Nonlinear Experimental Modal Analysis and its Application to the Identification of Nonlinear Structures

In this work, a novel framework for nonlinear experimental modal analysis and its application to the identification of nonlinear dynamic structures is presented. The method is based on the theory of nonlinear modes, which provides a solid theoretical foundation along with intuitive concepts, such as nonlinear eigenfrequencies and mode shapes. The thesis covers a complete identification process including numerical analysis, measurement and the derivation, validation and verification of predictive models. Special emphasis is put on the development of a robust and efficient experimental method for the extraction of nonlinear modal parameters, which has been a major concern in previous approaches.