TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter introduces numerous applications and tools that are available on and with digital computers for the solution of shock and vibration problems. First, the types of computers that are used, the associated specialized processors, and their input and output peripherals, are considered. This is followed by a discussion of computer applications that fall into the following basic categories: (1) numerical analyses of dynamic systems, (2) experimental applications that require the synthesis of excitation (driving) signals for electrodynamic and electrohydraulic exciters (shakers), and (3) the acquisition of the associated responses and the digital processing of these responses to determine important structural characteristics.
The decision to employ a digital computer based system for the solution of a shock or vibration problem should be made with considerable care. Before particular computer software or hardware is selected, the following matters should be carefully considered.
The existing hardware and/or software that is or is not available to perform the required task.
The extent to which the task or the existing software/hardware must be modified in order to perform the task.
If no applicable software/hardware exists, the extent of the development effort necessary to create the suitable software and/or hardware subsystems.
The detailed assumptions needed in the software/hardware in order to simplify its development (e.g., linearity, proportional damping, frequency content, sampling rates, etc.).
The ability of the software/hardware to measure and compute the output information required (e.g., absolute vs. relative motion, phase relationships, rotational information, etc.).
The detailed input and output limitations...
