Noise and vibration control and condition monitoring

Noise and vibration control has become increasingly important as a consequence of environmental and safety awareness. There is a need for methodologies making it possible to handle these matters already at the design process, for example measurement methods for characterization and reduction of noise and vibration emissions in the verification phase. The research has treated both fluid borne and airborne noise. We have reached a point, where we master completely the generation of flow ripple in the outlet flow on the high-pressure side of fluid power piston pumps. A patented method for flow and pressure ripple reduction has been realized in industry. The logical continuation of this work is to consider also the structure borne part of the noise from this type of pumps.

The need for more predictable and reliable systems implies a demand for research regarding condition monitoring on key components in a system. This technology must be applied already in the design process. An important task is to determine reliable condition indicators and to develop monitoring methodologies. Neural networks are used for analysis of vibration spectra from components and systems. The goal is to develop methodologies making it possible to predict not only the overall condition of a machine or a system, but also to foresee which specific fault that is developing.

The research in this area has been evaluated in an international evaluation of acoustic and noise research in Sweden. The group received good judgements (the highest mean value of the nine evaluation criteria of all 20 evaluated research groups).

Projects

In progress

Silent mobile hydraulics

Finished

Water hammer phenomenon and oscillations in fluid power systems
Fluid power attenuators - analyses, measurements and performance optimization
Modelling, simulation and measurements of fluid power pumps and pipelines with special reference to flow pulsations
Design of fluid power piston pumps with special reference to noise reduction
Design principles for noise reduction in hydraulic piston pumps