Selection of input force locations when determining blocked forces

Blocked force determination is an alternative to the more customary method of using transfer path analysis to determine inverse forces. The advantage of determining blocked forces is that the source does not need to be detached from the machine. In theory, results are valid so long as the source and receiver structures remain connected and the blocked forces are determined at the interface between source and receiver. Changes may be made to the receiver structure and blocked forces are still valid. However, locations at the interface between source and receiver structures are often unreachable and difficult to instrument. In this research, blocked forces are determined along a virtual interface. Suggestions are made for selecting the number of blocked force locations along the interface. Simulation and measurement test cases are then performed to validate the method.