Design of a Small Scale Road Vibration Simulator

Design Team: Carolyn BassettiSarah BradyAmanda FrederickJessica IronsMatt Windon

Advisor: Dr. Amit Shukla

Presentation Overview

Project IntroductionSummary of EGR 448 WorkDesign Progress

Hardware, Software, ExperimentsFeedback and ImprovementSupporting IssuesSuggested Future WorkMeasurable Outcome

Problem Statement: Miami University School of Engineering and Applied Science does not have a lab to reinforce the topics learned in the Mechanical Vibrations Course (MME 315).

Project Introduction:Establishment of Objectives and Criteria

Project Introduction:Establishment of Objectives and Criteria

Objective: To design and implement a versatile device and corresponding classroom experiments for use in the Miami University Vibrations Laboratory to simulate road vibrations felt by vehicles during normal operation.

Project Introduction:Establishment of Objectives and Criteria

Constraints:Limited spaceLimited timeLimited funds

Project Introduction:Project Deliverables

Road vibrations simulator experimental setupUser manualTwo lab experiments GUI for data acquisition and analysisUser test feedback from EGR 315studentsWebsite

Summary of EGR 448 Work

HARDWAREResearched components (sensor, actuator, system model)Selected components (accelerometers, shaker, 1/5 scale car)Purchased components

SOFTWAREIdentified necessary capabilities (data acquisition and analysis)Selected software (Matlab)Created overall goal for GUICreated mini GUI components

EXPERIMENTSResearched the importance of vibrations in designDeveloped ideas for 2 laboratory experiments

Design Progress: HardwareExperimental Flow and Setup

Proposed Experimental Setup Final Experimental Setup

Design Progress: SoftwareGraphical User Interface

Proposed GUI Final GUI

Design Progress: SoftwareData Acquisition and Analysis Logic

Matlab File FFTMSPEC

Matlab File CommunicationWithHardware

Matlab File TFunctionWithHardwareInput

Matlab File WorkingWithHardwareGUI

Opens lines of communication to allow the computer to receive data from the signal conditioning board

Converts the time domain data into the frequency domain relevant to the transfer function by means of the Fourier transform

Computes the transfer functions from the frequency domain data

Stores user inputs and plots graphs from data collected

Matlab FileZoompls

Adds mini ‘Zoom’ window GUI to users GUI

Design Progress: ExperimentsLab 1 and Lab 2 Goals

Lab 1 Goal: Introduce students to fundamentals of experimental vibrations:

Accelerometer use, actuator use, force response graphs, transfer functions

Lab 2 Goal: Analyze changes in system parameters:

Using multiple accelerometers and adding weight to the system

Feedback and Improvements: Testing and Evaluation

User TestsPre-Lab SurveysImmediate On Site FeedbackPost-Lab SurveysLab Reports/QuestionsVideo

EvaluationChange lab/safety manuals as per student and faculty suggestion

Feedback and Improvements:Iterative Design Update Process

Feedback and Improvements: User Manual, Lab 1, and Lab 2 Flow and Format Criticisms and Remedies

Changed number of accelerometers needed in equipmentlist to two

List number of accelerometers are needed for particularexperiment, not how many are available

Wrote in procedure to refer to User ManualAdd dismantling instructions

Added a screenshot picture in the procedure so studentsknow where to look on the computer screen

The “active” box and “waveform” pull down in Matlab arehard to find

Reworded sections that seemed unclear or wordySections of background information are difficult to read

Added “s” to designate location on bottom side of chassis for stinger position

Mark the location for the stinger attachment on the bottom of the chassis

Added note saying to plug cords into analog input part analog input

Add that the analog input portion of the signal conditioning board is used

Added note saying white cords go with larger accelerometers

Say which color cords go with which accelerometers

Added note in amplifier attachment section to not touch back of amplifier

Add warning note saying to not touch the back of the amplifier

Added pictures with arrows to relevant partsNo pictures or figures

RemedyDr. BVK and EGR 315 User Test Comments

Feedback and Improvements: Selected Survey Questions and Answers

1. What do you feel is the importance of conducting experiments within a vibrations course?

a. It can help describe what problems can occur as a result of vibrations. This enforces why the study of vibrations is important. You can also see how theory matches up with real results.

2. Do you feel the background information was too lengthy or insufficient? Was the background information necessary?

a. The background information is extremely important. This is the first time I have seen any of this equipment and the background information helped me to know how to use it properly.

3. Was the purpose of the experiment clear?a. The experiment was meant to be an introduction to the equipment

and the Matlab program. I thought it did a good job of accomplishing this.

