scope:

This document provides guidance to select a vibration generator that will be used to evaluate frequency responses of a test structure or to study how vibration grows/decreases along the structure. These structural dynamics tests can be carried out under field or laboratory conditions (see the ISO 7626 or ISO 10846^[4][5][6][7] series).

This document describes the selection procedure in terms of the force developed by a single vibration generator. Meanwhile, to move massive structures such as dams or bridges, an assembly of vibration generators is usually applied. Properly phased generators produce in total the same force as calculated for a single vibration generator.

Guidance also can be applied for the selection of equipment to be used for modal testing to determine natural frequencies, modal shapes and damping in a structure; however, for such a test, more factors than covered by this document usually need to be considered.

This document deals only with translational excitation. For equipment applied to generate angular vibration, see Reference [8].

^[4] ISO 10846-2, Acoustics and vibration - Laboratory measurement of vibro-acoustic transfer properties of resilient elements - Part 2: Direct method for determination of the dynamic stiffness of resilient supports for translatory motion

^[5] ISO 10846-3, Acoustics and vibration - Laboratory measurement of vibro-acoustic transfer properties of resilient elements - Part 3: Indirect method for determination of the dynamic stiffness of resilient supports for translatory motion

^[6] ISO 10846-4, Acoustics and vibration - Laboratory measurement of vibro-acoustic transfer properties of resilient elements - Part 4: Dynamic stiffness of elements other than resilient supports for translatory motion

^[7] ISO 10846-5, Acoustics and vibration - Laboratory measurement of vibro-acoustic transfer properties of resilient elements - Part 5: Driving point method for determination of the lowfrequency transfer stiffness of resilient supports for translatory motion