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Wind power is the one of best natural resources to meet the demands of electricity in India. In this regard, one of engineering college in Visakhapatnam has procured wind turbine generators of 200 kWp and got these installed on the rooftop of the college buildings for research and power generation. After starting the mills, huge vibrations were experienced by the staff and students in the laboratories and classrooms. So, the purpose of this paper is to carry out vibration and noise studies on wind turbine generator to identify the problem for high vibrations and suggest a novel method for vibration reduction.

Experimental vibration and natural frequency investigations are carried when wind velocity around 6.0 m/s using frequency analyzer, impact hammer, condenser microphone and accelerometer. An attempt is made to reduce the vibration and noise level of wind turbine generator by inserting a steel coil spring of 300 mm length having 20 turns in series with turnbuckle D shackle assembly, which is used to connect the wind turbine generator to the hook mounted on slab.

A high vibration velocity of 9.9 mm/s was observed on at base frame of wind turbine generator. The natural frequencies of hook and slab are observed in between 15 to 20 Hz from the natural frequency test. A high noise of 94.67 dBA is observed at a distance of 1 m from the base of wind turbine generator along the rotational axis of rotor. After modification to the baseline, WTG the vibration and noise levels are reduced to 4.8 mm/sec and 77.76 dBA, respectively.

This is the first time to study the huge vibrations generated in wind turbine generators installed on the rooftop of the college. Developed a novel methodology to reduce the vibrations by inserting a steel coil springs in turnbuckle D shackle assembly of wind turbine generators. After modification, wind turbine generator are running successfully without any high vibrations.

The purpose of this study is to address the nonlinear oscillations of single-crystal silicon micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometers subjected to mechanical excitation.

The nonlinear behavior was detected and analyzed by using experimental, analytical and numerical approaches. Piezoelectric shaker as a source of mechanical excitation and differential laser Doppler vibrometer in combination with a micro system analyzer were used in the experimental effort. Two types of devices considered included nonencapsulated samples and samples encapsulated in nitrogen gas compressed between two glasses. Numerical and analytical investigations were conducted to analyze the nonlinear response. A novel method has been suggested to calculate the nonlinear parameters. The obtained experimental, numerical and analytical results are in good agreement.

It has been found that the nonlinearity leads to a shift in frequencies and generates higher harmonics, but, most importantly, reveals new phenomena, such as the jump and instability of the vibration amplitudes and phases.

It has been shown that under the constant excitation force, the MEMS device can work in both linear and nonlinear regions. The role of the beat phenomenon has been also addressed and discussed. It has been found that the attributes of the nonlinear response are strongly dependent on the level and duration of the excitation. It is concluded that the nonlinear response of the systems is strongly dependent on the level of the excitation energy. It has been also concluded that larger quality factors are able to enhance dramatically the nonlinear effects and vice versa.

AS a member of a Rolls‐Royce team of engineers I have been engaged upon the study of the cause of turbine blade failure on the test‐bed and in flight, but I should like to mention here that the views expressed in this paper are entirely my own and do not necessarily represent the views or the policy of Rolls‐Royce Limited. I have not hesitated to put forward some views, although the data are not available at this stage to provide rigid proofs that the views are correct. I hope that in doing this I may add to the interest of the discussion that will follow this paper.

The purpose of this paper is to highlight that the need for improved system identification methods within the domain of modal analysis increases under the impulse of the broadening field of applications, e.g., damage detection and vibro-acoustics, and the increased complexity of today’s structures. Although significant research efforts during the last two decades have resulted in an extensive number of parametric identification algorithms, most of them are certainly not directly applicable for modal parameter extraction. So, based on this, the aim of the present work is to develop a technique for modal parameter extraction from the measured signal.

A survey and classification of the different modal analysis methods are made; however, the focus of this thesis is placed on modal parameter extraction from measured time signal. Some of the methods are examined in detail, including both single-degree-of-freedom and multi-degree-of-freedom approaches using single and global frequency-response analysis concepts. The theory behind each of these various analysis methods is presented in depth, together with the development of computer programs, theoretical and experimental examples and discussion, in order to evaluate the capabilities of those methods. The problem of identifying properties of structures that possess close modes is treated in particular detail, as this is a difficult situation to handle and yet a very common one in many structures. It is essential to obtain a good model for the behavior of the structure in order to pursue various applications of experimental modal analysis (EMA), namely: updating of finite element models, structural modification, subsystem-coupling and calculation of real modes from complex modes, to name a few. This last topic is particularly important for the validation of finite element models, and for this reason, a number of different methods to calculate real modes from complex modes are presented and discussed in this paper.

