Observations of vibration-induced fatigue in steel using modal analysis

Abstract

The acceleration to force transfer functions across a shaker-excited thin band under tension with a deep notch cut through its center is examined up to the point of fatigue-induced failure. An analytical model is developed to track the changes in modal properties evident in the experimental results as a function of band parameters. The progression of the structure toward failure is documented by plots of rotational stiffness and crack length as a function of fatigue time.