eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Mechanical Engineering 2328-4110 2016-12-17 4 7 418 422 10.12691/ajme-4-7-34 AJME20164734 article Peter Pavelka peter.pavelka@tuke.sk 1 Róbert Huňady 1 Martin Hagara 1 Department of Applied Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia The paper is focused on a determination of dynamic characteristics of a cantilever beam with a free end and dynamics characteristics of the same beam when the free end is pushed down by using a rubber string. This leads to bend of the beam and causes its preloading. The modal parameters are determined by experimental modal analysis and the results of the tests with and without preload are compared each other. The numerical simulation of non-loaded beam is the part of the study. http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajme/4/7/34/ajme-4-7-34.pdf modal parameters cantilever beam preload