[en] This study reviews past projects, experimental techniques, instrumentation requirements, safety considerations, and the benefits of performing vibration tests on nuclear power plant containments and internal components. The emphasis is on testing to improve seismic structural models although the methods are applicable to any form of dynamic excitation. Established techniques for testing and for identification of resonant frequencies, damping, and mode shapes are presented. The benefits of testing with regard to verifying increased damping values and establishing more accurate computer models are outlined. Finally, a forced vibration test project planned to realize these benefits is presented for a typical nuclear power plant. (orig.)