A power mode approach to estimating vibrational power transmitted by multiple sources

A power mode method for the estimation of the power transmitted to a flexible receiver by an array of point force excitations is described. The vibrational power transmitted by N discrete point forces is regarded as the power transmitted by N independent power modes following eigendecomposition of the mobility matrix of the receiving structure. Approximate expressions for the upper and lower bounds and the mean value of the transmitted power are then developed in terms of these power modes. The approach is extended to more general cases, including that where both force and moment excitations are applied to the structure and where there are velocity source excitations. Numerical examples are presented.