Feedback and Improvements: Video

Feedback and Improvements:GUI Improvements

Improved AccuracyDynamic range of graphsWindowing

Feedback and Improvements: GUI Improvements

Zoom capability

Supporting Issues:Market Issues

Researched companies who sell equipment

Ensured unique productReinforced market need

Researched other university vibrations projects

Reinforced educational need

Supporting Issues:Cost

8,744.00Total:707.00Accessories Kit341.00Cooling System3266.00Amplifier3900.00Shaker530.00Car

Bill Of Materials [$]

Supporting Issues:GUI Ergonomics

SimplicityConsistencyImmediate FeedbackIntuitive

Supporting Issues:Safety

High voltage electronicsSensitive equipment

User manual with extensive safety sectionSafety notes throughout lab procedure

Support structure built by teamSteps taken to ensure user safety

Supporting Issues:Professional Ethics

Appropriately referenced resourcesTeam members carried through their individual responsibilities in a timely mannerAdhered to contract signed at the beginning of the 2004 semesterDocumented design process to make tracing errors easier

Suggested Future Work

Add additional capabilities added to GUIOn/Off Windowing CapabilityAveraging Capability

Create additional lab manuals (corresponding to additional GUI capabilities)Enable experiment to be run from a remote location

Measurable Outcomes:Project Deliverables

Road vibrations simulator experimental setupUser manualTwo lab experiments GUI for data acquisition and analysisUser test feedback from EGR 315studentsWebsite

Measurable Outcomes:Website

Created website showcasing design projectUploaded lab manuals for other institutions to be able to access them if they wish to implement a similar experimentwww.users.muohio.edu/bradyse (current)www.users.muohio.edu/shuklaa/vibrations.html(future)

Acknowledgements

Miami University School of Engineering and Applied Science—Equipment funding

Jeff Peterson- Miami University Lab Coordinator and Technician—for his help in the machine shop and with supplies

Ron Hopkins & Alro Racing USA—in in purchase of Technokit TKT99junior

Maureen Sharp & MB Dynamics—in purchase of Modal 50A shaker

Dr. Fazeel Khan—for introducing us to the world of small scale cars

Mike Gottshall- student—for his help in adjustments made to the support structure

Ben Van Lear- student—for his help in the Machine Shop

Dr. Michael Bailey-VanKuren—for his help in editing our lab manuals to make them more user friendly and easier to understand

The EGR 315: Mechanical Vibrations students: Adam Donawerth, Dave Laux, Robert Petrochic, Richard Titas, Andrew Walker–for performing user tests

ReferencesALRO Racing: http://www.alroracingusa.com/Data Physics: http://www.dataphysic.co.uk/html/shakers.htmDerritron: http://www.derritron.com/Driving ergonomics: http://www.ohcow.on.ca/resources/handbooks/ergonomics_driving/Ergonomics_And_Driving.pdfFG Modelsport: http://www.fg-america.com/site/lv1/productlines.htmGB Direct: http://www.gbdirectusa.com/GUI Ergonomics: http://cognitivevent.com/gui.htmlGUI Ergonomics: http://www.omnica.com/omniview_industrial_design2.htmHarm Racing: http://www.harm-racing.de/Cars_Street.asp?Lang=ENIntuition Information: http://www.mtnmath.com/whatrh/node105.htmlLabworks, Inc: http://www.labworks-inc.comLing Dynamics: http://www.lds-group.com/Math Works: www.mathworks.comMathworks. Data Acquisition Toolbox: For Use with Matlab User’s Guide. Version 2. 2001.

The Mathworks, Inc. Natick , MA . MB Dynamics: www.mbdynamics.comModal Analysis: http://www.mecha.uni-stuttgart.de/Forschung/forschung_exp_meth/forschung_expmodal_en.htmModal Analysis: http://www.gmi.edu/~drussell/GMI-Acoustics/Modal.htmlModal Analysis: http://www.mts.com/nvd/PDF/1992_AMATLST.pdfModal Exciters: http://www.bksv.com/2329.htmNational Instruments: www.nationalinstruments.comProfessional Ethics: http://ethics.tamu.edu/ethics/shuttle/shuttle1.htmRandom Vibration: http://www.algor.com/products/analysis_types/linear_dynamics/random_vibration.aspRDP Corporation: http://www.rdp-corp.com/Shaker Selection: http:/autotestreport.com/2002_articles/09_shaker.htmTechnokit: http://www.technokit.itVictory Speedway : http://www.victoryspeedway.com/

Questions?