Systems and methods for modal testing of turbine blades

1. A system for modal testing of a blade, comprising:

a fixture for retaining said blade in a fixed-free configuration; said fixture having a body; said body being generally spherical and comprising a blade retaining portion, a flat fixture locating portion, and at least one attachment portion; said blade retaining portion including a slot, a set screw, and a pusher plate; said at least one attachment portion having an opening;

an excitation device for exciting said blade retained in said fixture;

a measurement device to measure a response of said blade to said excitation; and

an evaluation device to evaluate said measurement.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said opening is configured to allow said excitation device to be secured to said fixture.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said excitation device is attached to said at least one attachment portion of said fixture and said at least one attachment portion is generally perpendicular to said flat fixture locating portion.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein said blade retaining portion includes a stop.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein said slot includes capturing features configured to mate with a root of a blade.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said pusher plate and set screw are usable to push said blade root into said capturing features.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one attachment portion includes four attachment portions.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said excitation device is a frequency shaker.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said measurement device comprises a laser vibrometer.

10. A method for modal testing of a gas turbine blade, comprising:

providing a generally spherical fixture for retaining said blade in a fixed-free configuration;

using an excitation device for exciting said blade while said blade is retained in a blade retaining portion of said fixture; and

using a measurement device to measure a response of said blade to said excitation;

wherein, said fixture includes an attachment portion configured for the securement of said excitation device to said fixture.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said fixture includes a blade attachment portion having a pusher plate and a set screw.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing an opening in said attachment portion that extends radially into said body.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing in said blade attachment portion capturing features configured to mate with a root of said blade.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising rotating said set screw to cause said pusher plate to push said root of said blade into said capturing features.

15. A fixture usable to retain a blade in a fixed-free configuration for modal testing, comprising:

a generally spherical body having a blade retaining portion, one or more attachment portions, and a flat fixture locating portion; said blade retaining portion comprising a set screw and a pusher plate; each of said one or more attachment portions having a flat surface and an opening extending away from said flat surface;

wherein, each of said one or more attachment portions is configured for the attachment of an excitation device.

16. The fixture of claim 15 , wherein said blade retaining portion is configured to retain said blade such that no portion of said blade above a platform thereof contacts said fixture during said modal testing.

17. The fixture of claim 15 , wherein said flat fixture locating portion is generally perpendicular to each of said one or more attachment portions.

18. The fixture of claim 15 , wherein said blade retaining portion includes a capturing feature configured to capture a portion of said blade.

19. The fixture of claim 15 , further comprising a stop.

20. The fixture of claim 19 , wherein said stop is part of said pusher plate.