Harmonic Analyzer

a computational device for finding the harmonic amplitudes of complicated periodic functions. These analyzers are used in dynamic investigations of crank-and-connecting-rod mechanisms in engines, preliminary estimates of the effects caused by external periodic disturbances on oscillatory systems, analysis of acoustic vibrations, and the solution of similar problems. Practically all types of harmonic analyzers consist of an input device, multipliers, and integrators. The basic characteristics of harmonic analyzers (by which they are classified) are the type of function assigned (graph, electrical signal, or mechanical transposition), the highest harmonic number, and the number of coefficients computed simultaneously. The most common types are mechanical, which can simultaneously provide the amplitudes of 20 to 25 harmonics for a given function by manually following its curve.