RESUMEN
Identification of the vulnerabilities in the structural stiffness is one of the most crucial issues in improving this property of machine tools. In this paper, the Flexibility Matrix Diagonal element method, based on hammer testing, is proposed as an effective approach to identifying the stiffness weakness of cantilever structures. To verify the proposed method, the element stiffness weakening is used to simulate the weak parts regarding stiffness. Several scenarios, with single and multiple weakness points, including various noise levels, are studied, using finite element simulations. Next, a novel method, to measure the accuracy of the algorithm and quantify the weakness level, under noise conditions, is proposed. The advantage of this method, compared to the ones based on Flexibility Difference Method, is the higher identification accuracy under noise interference. Finally, the cantilever beam with elastic support is experimentally studied. The natural frequencies and modal shapes are obtained, according to the singular value decomposition method, to establish the flexibility matrix. In addition, using only the lowest three modes, a series of numerical examples and experiments are provided, to illustrate the validity and the considerable practical engineering value of the method.