Damping Identification from Shock Data via Wavelet Responses

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three_shocks

Structural system & component damping can measured via modal testing with applied force excitation.  One excitation method is an impulse hammer test.  Another method is a  small shaker attached to structure via a stinger rod.

Damping can also be measured by mounting the test unit on a shaker table and applying base excitation.

There is a need to estimate component damping from pyrotechnic or pyrotechnic simulation shock tests where the source energy measurements are incomplete or unavailable.  This need may arise because modal and shaker table test data is unavailable.  Furthermore, damping is nonlinear and may be higher for a pyrotechnic shock event than for a modal or shaker table test

A source shock waveform can be modeled by a series of wavelets per Ferebee R , Irvine T, Clayton J, Alldredge D,  An Alternative Method Of Specifying Shock Test Criteria,  NASA/TM-2008-215253.   This method was original develop to characterize space shuttle solid rocket booster water impact shock.  This method can be extended for natural frequency and damping measurement for shock data.

The Wavelet Response Curve-fit Methodology is appropriate for mid and far field shock measurements where modal responses appear in the accelerometer time history data.

The method is implement via the following steps:

  • Assume a series of wavelet as the base input
  • Calculate the response of one or more SDOF systems to the assumed wavelet series
  • Subtract the resulting response signal from the measured accelerometer data and calculate error
  • The goal is to repeat this process thousands of times where the to minimize the residual error
  • Each of the following parameter are varied randomly with convergence
  • For each base input wavelet: frequency, amplitude, number of half-sines, delay
  • For each SDOF oscillator response: natural frequency, damping

The method yields natural frequency and damping estimates for the response acceleration.  It also gives an estimate of the assumed base input source shock.

The method is demonstrated in the following slides.

Slides:  shock_wavelet_damping_revC.pptx

Matlab scripts & sample shock data: Vibrationdata Signal Analysis Package

avionics_shock_data.mat

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Reference Papers:

An Alternative Method Of Specifying Shock Test Criteria:
NASA/TM-2008-215253 & PowerPoint slide overview

 

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– Tom Irvine

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