Vibrations Labs To Help Achieve A Resonance In Learning

A sequence of laboratories has been designed and implemented in an undergraduate course in mechanical vibrations to introduce students to experimental aspects of vibrations and experimental modal analysis. Unfortunately, undergraduate vibration courses, especially if they do not have a lab associated with them, are often perceived by many students to be courses in differential equations. By exposing students to vibration measurement instrumentation such as accelerometers and dynamic signal analyzers, and by allowing them to take experimental data, calculate frequency response functions, and identify system parameters and mode shapes, student learning and motivation is enhanced. One characteristic of the labs described in this paper, in contrast to other vibrations labs discussed in the literature, is the way each lab builds upon the previous one and the fact students test real engineering structures. The initial labs in the course use Electronic Control Products (ECP) hardware and introduce the idea of frequency response functions (FRFs) and system identification. After students are familiar with these ideas, they progress to using PHOTON II’s (a 32 bit, 4 channel data acquisition system), RT Pro for data acquisition and signal processing, and DIAMOND for system identification and mode shape animation. In this paper the labs will be described and assessment results presented as to their efficacy.