STRUCTURAL

DYNAMICS
Fundamentals of Signal Acquisition
and Processing

Dr. Diego Ledezma

Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica y Eléctrica
 INTRODUCTION

A signal is the observed data representing a physical

phenomenon, expressed as a function of time, or time
history.

Common examples, temperature fluctuations, voltage

readings, pressure changes in acoustic fields, motion
of a vibrating body, etc.
 INTRODUCTION

Signal processing is the name given to the procedures

used on measured data to reveal the information
contained in the measurements.
Signal conditioner / FFT
analyzer

Measured signal from

transducer, i.e. actual signal
(acceleration, force,
pressure, etc) converted Processed signal
into a voltage signal
Signal source, i.e.
machine,
structure, sound
source, etc.
 OBJECTIVE
To understand the principles of real world signal
acquisition and processing, through analog to digital
conversion.

Procedure Overview

• Acquisition of “ideal signals” using function generator.

• Basic signal processing using audio software/MATLAB.
• Acquisition of “real” signals and processing with
MATLAB.
 Theoretical fundamentals

A complex signal can Frequency domain, representation of

Time domain, how be represented by a the signal components (harmonics)
we normally see the sum of sinusoidal terms as a function of frequency, i.e.
process (Fourier Theorem) spectrum of the signal.

Frequency domain representation help us discover information

“hidden” in time response i.e. small signals, signals masked by
noise, isolate particular frequencies, etc.
 Theoretical fundamentals
Frequency domain representation for different signals

Fourier Series: Representation of

periodic complex signals into a
sum of sinusoidal terms.

Fourier Transform: Generalization of

Fourier series when the period of the
represented function is lengthened
and allowed to approach infinity
 Theoretical fundamentals
Frequency Response Function (FRF), Linear Time Invariant (LTI) systems

Input System Output

H(ω)

FRF Bose Acoustimass 15 NAD C372 Stereo amplifier

Polk LSi Home theater Typical accelerometer

Theoretical fundamentals
Linear system time and frequency response
Theoretical fundamentals
Filters
 Theoretical fundamentals
Real world data is continuous, acquired signals are sampled, i.e.
discrete, this process is known as Analog to digital conversion (ADC)

Fourier Transform: For

continuos signals.

Discrete (sampled) signals,

use of Discrete Fourier
Transform (DFT).

FFT normally used, faster

algorithm to calculate DFT.

Number of operations reduced to N2 to Nlog2N (i.e. if N=1024,

operations are reduced by a factor of 100).
 Theoretical fundamentals
Sampled signals and aliasing.
Nyquist Frequency: minimum Also known as Nyquist-
sampling frequency is twice the Shannon Theorem.
frequency of the signal !
Otherwise, the reconstructed Sampling frequency should
sampled signal appears to have a be at least twice the highest
lower frequency, i.e. aliasing frequency component for
complex signals.
 Theoretical fundamentals
Effect of signal truncation.
FFT computes based on a complete data block of samples, i.e. a time record. Signal must be
periodic, i.e. a complete period, or a integer number of cycles are needed. In other words,
signal must begin and end at zero.
 Theoretical fundamentals
Effect of signal truncation. Leakage and windows.
When the time record is non periodic, the energy of the signal “smears” around the
frequency components, this is called signal leakage. This happens as the record is finite.
A window function is the way we “cut” the time record. For
instance, a rectangular window is like seeing the record through a
rectangle, as in the previous examples.

Forcing the record to begin and

end at zero reduces leaking, but
signal shape is altered. Different
windows with different properties
can be used, i.e. hanning, hamming,
flat top, exponential. etc.
 PROCEDURE
Part 1 - Acquisition of “ideal signals” using function generator.
Compare the “ideal signal” we get from the signal generator with the
signal acquired with our audio software.
Diagram Possible results
Signal ramp at 1,000 Hz

Sampling frequency of 8,000

Adobe Audition
 PROCEDURE
Part 2 - Basic signal processing using audio software/MATLAB.
Obtain the frequency response function FRF of the signal acquisition
system (sound card) and determine its correct operating range.

Possible results
FRF of the sound card

MatLab

−92

−94

−96
RMS

−98

−100

X: 125
Y: −102.2
−102

−104
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
Frequency
 PROCEDURE
Part 3 - Acquisition of “real” signals and processing with MATLAB.
Record the vibratory behavior emitted by each of the motors and
compare both signals in MatLab.

Diagram
Possible results

Noisy and Normal motor recorded

with sampling frequency of 8,000

0.03

Noisy
0.02
Normal

0.01

−0.01

−0.02

−0.03
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03