In this paper, Modal parameters like mode shapes and natural frequencies are extracted using an FFT analyzer and with the help of ARTeMiS, and subsequently, an algorithm has been developed based on frequency domain decomposition (FDD) technique to check the accuracy of the results as obtained from ARTeMiS. It is observed that the frequency domain-based algorithm shows good agreement with the extracted results. Hence the following conclusion may be drawn: among several frequency domain-based algorithms for modal parameter extraction, the FDD technique is more reliable and it shows a very good agreement with the experimental results.

In the case of extraction techniques using measured data in the frequency domain, it is reported that the model using derivatives of modal parameters performed better in many situations. Lack of accurate and repeatable dynamic response measurements on complex structures in a real-life situation is a challenging problem to analyze exact modal parameters.

During the last two decades, there has been a growing interest in the domain of modal analysis. Evolved from a simple technique for troubleshooting, modal analysis has become an established technique to analyze the dynamical behavior of complex mechanical structures. Important examples are found in the automotive (cars, trucks, motorcycles), railway, maritime, aerospace (aircrafts, satellites, space shuttle), civil (bridges, buildings, offshore platforms) and heavy equipment industry.

Presently structural health monitoring has become a significantly important issue in the area of structural engineering particularly in the context of safety and future usefulness of a structure. A lot of research is being carried out in this area incorporating the modern sophisticated instrumentations and efficient numerical techniques. The dynamic approach is mostly employed to detect structural damage, due to its inherent advantage of having global and location-independent responses. EMA has been attempted by many researchers in a controlled laboratory environment. However, measuring input excitation force(s) seems to be very expensive and difficult for the health assessment of an existing real-life structure. So Ambient Vibration Analysis is a good alternative to overcome those difficulties associated with the measurement of input excitation force.

Three single bay two storey frame structure has been chosen for the experiment. The frame has been divided into six small elements. An algorithm has been developed to determine the natural frequency of those frame structures of which one is undamaged and the rest two damages in single element and double element, respectively. The experimental results from ARTeMIS and from developed algorithm have been compared to verify the effectiveness of the developed algorithm. Modal parameters like mode shapes and natural frequencies are extracted using an FFT analyzer and with the help of ARTeMiS, and subsequently, an algorithm has been programmed in MATLAB based on the FDD technique to check the accuracy of the results as obtained from ARTeMiS. Using singular value decomposition, the power Spectral density function matrix is decomposed using the MATLAB program. It is observed that the frequency domain-based algorithm shows good consistency with the extracted results.

The paper gives a new measurement method of the parameters characterising the magnetic laminations for broadband low‐level signals defined at any operational point.

High frequency phenomena machines fed by PWM inverters are related to low‐level signals corresponding to minor hysteresis loops around the instantaneous working point, which moves on the main loop at the basic frequency. The minor loops are assimilated to ellipses, which are characterised by only two parameters: the incremental magnetic permeability (μ) and the electric conductivity (σ).

For small signals high frequency field components, the laminated steel behaviour can be described by two local parameters (μ, σ) and skin effect. The values of μ and σ do not depend on frequency up to 1 MHz, but only on the operating point.

The proposed broadband characterisation should be associated with a Priesach model that defines the operating point for computer simulation of high frequency phenomena.

The broadband characterisation of magnetic laminations is useful for studying the behaviour of the windings of the PWM‐fed machines.

Broadband measurements are now possible on small magnetic steel lamination samples.

The purpose of this paper is to experimentally investigate the capability of four non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques to detect the layer orientation in textile composite laminates. The aerospace industry has been the primary driving force in the use of textile composites.

Woven glass fiber composite samples were inspected using C-scan ultrasonic, vibration analyzer, X-ray micro-tomography and ultraviolet technique. In a complementary study, mechanical testing was carried out to investigate the effect of mid-layer orientation on in-plane tensile strength and their failure modes using microscopic imagining.

