The dynamic behaviour of many physical systems such as mechanical manipulators are highly nonlinear and complex. Further-more, the inertia, stiffness and dissipation characteristics of most systems may depend on the environment which is often unknown. Because of these reasons, there is an increasing interest in combining computer aided design with computer aided testing into a unified CADCAT technique to obtain satisfactory modelling for physical systems.
In this paper an integrated CADCAT technique is proposed and investigated. This approach utilizes computer aided finite element modelling "CAD" and computer aided modal testing "CAT" into a system analysis routine to predict the dynamic performance of new systems as well as to select the design modifications for existing systems. Some applications of this techni-que on some design problems are described.