• Fast: Electronic test data is processed in near real-time, replacing classical printouts from the laboratory and decreasing wait times for post-test electronic data.
  
  
• Integrated: Multiple input and output formats can be integrated quickly, helping to reduce the need for unrelated, unlinked programs and hand calculations while improving overall productivity.
  
  
• Portable: The program is PC-based, so users and analysts can access it from any convenient location.
  
  
• User friendly: A familiar programming language and user interface make the program simple to navigate and use, with access from Microsoft Windows.
  
  
• Scalable: Adding new routines or external executables enables unlimited growth capability, enabling users to adapt the program to suit changing needs.
  
  
• Automated: By automating the reporting of all analysis and test information in graphic, tabular, or data matrix formats, the program helps improve efficiency and reduce errors.

Although originally developed for space systems, this software package could be adapted for use in other mechanical, vibration, or structural analysis applications:

• Airframe design and testing
• Weapons systems
• Engine design (gas turbine, internal combustion)
• Automobile and truck design

The easy-to-use Integrated Structural Analysis and Test Program consists of five modules:

1. Sine and random vibration
2. Shock and time replication
3. Acoustics
4. Base driven modal survey
5. Mass properties and static/dynamic balance

Goddard’s program uses Microsoft Excel 2000 or higher, and the programming language is Microsoft Visual Basic. The program is commanded using ActiveX Controls. The user interface is very friendly, and the program is accessible and simple to use.

Processing and integrating analysis and test data

Both test and analysis data files can be input for processing by simply opening a Windows Explorer display. Depending on the type of input file, the program begins the “test data process” or the “analysis data process.” Analysts can check processing status in the Microsoft status bar. In this fashion, the program integrates the repetitive structural dynamic test and analysis data processes using a common interface. The results of the complete test and analysis cycle can then be reported in graphical, tabular, and matrix formats. Analysts can also collect the processed data and store it in a database for future projects and storage. 

Capability details

Analysis capabilities

The Integrated Structural Analysis and Test Program provides extensive data analysis capabilities:

• Readers for a variety of analysis data formats
• Sine vibration
• Random vibration
• Steady state
• Percentage of steady state
• Force-limiting random vibration methods
• Test simulation (notching)
• Scaling
• Modal analysis (e.g., frequencies, damping, effective weights, mode shapes, linearity checks, orthogonality checks)
• Shock prediction
• Displacement and velocity calculations
• Shock response spectra
• Fourier coefficients
• Filters
• Transfer functions
• Peak
• rms calculations
• Mass properties (e.g., automatic static and dynamic weight optimization)

Test capabilities

Test capabilities of the program include:

• Data readers for a variety of test data formats
• Overlay of lower and higher level test levels
• Overlay of pre- and post-test spectral signatures
• Generation of test databases for projects (e.g., channel parsing and labeling)

Output display capabilities

The software package enables an array of graphical and tabular displays for processed test and analysis data:

• Overlay of analysis to analysis
• Analysis-to-test and test-to-test data
• Curve-fitting capability for modal analysis
• Autoscale
• Automatic labeling
• Channels list drop-down menus
• Scroll bars for channel selection
• Maximum/Minimum, peak, rms, and other tabular displays

Why integration is better

Without a standard format, structural analysis and test data processes suffer many inefficiencies. Ad hoc means of correlating the two processes into a single, streamlined system required the use of disparate programs and additional resources to devote to hand calculations and other measures to link the programs together. These prior methods could not come close to providing real-time processing of test and analysis data. Further, these outdated systems required analysts to spend more time processing data rather than interpreting—and gaining real value—from it.

The Integrated Structural Analysis and Test Program replaces these old methods as well as the traditional laboratory printouts and waiting periods for data to be processed electronically once testing is complete. With this new innovation, the near real-time processing and integration of test and analysis data is now possible, enabling structural analysts to improve productivity, save time, and reduce errors.   

This technology is part of NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program Office, which seeks to transfer technology into and out of NASA to benefit the space program and U.S. industry. NASA invites companies to consider licensing the Integrated Structural Analysis and Test Program technology (GSC-14775-1) for further development and for commercial applications.

For information and forms related to the technology licensing and partnering process, please visit the Licensing and Partnering page. (Link opens new browser window)

If you are interested in more information or want to pursue transfer of this technology, please contact:

Innovative Partnerships Program Office
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
E-mail: integrated-structural-analysis@gsfc.nasa.gov