the creation of real world structures. You can readily access a range of coordinate systems (local or global, rectangular, cylindrical, and spherical) and detailed assemblies using templates, components with individual offsets and axis rotation. The STAR6 System™ can provide accurate geometric models, which are essential for advanced analysis techniques such as Structural Dynamics Modification.

Improved Animation With Constraint Equations

When some points on a structure are difficult to measure or are known to be the same as other measured points, you can take advantage of the STAR6 System™'s constraint equations. Constraint equations enable you to easily assign motion to any point not measured, providing more accurate and easy to understand structural animation.

Structural Modification and Simulation

Simulate Changes With Structural Dynamics Modification