Course overview
Acoustics and vibrations are one of the core pillars of the mechanical engineering discipline, with applications that range from civil structures, architectural and environmental systems, and all forms of mechanical systems including transport vehicles and aircraft. This course introduces the fundamental concepts of acoustics, including characterisation and quantification of sound sources, exposure to noise, and noise control, mitigation, and psychoacoustics. Vibration systems are covered in detail from lumped parameter models through to continuous and multi-degree of freedom systems. Design of vibration control devices, such as vibration isolators and vibration absorbers, is also considered. A strong emphasis is placed on frequency response characteristics for both acoustics and vibration applications, including practical exposure to spectral analysis and its application to predictive maintenance using machine condition monitoring.
Course learning outcomes
- Understand the fundamentals of acoustics
- Understand basic noise control systems
- Be able to assess occupational and environmental noise problems
- Discuss the principles of vibrations, including concepts of modes and natural frequencies, and the influence of mass, stiffness and damping on the motion of vibratory systems
- Demonstrate how to estimate system parameters and measure the damping of simple vibratory systems
- Explain the principles controlling basic vibration systems including forced vibratory systems, vibration isolation systems, and vibration absorbers
- Explain the modes and natural frequencies of simple, idealised continuous systems
- Explain the fundamentals of modelling complex continuous systems with discrete lumped-masses and springs
- Understand the fundamentals of signal processing/spectral analysis
- Understand the condition of a machine by analysing its vibration signature history to predict its performance and to diagnose faults from knowledge of characteristic "fault" vibration signatures