Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S43979/01
Title:	Modal Analysis System
Principal Investigator:	Mottershead, Professor J
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	School of Engineering
Organisation:	University of Liverpool
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	02 June 2003	Ends:	01 June 2006	Value (£):	123,080
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Eng. Dynamics & Tribology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Aerospace, Defence and Marine
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The research involves the development of model updating methods for large scale industrial systems. The issue of scale is a very important one for the understanding of many complicated large-scale systems from different industries. Techniques which work well for small and medium sized systems become very difficult to apply when the structure itself is complicated and when the finite element model is large. It is now quite common for industrial models to contain over a million degrees of freedom. The Structural Dynamics Research Group are already involved with research projects involving several large systems including, Rolls-Royce aero-engine casings, the tail-cone from a Lynx helicopter, MACE (a missile-like structure) from AWEAldermaston, and a Ford Focus body shell. The finite element model of the body shell contains over 1.3 million degrees of freedom and after the first few 'global' modes the vibrational behaviour becomes complicated and difficult to interpret. Also the uncertainty of such a large-scale structure is spread across many possible areas and cannot be attributed to a small number of updating parameters, as in small and medium sized updating problems. Mode-shape and sensitivity data provide the basis for parameter selection in model updating, but new ideas are now needed to enable the application of these techniques to large systems. One way to reduce a large problem to smaller handleable parts is by the use of substructures. New methods will be developed within existing, separately funded programmmes and applied to the large industrial systems described above.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.liv.ac.uk