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Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D8: Geo-Environmental Engineering, 2024-25

Module Leader

Prof S P G Madabhushi

Lecturers

Prof S P G Madhabhushi and Prof A Al-Tabbaa

Lab Leader

Prof S P G Madabhushi

Timing and Structure

Lent term. 16 lectures and Lab.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • The aim of the course is to introduce the transport processes of fluids, water and pollutants, in the porous media that constitute the geo-environment.
  • The module aims to address the factors that influence groundwater, heat and pollutant transport, practical and design applications and problems that might arise.
  • This course aims to introduce the students to the flow regimes that occur in porous media and ways to estimate the flow quantities using flownets.
  • Similarly heat flow through porous media is introduced drawing parallels with the groundwater flow.
  • Contaminant transport through porous media is another important aspect in geo-environmental engineering that is addressed in this module.
  • Practical ways to dispose waste into the ground, the effects the contaminants have on the host soil and necessary aspects of remediation of contaminated land will also considered.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Understand the geotechnical environment.
  • Determine flow patterns in steady state groundwater seepage.
  • Evaluate potentials, pore water pressures, and flow quantities in the ground by constructing flow nets.
  • Anisotropic soils and flow nets
  • Seepage below concrete dams
  • Seepage through embankment & earth dams
  • Excavations and seepage, Cofferdams and stability
  • Draw parallels between groundwater flow and heat flow in porous media
  • Develop necessary skills to estimate heat storage and extraction from ground
  • Introduction to contaminated soil and its remediation
  • Understand the soil properties that affect the geo-environment and vice versa
  • Develop an understanding of the interactions between soils and contaminants
  • Understand the effect of soil contamination on geotechnical properties
  • Develop an understanding of the fate and transport mechanisms of contaminants in the ground
  • Solving of Advection-Dispersion equation using error functions
  • Develop appreciation of the contaminated land/landfills environment
  • Understand disposal of waste into well-engineered systems
  • Be able to design a solution relevant to land remediation or a landfill

Content

The following topics will be covered:

Flow of Water through Porous Media, is an important aspect in the design of many civil engineering structures such as retaining walls, caissons, excavation for foundations, etc. As it will be shown in the second part of the module, the same physical principles and mathematical concepts can be used to understand flow of heat in porous media, for example, in the design of energy piles or ground source heat pumps.

Contaminant Transport through Porous Media, is important to understand the presence of contaminants in the ground and how they are transported through various mechanisms and how they affect the properties of the soil. Equally disposal of waste of waste safely into well-engineered facilities is critical to minimise the environmental impact of the waste.

Groundwater, Seepage and Heat Flow in Granular media (8L)

  • Introduction
  • Concept of porous media and bulk properties.
  • Definitions of potential head, pressure head and pore pressure.
  • Groundwater flow and seepage
  • Theory of flownets
  • Anisotropic soils and flownets
  • Darcy's law and Hydraulic conductivity
  • Laboratory and in situ measurements
  • Seepage below concrete dams
  • Seepage through embankments and earth dams
  • Stability and seepage around excavations
  • Coffer dams and their stability
  • Fourier’s law and heat flow in porous media
  • Parallels between ground water flow and heat flow
  • Ground source heat pumps
  • Storage and extraction of heat from ground

Contaminated Land and transport of contaminants through ground (8L)

  • Introduction to contaminated land and contaminants in the geo-environment
  • Introduction to waste containment structures – landfills
  • The structure of clays
  • The clay-water interactions
  • The clay-water-contaminant interactions
  • The effect of contaminants on the geotechnical properties of soils
  • Mechanisms of contaminant transport
  • Fick’s law for diffusion in porous media, dispersion and sorption, Peclet’s number
  • Solving advection-dispersion equation, Error functions
  • Land remediation and waste containment design applications
  • Relevant case studies and project examples.

Coursework

Environmental Geotechnical Engineering

Learning objectives

  • Axi-Symmetric flow of ground water into a well boring
  • Axi-Symmetric heat flow in saturated soil

Practical information:

  • Sessions will take place in [ISG-88], during week(s) [2-6].
  • This activity [doesn't involve] preliminary work but read the lab handout prior to the lab session ([1 hr]).

Full Technical Report:

Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

UK-SPEC

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

GT1

Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

IA1

Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.

