Product design and engineering

An easy-to-use method has been developed by which substructures' experimental and/or numerical modal parameters are used to numerically simulate the dynamic behavior of a combined structure whatever its composition. The modal parameters of the combined structure are thus obtained without having to physically combine the constituent substructures and/or without having to physically test one or more of the substructures.

An accurate, rapid response technique for ascertaining the mechanical behavior of the Ilizarov apparatus has been developed. A widely-adopted numerical method (finite elements), is used to achieve simulation of the apparatus configuration, whereby the orthopedic surgeon is able to custom tailor the apparatus to the clinical situation. Experimental activity verifies the validity of the finite element simulation and provides information on the magnitude and type of loads affecting the apparatus during implantation. From this information it is possible to inocuously derive objective parameters characterizing the evolution of patient rehabilitation.

A method has been developed to enhance the applicability of automatic pattern recognition to the monitoring of mechanical systems by: reducing the size of the defect-classification databases through the use of signal reconstruction. This appreciably shortens the experimental testing phase. Eliminating the influence of the system's dynamic characteristics on the defective component through the measurement of defect-generated forces. This means that standard components may be characterised at manufacturing level prior to machine assembly. In addition, once the component defects have been characterised according to the proposed method, it is possible to achieve total system monitoring from a single pre-selected measuring point. Experimental testing carried out on an actual bearing test rig has validated these capabilities. © 1989.

This paper presents a toolkit for the generation of User Interface (UI) to CIM applications, in particular scheduling and manufacturing control packages. An analysis of selected applications requirements and state-of-the-art in UI development led to the design and implementation of a UIMS (User Interface Management System) based on the System Builder approach. The prototype allows the design and fully automatic implementation of UI using graphical and interactive tools, without having to depend on routines library or program language practice. (A)

Modal analysis is a technique used to verify the dynamic behavior of systems, and to validate results obtained through numerical methods such as finite elements analysis. Furthermore, this technique can also be profitably used for simulating changes in dynamic behavior due to structural mass and stiffness modifications. Corresponding calculation programs have been developed for modal analysis systems such as SMS, and have been experimentally confirmed.

A balancing torsion bar compensates for inertia effects in doffer comb drive.