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Organisation

Mechanical Engineering

Department

Lifecycle:1 Jan 1970 →  14 Mar 2005
Organisation profile:

The department WERK in fact consists of three units 'Acoustics & Vibration', 'Multibody mechanics' and 'Thermodynamics'. The Acoustics & Vibration Research Group central goal is to conduct fundamental and applied research in the broad field of Acoustics & Vibration, with special emphasis on signal processing and system identification. The acoustical research is focussed on noise power characterization of combustion engines, numerical calculation of sound radiating from ducts and sound quality of exhaust systems. Some of the research programs are in collaboration with Bosal and are funded by the IWT. Sound power measurements on all sorts of equipment (electrical, electromechanical, HVAC) are performed in the anechoic room for industrial clients. The research in the field of vibration is mainly concentrated on experimental and operational modal analysis. Advanced system identification and measurement methodologies have been developed to model the dynamic (vibration) behaviour of complex mechanical systems starting from input/output or output-only measurements. These models can be used to solve vibro-acoustical problems in cars, to assess damage in safety critical airplane components, for flight flutter analysis, ... The application field is mainly focussed on automotive and aeronautical industry. Our most important industrial research partners are ASCO Industries and LMS International. The research is essentially funded by the Flemish Institute for the Improvement of the Scientific and Technological Research in Industry (IWT), the Fund for Scientific Research - Flanders (FWO), the Research Council (OZR) of our university and the European community.

Keywords:Fatigue Testing, Modal Analysis, Gas turbines, Thermodynamics, Acoustics, Vibration, Combustion Engines, System Identification, Biomass
Disciplines:Electrical power engineering, Sustainable and environmental engineering, Manufacturing engineering, Mechanics, Control systems, robotics and automation, Thermodynamics