Abstract
Dynamic tests were carried out on an aluminium plate with significant non-proportional damping applied via two oil filled dampers. Normal mode force appropriation (phase resonance) methods were used to measure the undamped normal modes of the plate and the results compared with corresponding complex modes obtained using a standard curve fitting (phase separation) approach.
It is demonstrated that, as long as suitable excitation positions are chosen, high quality undamped normal modes can be identified while the curve fitted modes are highly complex. A Finite Element analysis of the plate was used to show how the results of normal mode force appropriation are directly comparable, particularly when damping is non-proportional.
