Publications Details

Model validation of a complex aerospace structure

Rice, Amy E.; Carne, Thomas G.; Kelton, David W.

A series of modal tests were performed in order to validate a finite element model of a complex aerospace structure. Data was measured using various excitation methods in order to extract clean modes and damping values for a lightly damped system. Model validation was performed for one subassembly as well as for the full assembly in order to pinpoint the areas of the model that required updating and to better ascertain the quality of the joint models connecting the various components and subassemblies. After model updates were completed, using the measured modal data, the model was validated using frequency response functions (FRFs) as the independent validation metric. Test and model FRFs were compared to determine the validity of the finite element model.