The Modal Handbook for STAR Users

This easy to use multimedia package brings all the important issues of experimental modal testing to a very simple level of explanation and understanding. A very simple user interface allows the modal test engineer/technician to quickly access information pertinent to running modal tests. By using either pull down menus, hot spots or buttons on the screen, navigation to pertinent information is a mouse click away. Very simple, easy to understand pictures are used to explain complex theoretical concepts to take away the mystery of modal analysis and allow just about anyone to understand modal analysis and testing /extraction procedures. There are no detailed, lengthy theoretical developments to cloud or confuse the issues - just simple straightforward explanations.


The material in this multimedia format presentation is intended to augment the modal test engineer/technician's knowledge and understanding in performing routine modal tests. Practical issues are addressed rather than developing detailed theoretical equations. The main goal is to quickly answer often asked questions concerning routine tasks raised by the majority of occassional modal testers. Such as

1. Which window should I use?
2. Which impact tip is best?
3. What shaker excitation should I use?
4. How many modes do I need to fit?
to name just a few typical questions. These types of questions are addressed in this multimedia format presentation and provide great insight into understanding modal analysis as a tool to solve problems. This multimedia format presentation starts with some very simple overviews of what modal analysis is all about followed by some very practical information regarding modal testing such as
1. analyzer setups
2. measurement checklists
3. impact testing checklists
4. shaker testing checklists
5. measurement adequacy pointers
6. curvefitting guidlines and tips
7. test setup considerations.
These are some of the main items addressed for practical testing considerations.

In addition to this set of guidelines, the background information to support modal testing is also available. All the important items regarding modal analysis is contained in this presentation such as

1. the review of pertinent modal theory regarding sdof and mdof systems
2. DSP with sampling, quantization, aliasing, leakage and windows
3. time-frequency relationships including FRF and coherence
4. excitation using impact and shakers with information on hammer tip selection, window considerations and different shaker excitation types
5. modal parameter estimation techniques explaining the need for different types of curvefitters and when to use which technique
This is just a short description of the material that is contained on the CD.

To download demo files click here!