Modesdirect

Modesdirect is a software framework and data model designed to enable direct access to modal representations of complex physical systems. The term refers to both a library of tools for capturing, manipulating, and exchanging mode data and the schema that standardizes how modal information is described across domains such as structural dynamics, acoustics, and vibration analysis. The goal is to streamline workflows that rely on modal decomposition and model updating.

The project emerged from collaborations among universities and industry partners in the early 2020s to address fragmentation in modal data formats. An initial reference implementation was released as open-source software, with ongoing development focusing on real-time data streaming, interoperability with common simulation platforms, and extensibility through plugins.

Core components include a modular analysis engine, a data model for modes, coordinates, and uncertainties, and adapters for sensors and simulation tools. The engine implements standard modal techniques such as harmonic analysis, proper orthogonal decomposition, dynamic mode decomposition, and recursive modal updates. The data model supports versioning, metadata, and provenance, enabling reproducible analyses.

Applications span structural health monitoring, aerospace and automotive engineering, acoustics, and civil engineering. Modesdirect aims to reduce data wrangling and integration overhead, though adoption varies by domain. It competes with established proprietary toolchains but has found use in research environments and in projects prioritizing openness and interoperability.