A critical evaluation of the INOPMA algorithm for in-operation modal analysis

Abstract

We propose in this paper a numerical modal appropriation method for use with in-operation modal analysis (INOPMA). The key idea is to realize that the correlation sequence of the system output is the sum of decaying sinusoids with a certain phase shift and therefore it may be considered as an impulse response. The method is based on performing a numerical convolution of a single sine wave force with the system output correlation sequence. The steps are then similar to the classical modal appropriation method, although the characteristic frequencies are different. This approach is validated and compared to a subspace method on simulated data as well as on experimental data and it is shown that INOPMA outperforms the subspace method.