Our theoretical approach is based on nonlinear classical continuum mechanics in combination with numerical simulations and experimental investigations. Ongoing collaborative efforts focus on the development of a fundamental understanding of the underlying nonlinear dynamics and coupling phenomena of an array of multi-physics cantilevers. However, the associated multi-physics coupling and observed nonlinear dynamic behaviour are currently not understood and thus prevents successful implementation of an otherwise promising solution. Micro-electromechanical arrays offer a tangible solution to high-speed, precision information and manipulation technologies such as scanning probe microscopy and nano-lithography. This research will occur in conjunction with faculty in the Department of Civil Engineering at Texas AandM University and any interested faculty in the Electrical and Civil Engineering Departments at UC. The approach used is expected to be a mixture of analytical and experimental culminating in trials on a hardware benchmark problem created by ASCE. This project requires students interested in multi-disciplinary research in Mechanical, Civil and Electrical Engineering, taking the useful parts of approaches to similar problems to develop a novel solution using elements from each field as necessary. While the central focus will be on benchmark problems put forward by Civil Engineering Societies the methods developed are expected to generalize to wider ranges of problems. Adaptive digital filtering techniques are widely used in digital telecommunications and represent a potential means of dealing with this problem in a fashion that is far more easily implemented in noisy, real-time environments than current methods. More specifically, given one or more sensors, vibrations resulting from known or random inputs may be analysed to determine the change in model parameters. This technique is also heavily employed in the aircraft and manufacturing equipment industries to test for damage before it is visible. This research area is very important for areas, such as New Zealand, that are subject to earthquakes and other damaging excitations. Structural health monitoring is the examination of structures for damage by examining changes in their vibration response to inputs from expected values.

Overall, this project area is about structural dynamics and control systems development, and the use of these and analytical methods to analyse these problems and design creative solutions. There are also analytical and theoretical studies associated with this topic. It is undertaken with our Dept of Civil Engineering and other oversease collaborators. This project requires students interested in multi-disciplinary research in Mechanical, Civil and Electrical Engineering, taking the useful parts of dynamics and finite element analysis, as well as design and control systems to create new devices and systems to mitigate dynamic response of structures. Finally, the damage to lifelines, like bridges and energy distribution, can result in making recovery more difficult and further loss of lives or injury. The damage to society as jobs are lost when business don’t reopen fully due to structural damage to premises is significant and can last 10-30 years before abating in a given region.

The damage can be substantial at 10-20% of GDP for a large event. Earthquakes and other large disturbances cause a significant and damaging structural dynamic response, often nonlinear in nature.

Dept of interior gets walking papers