Modal parameter identification through Gabor expansion of response signals

A new method of identifying modal parameters by decomposing response signals with Gabor transform is presented in this paper to estimate natural frequencies, damping ratios and mode shapes of linear time invariant systems. According to Gabor expansion theory, responses of a multi-degree-of-freedom system can be decomposed into uncoupled signal components, each vibrating at a single natural frequency. From these uncoupled signals, modal parameters are subsequently extracted with common methods. The proposed method can process stationary and non-stationary responses and requires no input signal except for the response signals generated by unknown excitation acting on a system. In the sense of less restriction on the in–out signals, the approach based on time–frequency decomposition is very general. A simulation study on a simply supported beam under non-stationary excitation has demonstrated that the proposed method is effective in parameter estimation.