KU1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.

KU2

Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.

D1

Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.

S1

The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.

S3

Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.

S4

Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.

E1

Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.

E2

Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.

E3

Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.

E4

Understanding of and ability to apply a systems approach to engineering problems.

P1

A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.

P3

Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).

US1

A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.

US2

A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations.

US3

An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.

US4

An awareness of developing technologies related to own specialisation.

 
Last modified: 31/05/2024 07:29

Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D8: Building Physics & Environmental Geotechnics, 2018-19

Module Leader

Prof S P G Madabhushi

Lecturers

Prof S P G Madhabhushi and Dr R Choudhary

Lab Leader

Dr R Choudhary

Timing and Structure

Lent term. 16 lectures and Lab.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • Introduce the physics behind heat, liquid, and mass (air and moisture) transfer in materials,buildings, and energy systems and their interactions with outside environment, both air and ground.
  • Provide the foundational knowledge for understanding environmental characterstics of the built environment, with a focus on aspects important for structural durability and energy efficiency.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Understand the geotechnical environment.
  • Determine flow patterns in steady state groundwater seepage.
  • Evaluate potentials, pore water pressures, and flow quantities in the ground by constructing flow nets.
  • Analyze environmental behaviour of building components, such as heat flow rates, temperature variations (seasonal and diurnal).
  • Calculate steady state energy balance for a building to determine hearing, cooling and ventilation demand from auxillary systems.
  • Understand how choice of design and components influences the indoor environment and energy consumption of building.

Content

The following topics will be covered:

Flow of Water through Porous Media, which is an important aspect in the design of many civil engineering structures such as retaining walls, caissons, excavation for foundations, etc. As it will be shown in the second part of the module, the same physical principles and mathematical concepts can be used to understand flow of heat in porous media, for example, in the design of energy piles or ground source heat pumps.

Heat, air and moisture transfer across building elements: composite roofs and walls, surface-to-air, air gaps, ventilated spaces, transparent envelopes, and heat exchange between surfaces in a room; Heat exchange with ground will be covered for slab-on-grade, sub-surface structures, and ground-source heat exchangers.

The topics cover theoretical aspects of important energy flows through most common building elements, from foundations to the building envelope. This knowledge is also pre-requiste for learning simulation and modelling techniques for energy balance and environmental control systems of buildings.

Groundwater and Seepage (8L)

  • Introduction
  • Concept of porous media and bulk properties.
  • Definitions of potential head, pressure head and pore pressure.
  • Groundwater flow and seepage
  • Theory of flownets.
  • Darcy's law and Hydraulic conductivity
  • Laboratory and in-stu measurements

Heat, Air and Moisture Transfer through Building Elements (8L)

  • Conservation of energy, Fourier's laws, concept of steady state, periodic and transient.
  • Conduction: 1D heat flow through single and multi -layered structures, response to temperature variations, contact temperature between layers, network analysis.
  • Heat exchange with ground: examples of 2D and 3D heat flow between ground and building elements - pipes, slabs, sub-surfaces.
  • Radiation: reflectance, absorption and transmission; radiant surfaces and block bodies; heat gains from solar (short wave) radiation, long wave radiation exchange between 2 isothermal surfaces in enclosures.
  • Ventilation: Driving forces (wind, stack, mechanical), air exchange rates.
  • Infliteration: air through permeable materials, gaps, ventilated cavities, heat losses due to transmission and ventilation.
  • Moisture: Water vapour in air and relative humidity, characteristics of moist air, mold and surface condensation, moisture balance of building components and ventilated spaces.
  • combined Heat and Mass Transfer: exercised from practical scenarios.

Coursework

Building Physics and Environment Geotechnics

Learning objectives

  •  
  •  
  •  

Practical information:

  • Sessions will take place in [Location], during week(s) [xxx].
  • This activity [involves/doesn't involve] preliminary work ([estimated duration]).
  •  

Full Technical Report:

Students [will/won't] have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.

Booklists

Please see the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references for this module.

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

UK-SPEC

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

GT1

Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

IA1

Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.

KU1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.

KU2

Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.

D1

Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.

S1

The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.

S3

Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.

S4

Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.

E1

Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.

E2

Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.

E3

Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.

E4

Understanding of and ability to apply a systems approach to engineering problems.

