Structural Dynamics Research Laboratory
The University of Cincinnati - Structural Dynamics Research Laboratory (UC-SDRL) is an educational and research activity within the Mechanical Engineering Department. The function of this activity is to develop, investigate, and evaluate experimental approaches to the estimation of the dynamic properties of structural systems. The direction of this activity over the last twenty years has centered on research related to the experimental determination of modal parameters (frequency, damping, modal vectors and modal scaling).
This continuing research is vital in order to understand existing noise and vibration problems, in order to develop experimentally-based, structural system models, and in order to evaluate the validity of theoretically-based, structural system models originating from finite element analysis or other numerical methods. The focus of recent work has broadened to include identification of general systems for control design, active vibration control, rotating machinery modeling and signature analysis, vibroacoustic interaction in structures and acoustic noise source identification utilizing microphone arrays.
Faculty
Randall J Allemang
Dr. Allemang is a Professor Emeritus and member of the faculty of the Mechanical Engineering Program in Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Cincinnati, where he currently also serves as Director of the Structural Dynamics Research Laboratory (UC-SDRL). Dr. Allemang has been actively involved in the area of experimental structural dynamics and modal analysis for over forty years, pioneering the use of multiple input, multiple output estimation of frequency response functions, developing the concept of cyclic averaging, formulating the modal assurance criterion (MAC) and the enhanced frequency response function and reformulating modal parameter estimation algorithms into the unified matrix (coefficient) polynomial approach (UMPA). Dr. Allemang has served on the Advisory Board for the International Modal Analysis Conference (1981-2015, Chairman, 1986-1995) and on the Editorial Board of Sound and Vibration Magazine. Dr. Allemang has also served on the Executive Board of Society of Experimental Mechanics (SEM) from 1998-2006, including President for the Society during 2003-2004. Dr. Allemang is currently involved as Senior Collaborator for the AFRL Structural Sciences Center at WPAFB, working on the verification and validation (experimental quantification of margin and uncertainty) of experimental and analytical dynamic models and has been recognized by three professional societies as a Fellow (SEM, SAE and ASME). Dr. Allemang has also mentored two PhD graduates who went on to win Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).
Dave Brown
Director Emeritus of UC-SDRL.
In the nearly four decades from 1970-2005, under Dr. Brown's leadership, the UC-SDRL has become a world famous research laboratory in the area of experimental structural dynamics, acoustics, controls and vibration. The laboratory has supplied a significant number of the students at the undergraduate and graduate levels to industry and other universities during this period of time. Dr. Brown is currently retired and is no longer active.
Dr. Brown joined the research staff of the Department of Aerospace Engineering of the University of Cincinnati in the fall of 1961, conducting research in hypersonic flow and viscous boundary layer and working towards a Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Upon graduating in 1963, Dr. Brown went to work for the research staff of the General Electric Company in Evendale, Ohio working on the development of hypersonic inlets for ramjet engines. In 1966, Dr. Brown returned to the University as research assistant in the Department Mechanical Engineering working on self excited vibration problems such as aerodynamic flutter and machine tool chatter. During the period 1966-1970, Dr. Brown worked on the Research Staff and taught undergraduate and graduate courses in thermodynamics, acoustics and vibrations. In 1970 Dr. Brown became director of the Structural Dynamics Research Laboratory UC-SDRL a position he held until 2005. In 1976, Dr. Brown completed his doctoral thesis with a dissertation in the area of self excited vibrations.
Over the years, Dr. Brown has given several hundred seminars and invited
lectures worldwide including a number of keynote addresses at various technical conferences. He has authored or co-authored over 100 technical paper and a number of magazine articles.
Aimee Frame
Associate Professor-Educator, CEAS - Mechanical Eng
681A Rhodes Hall
Allyn W. Phillips
Associate Professor Educator, CEAS - Mechanical Eng
595 Rhodes Hall
