Determination of unknown impact force acting on a simply supported beam

This work presents a predictive model for determining the location and amplitude of an unknown impact force acting on a simply supported beam. Both time and frequency domain prediction methods are developed, respectively. The structural modal parameters can be first obtained by theoretical modal analysis (TMA) or by experimental modal analysis (EMA). The structural response at time and frequency. domains due to an unknown, impact force can then be measured and recorded. The predicted response can also be formulated and expressed as functions of amplitude and location of the impact force. The sum of square errors between the predicted and measured response is then defined as the objective function, while the amplitude and the location,of the unknown impact force are defined as design variables. The optimisation problem is thereby constructed and can be solved for the amplitude of the impact force. The mode shape information associated to the location of the impact force can also be resolved and compared to the structural mode shapes to determine the location of the unknown impact force. Both numerical and experimental prediction results are presented. Results show that the predictive model is feasible and leads to the prediction of magnitude and location of the unknown impact force for arbitrary structures as well. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.