This paper on "Comparison of Experimental Shaker Table Results with Classical FEA Frequency Response Analysis vs. Mechanical Event Simulation" was presented at the NAFEMS World Congress on The Evolution of Product Simulation From Established Methods to Virtual Testing & Prototyping - 24-28 April 2001, The Grand Hotel, Lake Como, Italy.

Abstract

The increasing use of time domain Finite Element Analysis (FEA) solution packages allows designers and engineers to analyze models experiencing static, dynamic and inertial based loads. This time-based event simulation tool can predict motion at discrete time intervals through the coupling of the stiffness matrices and the dynamic motion equations. One of the consequences from the simulation is that the results can be analyzed using methods such as Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to provide vibration frequency response for various input loads.
In this paper, we compare experimental shaker table results with both classical FEA frequency response analysis and the corresponding mechanical event simulation of these experiments. Our work utilized the ALGOR mechanical event simulation tool (MES). Even though MES is geared towards directly simulating the physics of events, it can be used to predict mathematically abstract results such as frequency response spectra. Our comparison includes fundamental frequencies and transfer functions in response to impact, forced frequency vibration and random vibration spectral densities.