An electrodynamic shaker is modeled as a mixed electrical and mechanical system with an experimentally derived two-port network characterization. The model characterizes the shaker in a manner that the performance of the shaker with a mounted load can be predicted. The characterization depends on the measurements of shaker input voltage and current, and on the acceleration of the shaker armature with several mounted loads. The force into the load is also required and can be measured directly or inferred from the load apparent mass.
The performance of electrodynamic shakers is usually characterized by specifying the displacement limits, the velocity limits, the force capability, and the acceleration capability. Physical characteristics like the mounting table size and the armature weight are also given.
