Structural Dynamics Research Laboratory Equipment
The UC-SDRL activity is located in a laboratory that is ideally suited for the experimental emphasis of the research work. The experimental vibration area consists of a high bay laboratory (25 foot clearance x 2000 square feet of floor space) accessed by an overhead bridge cranes. A loading dock and ramp entrance to the laboratory floor provide easy access to the testing area for any equipment that can be transported by truck. Two large isolation foundations, a spin pit, and a four axis road simulator (MTS Series 320) provides a facility with great flexibility for any testing situation. The experimental acoustics area consists of a fully anechoic chamber that is suitable for research work in the 100 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz frequency range. Although most of the data analysis equipment is quite portable, all locations within the vibrations and acoustics laboratory areas are connected by data and communication lines to the data analysis laboratory. The data analysis laboratory is an air conditioned area which houses the data analysis computer systems as well as providing office space for 14 members of the research staff and the UC-SDRL secretary. Data analysis equipment represents the primary asset of the SDRL activity. The following equipment is available for use in research and educational activity:
| Equipment | Approximate Value |
|---|---|
| Personal Computers (6) | 15,000.00 |
| Graphics and Text Output Devices | 30,000.00 |
| UC-SDRL has an extensive amount of HP-3565S multiple-input multiple-output digital data acquisition and signal processing hardware including single and eight channel ADC modules, DAC modules, source modules, and signal processing modules. Up to 7 independent systems may be configured, and up to 224 channels of data may be acquired and processed in parallel | 551,600.00 |
| UC-SDRL has an extensive amount of Agilent VXI 143x Series multiple-input multiple-output digital data acquisition and signal processing hardware including eight and sixteen channel ADC modules, source modules, and Firewire interface (IEEE 1394) interface modules. Up to 4 independent systems may be configured, and up to 248 channels of data may be acquired and processed in parallel HP VXI Instrumentation/Data Acquisition & Processing Hardware system with multiple floating point DSP processors | 370,000.00 |
| HP-3561-A Fourier Signal Analyzer | 8,000.00 |
| HP-35660-A Fourier Signal Analyzer | 14,000.00 |
| HP-35670 4 Channel Fourier Analyzer (3) | 72,000.00 |
| Teac 21 Channel FM Data Recorder | 35,000.00 |
| Teac 7 Channel FM Data Recorder | 7,000.00 |
| Kemo Model VBF40 Filter Amplifier (8 Channels) | 10,000.00 |
| Difa 16 Channel Filter Amplifier | 15,000.00 |
| Wavetek Model 132 Signal Generator (2) | 6,000.00 |
| Wavetek Model 175 Signal Generator | 4,000.00 |
| MB 200 pound Electromechanical Shaker | 18,000.00 |
| MB 50 pound Electromechanical Shaker (6) | 30,000.00 |
| Ling 5 pound Electromechanical Shaker (10) | 25,000.00 |
| Zonic Hydraulic Excitation System | 20,000.00 |
| An extensive array of sensors and associated signal conditioning and cabling is available at UC-SDRL including 400 channels of Structcell type accelerometers and cabling/mounting hardware, 140 channels of Flexcel type accelerometers and cabling/mounting hardware, 80 channels of Acousticel microphones and cabling/mounting hardware, 60 piezoelectric accelerometers of assorted models, noncontact eddy current sensors, LVDT displacement sensors, light sensing tachometers, 20 load cells, impedance sensors, an optical displacement sensor, ratio processor frequency multiplier/divider, etc. | 50,000.00 |
| The UC-SDRL Nonlinear Dynamics Test Laboratory is a dedicated facility used to study nonlinear system identification, particularly with respect to automotive structures. This system consists of a four axis road simulator (MTS Series 320) used to control up to four inputs into the tires of an automotive vehicle. This facility is also used for squeak and rattle noise source identification studies of automotive vehicles. For more information about this facility see the Nonlinear Dynamics Test Laboratory homepage. | 514,000.00 |
| The UC-SDRL Control and Identification Test Bed is a permanent flexible truss structure with a variable geometry appendage which allows experimental investigation and validation of control and identification strategies for time varying systems. 6 high fidelity electromagnetic reaction mass actuators and 130 piezoelectric accelerometers allow multi-input, multi-output control and identification strategies to be implemented. Arrayed sensing and actuation methods or optimal sensor and actuator location studies are also possible. | 50,000.00 |
| Finite Element, Data Acquisition, Modal Identification, System Simulation (Simulink, Boss, UC-SDRL), and General Mathematical Analysis (Matlab) software from most major commercial vendors and written in house by UC-SDRL staff is available within UC-SDRL to support research activities. In addition, HP "Toolkit" software allows the HP-3565S data acquisition and processing hardware and the VXI instrumentation/data acquisition & processing hardware to be custom programmed for specific applications such as real time digital control and on-line parameter identification. | _ |
The Hewlett Packard 700 Series Graphics Workstations combined with the Hewlett Packard 3565S data acquisition and processing hardware give the UC-SDRL activity extensive measurement and programming capabilities and is being used to evaluate new algorithms and methods relative to experimental modal analysis, system identification, active control, and machinery diagnostics. The Hewlett Packard 700 Series Graphics Workstations provide a true virtual memory computation environment which will facilitate future research work in the areas of modal parameter estimation and finite element modeling. Further computational capability is now available through the College of Engineering Computer Network. This network allows access to any computer within the College and the ability to transfer ASCII and binary files between any two computer systems. All computer systems (workstations and personal computers) within the UC-SDRL are connected to this Network and access to additional Graphics Workstations in the MINE CAE Laboratory is available over this Network. Application packages currently available within UC-SDRL or through the College of Engineering Computer Network include: UC X-Modal MSC-NASTRAN, ANSYS, SDRC IDEAS (Geomod, TDas, SuperTab, etc.), HP-ME-10, HP-ME-30, and HP-ME-Vista, LMS modal analysis and data acquisition (Cada-X, Fmon, Smon, Test, Link, Analysis, Modal), Matlab, SimuLink and an in-house vector path, block oriented, general system simulation package is currently under development by UC-SDRL staff.
The staff of the UC-SDRL consists of faculty, graduate students, and post doctorate researchers interested in the area of experimental structural dynamics, active control of structural vibrations, and machinery vibration diagnostics. Currently, this staff consists of seven full time faculty members, five of which are very active, and twelve research assistants. The research associates and research assistants are graduate students working toward advanced degrees. Out of the twelve graduate students supported in this manner, one third are pursuing a Masters degree and two thirds are pursuing a Doctoral degree. In addition, there are 30-40 graduate students, full and part time, participating in academic interests relative to the activity of the UC-SDRL at the Masters and Doctoral levels.