P1

A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.

P3

Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).

US1

A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.

US2

A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations.

US3

An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.

US4

An awareness of developing technologies related to own specialisation.

 
Last modified: 15/05/2018 15:11

Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D8: Building Physics & Environmental Geotechnics, 2019-20

Module Leader

Prof S P G Madabhushi

Lecturers

Prof S P G Madhabhushi and Dr S Fitzgerald

Lab Leader

Prof S P G Madabhushi

Timing and Structure

Lent term. 16 lectures and Lab.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • Introduce the physics behind heat, liquid, and mass (air and moisture) transfer in materials,buildings, and energy systems and their interactions with outside environment, both air and ground.
  • Provide the foundational knowledge for understanding environmental characterstics of the built environment, with a focus on aspects important for structural durability and energy efficiency.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Understand the geotechnical environment.
  • Determine flow patterns in steady state groundwater seepage.
  • Evaluate potentials, pore water pressures, and flow quantities in the ground by constructing flow nets.
  • Analyze environmental behaviour of building components, such as heat flow rates, temperature variations (seasonal and diurnal).
  • Calculate steady state energy balance for a building to determine hearing, cooling and ventilation demand from auxillary systems.
  • Understand how choice of design and components influences the indoor environment and energy consumption of building.

Content

The following topics will be covered:

Flow of Water through Porous Media, which is an important aspect in the design of many civil engineering structures such as retaining walls, caissons, excavation for foundations, etc. As it will be shown in the second part of the module, the same physical principles and mathematical concepts can be used to understand flow of heat in porous media, for example, in the design of energy piles or ground source heat pumps.

Heat, air and moisture transfer across building elements: composite roofs and walls, surface-to-air, air gaps, ventilated spaces, transparent envelopes, and heat exchange between surfaces in a room; Heat exchange with ground will be covered for slab-on-grade, sub-surface structures, and ground-source heat exchangers.

The topics cover theoretical aspects of important energy flows through most common building elements, from foundations to the building envelope. This knowledge is also pre-requiste for learning simulation and modelling techniques for energy balance and environmental control systems of buildings.

Groundwater and Seepage (8L)

  • Introduction
  • Concept of porous media and bulk properties.
  • Definitions of potential head, pressure head and pore pressure.
  • Groundwater flow and seepage
  • Theory of flownets.
  • Darcy's law and Hydraulic conductivity
  • Laboratory and in-stu measurements

Heat, Air and Moisture Transfer through Building Elements (8L)

  • Conservation of energy, Fourier's laws, concept of steady state, periodic and transient.
  • Conduction: 1D heat flow through single and multi -layered structures, response to temperature variations, contact temperature between layers, network analysis.
  • Heat exchange with ground: examples of 2D and 3D heat flow between ground and building elements - pipes, slabs, sub-surfaces.
  • Radiation: reflectance, absorption and transmission; radiant surfaces and block bodies; heat gains from solar (short wave) radiation, long wave radiation exchange between 2 isothermal surfaces in enclosures.
  • Ventilation: Driving forces (wind, stack, mechanical), air exchange rates.
  • Infliteration: air through permeable materials, gaps, ventilated cavities, heat losses due to transmission and ventilation.
  • Moisture: Water vapour in air and relative humidity, characteristics of moist air, mold and surface condensation, moisture balance of building components and ventilated spaces.
  • combined Heat and Mass Transfer: exercised from practical scenarios.

Coursework

Building Physics and Environment Geotechnics

Learning objectives

  •  
  •  
  •  

Practical information:

  • Sessions will take place in [Location], during week(s) [xxx].
  • This activity [involves/doesn't involve] preliminary work ([estimated duration]).
  •  

Full Technical Report:

Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.

Booklists

Please see the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references for this module.

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

UK-SPEC

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

GT1

Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

IA1

Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.

KU1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.

KU2

Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.

D1

Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.

S1

The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.

S3

Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.

S4

Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.

E1

Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.

E2

Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.

E3

Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.

E4

Understanding of and ability to apply a systems approach to engineering problems.

P1

A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.

P3

Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).

US1

A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.

US2

A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations.

US3

An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.

US4

An awareness of developing technologies related to own specialisation.

