Efficacy of Hilbert and Wavelet Transforms for Time-Frequency Analysis

Two independently emerging time-frequency transformations in Civil Engineering, namely, the wavelet transform and empirical mode decomposition with Hilbert transform (EMD+HT), are discussed in this study. Their application to a variety of nonstationary and nonlinear signals has achieved mixed results, with some comparative studies casting significant doubt on the wavelet’s suitability for such analyses. Therefore, this study shall revisit a number of applications of EMD+HT in the published literature, offering a different perspective to these commentaries and highlighting situations where the two approaches perform comparably and others where one offers an advantage. As this study demonstrates, much of the differing performance previously observed is attributable to EMD+HT representing nonlinear characteristics solely through the instantaneous frequency, with the wavelet relying on both this measure and the instantaneous bandwidth. Further, the resolutions utilized by the two approaches present a secondary factor influencing performance.