A modified Ibrahim time domain algorithm for operational modal analysis including harmonic excitation

Operational modal analysis procedures are efficient techniques to identify modal properties of structures excited through unknown random noise produced during operation. In many practical cases, harmonic excitations are often present in addition to the white-noise and, if the harmonic frequency is close to structural frequencies, standard identification techniques fail. Here, a method is presented to take into account the harmonic excitations while doing modal parameter identification for operational modal analysis (OMA). The proposed technique is based on the Ibrahim Time Domain method and explicitly includes the harmonic frequencies known a priori. Therefore, the modified technique allows proper identification of eigenfrequencies and modal damping even when harmonic excitation frequencies are close to the natural frequencies of the structures. Experimental results are shown in the presence of multi-harmonic loads for a steel plate to validate the method.