Using the envelope of the frequency response in the measurement of power absorbed by a finite structure

The power absorbed by a finite structure is equated to the sum of the powers absorbed by each mode of vibration. The power in each mode may be measured from the acceleration cross spectral density between any two points and an envelope function which passes through the peaks in the transfer functions between these points. The validity of the method is examined and the method is used to measure the power absorbed by a plate.