A variety of systems can be faithfully modeled as linear with coefficients that vary periodically with time or Linear Time-Periodic (LTP). Examples include anisotropic rotor-bearing systems, wind turbines and nonlinear systems linearized about a periodic trajectory; all of these have been treated analytically in the literature. However, few methods exist for experimentally characterizing LTP systems. This paper presents a set of tools that can be used to experimentally characterize an LTP system, using a frequency domain approach and utilizing existing algorithms to perform parameter identification. One of the approaches is based on lifting the response to obtain an equivalent Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) form and the other based on Fourier series expansion. The development focuses on the pre-processing steps needed to apply LTI identification to the measurements, the post-processing needed to reconstruct the LTP model from the identification results and the interpretation of the measurements. This approach elucidates the similarities between LTP and LTI identification, allowing the experimentalist to transfer insight from time-invariant systems to the LTP identification problem. The approach determines the model order of the system, and post processing reveals the shapes of the time-periodic functions comprising the LTP model. Further post-processing is also presented that allows one to generate the full state transition matrix and the time-varying state matrix of the system from the parametric model if the measurement set is adequate. The experimental techniques are demonstrated on simulated measurements from a Jeffcott rotor mounted on an anisotropic, flexible shaft, supported by anisotropic bearings.
INTRODUCTIONMany important dynamic systems can be modeled as Linear Time-Periodic (LTP). When a system has periodically varying parameters, it is exceedingly important to discover and accurately model this character since it can lead to parametric resonances which are not present for a Linear TimeInvariant (LTI) approximation to the system. Floquet initiated the study of LTP systems in the 1800's [1], and modern Floquet theory has been applied to a variety of mechanical systems such as helicopters [ [10][11][12]. Linear time-periodic system models are also frequently encountered in analysis of nonlinear systems, as it often proves beneficial to linearize the nonlinear system about a periodic trajectory to study its stability.Much progress has been made in the past twenty years towards analysis and control of linear and nonlinear time-periodic systems, as many concepts for LTI systems are readily extended to LTP systems [5,13]. On the other hand, experimental techniques are well developed for LTI systems, but LTP system identification has received relatively little attention. Experimental methods are needed in a number of applications, for example when it is impossible to determine the parameters or periodic functions comprising the LTP model for a system from first principles. They may also be useful to ...