Time-frequency methods for analyzing structural response data

This paper considers the application of various time-frequency methods to structural response data. It illustrates that by use of time-frequency methods information that is not evident in impulse or frequency responses data is brought to light. The shortcomings of classical bilinear time-frequency representations are discussed. A selection of data adaptive time-frequency methods designed as enhancements to the classical techniques are compared and contrasted for this application. It is shown that many of these algorithms fail to give acceptable results when applied to the comparatively complex data sets considered here.