During C-scan ultrasonic, the high attenuation and scattering of ultrasonic waves caused by the textile fabric layers limited its application to only detect the first layer of samples. Frequency response tests of composite samples were also conducted to investigate the effect of mid-layer orientation on dynamic responses. The same trend was observed in the finite element modeling results with a clear effect of the fiber orientation defect seen in frequency response function response and higher mode shapes. Moreover, the results of micro computed tomography demonstrate that this technique could definitely detect the orientation of each layer; however, X-ray imaging at small scales introduced some challenges. Images obtained from ultraviolet technique did not reveal mid-layer orientation.

In this paper, the application of different NDT techniques along with finite element modeling to inspect two-dimensional textile composites was presented. Hopefully, the research results presented here will lead to much published papers in inspection of textile composites.

The purpose of this paper is to address the determination of crack location and depth of multiple transverse cracks by monitoring natural frequency and its prediction using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). An alternative to the existing NDTs is suggested.

Modal analysis is performed to extract the natural frequency. Analysis is performed for two cases of cracks. In first case, both cracks are perpendicular to axis. In second case, both cracks are inclined to vertical plane and also inclined with each other. Finite element method (FEM) is performed using ANSYSTM software which is theoretical basis. Experimentation is performed using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analyzer on simply supported stepped rotor shaft and cantilever circular beam with two cracks each.

The results of FEM and experimentation are validated and are in good agreement. The error in crack detection by FEM is in the range of 3-15 percent while 5-20 percent by experimentation. The database obtained by modal analysis is used to train the network of ANN which predicts crack characteristics. Validity of method is investigated by comparing the predictions of ANN with FEM and experimentation. The results are in good agreement with error of 7-16 percent between ANN and FEM while 9-21 percent between ANN and experimental analysis.

It envisages that the method is capable. It is an effective as well as an alternate method of fault detection in beam/rotating element to the existing methods.

Introduces the fourth and final chapter of the ISEF 1999 Proceedings by stating electric and magnetic fields are influenced, in a reciprocal way, by thermal and mechanical fields. Looks at the coupling of fields in a device or a system as a prescribed effect. Points out that there are 12 contributions included ‐ covering magnetic levitation or induction heating, superconducting devices and possible effects to the human body due to electric impressed fields.

In the case of machines, structures and assemblies, the crack generation and propagation is becoming a great concern, especially in airplane wings, turbine blades and such other applications. This is because these parts are very large in size and the crack size is very small, i.e. in microns. Hence, there is an important need to locate the crack and to find its severity before it starts to propagate and also to detect these parameters by on-site non-destructive testing methods. This paper aims to develop and test the methodology to locate an unknown single open crack in steel cantilever beam along with its severity.

This study covers analytical, numerical and experimental analysis for healthy and cracked beams. Vibration-based approach and finite element analysis (FEA) approach is used for analytical and numerical study respectively. Own designed and dedicated experimental set-up is used for testing purpose along with fast fourier transform analyzer. An anti-resonance technique is used to locate and to find the severity of unknown crack. The statistical approach helps to validate the results.

The comparison of the natural frequency of healthy and cracked steel cantilever beam shows that the crack in the beam reduces its natural frequency. The accuracy of results is achieved by finding actual density and Young's modulus of steel specimen under consideration. It is helpful to verify the health of the non-cracked beam by applying dye testing. The study of natural frequency and anti-resonance gives the location of crack and its depth also. The FEA approach proved to be an important tool for numerical analysis of cracked beam.

The research is limited to steel material and surface cracks only.

Practically, this study highlights how to locate a surface crack in steel beam along with its depth, i.e. severity with great accuracy. Identification of the factors such as location and depth of a crack provide the severity of damage in airplane wings, turbine blades, bridges and many more, and thereby, it helps in safety at working vicinity.

The identification and solutions of current research helps to predict the operational life of machine elements such as airplane wings, turbine blades, bridges and many more, and thereby, it helps in the safety of people in working vicinity of such structures.

The work presented, is based on original research and experimentation. This work is valued contribution in the field of methodologies applied for fault detection in structures and also determining its correctness by numerical and experimental work.

Examines the use of acoustic emission techniques for monitoring part mating during the assembly process. The frequency recorded during a peg insertion is compared with known frequencies of successful peg insertion by a microcomputer. This allows unsuccessful alignment to be readjusted which being monitored by a digital sound analyzer. Outlines the concept of part mating which is based on the peg‐in‐hole theory developed by Simunovic and describes an acoustic emission monitoring system. Concludes that acoustic monitoring provides a relatively low cost, low complexity system for part mating monitoring but may have limitation in manufacturing environments where there is excessive background noise or machine part vibration.