Direct mode-shape expansion of a spatially incomplete measured mode by a hybrid-vector modification

A direct estimation method for expanding incomplete experimental mode shapes is presented. The approach adopts a hybrid vector which includes measured data at master degrees of freedom (dofs) and constant values at slave dofs. The constant values are refined by a set of mode-correction factors. Modelling errors between the analytical model and tested structure are also considered by introducing a series of model-correction factors. Initial-guess values of the mode-correction factors are used to decouple the coupled constructed equations, and an iterative technique for solving these equations is proposed. The results from a five-degree-of-freedom mass–spring system indicate that the proposed approach provided a better performance than the commonly used existing expansion methods and can reliably estimate unmeasured components of mode shapes, even in cases with limited modal measurements and severe measurement noise. The performance of the proposed method was also investigated using real measurements from a steel cantilever-beam experiment. Experimental data were measured by 20 accelerometers mounted at the cantilever beam: among these accelerometers, three of these were assumed to be measured, and the others were used to check the estimation accuracy of the proposed method. The results show that the unmeasured components in the mode shapes were properly estimated by implementing the proposed method, even for high-frequency modes.

► We propose a new method dealing with spatially incomplete experimental mode shapes. ► A hybrid vector is defined and values at slave coordinates are iterative modified. ► Model-correction factors are defined to take into account modelling errors. ► Convergence is verified by numerical and experimental studies and demonstrated well. ► The approach can expand mode shapes more accurately and reliably than existing ones.