Richard H. Lyon
MIT, Cambridge, MA RH Corp., Cambridge, MA 02138
The relation between the dynamical forces and structural elements of a machine and the vibratory or acoustical signals produced as it operates is far from straightforward. Nevertheless, a number of developments in measurement technology, system modeling, and signal processing have made it more possible in the last few years to extract information about both mechanism performance and structural integrity from vibration or acoustical measurements. Measurement advances include smaller and more sensitive transducers. System modeling advances include hybrid FEA and dynamic simulation methods. And signal processing includes a number of methods for amplitude and frequency demodulation and deconvolution procedures. The paper will outline a number of these advances, illustrated by some of the author's experiences.