 
Last modified: 29/10/2019 13:29

Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D8: Geo-Environmental Engineering, 2022-23

Module Leader

Prof S P G Madabhushi

Lecturers

Prof S P G Madhabhushi and Prof A Al-Tabbaa

Lab Leader

Prof S P G Madabhushi

Timing and Structure

Lent term. 16 lectures and Lab.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • The aim of the course is to introduce the transport processes of fluids, water and pollutants, in the porous media that constitute the geo-environment.
  • The module aims to address the factors that influence groundwater, heat and pollutant transport, practical and design applications and problems that might arise.
  • This course aims to introduce the students to the flow regimes that occur in porous media and ways to estimate the flow quantities using flownets.
  • Similarly heat flow through porous media is introduced drawing parallels with the groundwater flow.
  • Contaminant transport through porous media is another important aspect in geo-environmental engineering that is addressed in this module.
  • Practical ways to dispose waste into the ground, the effects the contaminants have on the host soil and necessary aspects of remediation of contaminated land will also considered.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Understand the geotechnical environment.
  • Determine flow patterns in steady state groundwater seepage.
  • Evaluate potentials, pore water pressures, and flow quantities in the ground by constructing flow nets.
  • Anisotropic soils and flow nets
  • Seepage below concrete dams
  • Seepage through embankment & earth dams
  • Excavations and seepage, Cofferdams and stability
  • Draw parallels between groundwater flow and heat flow in porous media
  • Develop necessary skills to estimate heat storage and extraction from ground
  • Introduction to contaminated soil and its remediation
  • Understand the soil properties that affect the geo-environment and vice versa
  • Develop an understanding of the interactions between soils and contaminants
  • Understand the effect of soil contamination on geotechnical properties
  • Develop an understanding of the fate and transport mechanisms of contaminants in the ground
  • Solving of Advection-Dispersion equation using error functions
  • Develop appreciation of the contaminated land/landfills environment
  • Understand disposal of waste into well-engineered systems
  • Be able to design a solution relevant to land remediation or a landfill

Content

The following topics will be covered:

Flow of Water through Porous Media, is an important aspect in the design of many civil engineering structures such as retaining walls, caissons, excavation for foundations, etc. As it will be shown in the second part of the module, the same physical principles and mathematical concepts can be used to understand flow of heat in porous media, for example, in the design of energy piles or ground source heat pumps.

Contaminant Transport through Porous Media, is important to understand the presence of contaminants in the ground and how they are transported through various mechanisms and how they affect the properties of the soil. Equally disposal of waste of waste safely into well-engineered facilities is critical to minimise the environmental impact of the waste.

Groundwater, Seepage and Heat Flow in Granular media (8L)

  • Introduction
  • Concept of porous media and bulk properties.
  • Definitions of potential head, pressure head and pore pressure.
  • Groundwater flow and seepage
  • Theory of flownets
  • Anisotropic soils and flownets
  • Darcy's law and Hydraulic conductivity
  • Laboratory and in situ measurements
  • Seepage below concrete dams
  • Seepage through embankments and earth dams
  • Stability and seepage around excavations
  • Coffer dams and their stability
  • Fourier’s law and heat flow in porous media
  • Parallels between ground water flow and heat flow
  • Ground source heat pumps
  • Storage and extraction of heat from ground

Contaminated Land and transport of contaminants through ground (8L)

  • Introduction to contaminated land and contaminants in the geo-environment
  • Introduction to waste containment structures – landfills
  • The structure of clays
  • The clay-water interactions
  • The clay-water-contaminant interactions
  • The effect of contaminants on the geotechnical properties of soils
  • Mechanisms of contaminant transport
  • Fick’s law for diffusion in porous media, dispersion and sorption, Peclet’s number
  • Solving advection-dispersion equation, Error functions
  • Land remediation and waste containment design applications
  • Relevant case studies and project examples.

Coursework

Environmental Geotechnical Engineering

Learning objectives

  • Axi-Symmetric flow of ground water into a well boring
  • Axi-Symmetric heat flow in saturated soil

Practical information:

  • Sessions will take place in [ISG-88], during week(s) [2-6].
  • This activity [doesn't involve] preliminary work but read the lab handout prior to the lab session ([1 hr]).

Full Technical Report:

Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

UK-SPEC

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

GT1

Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

IA1

Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.

KU1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.

KU2

Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.

D1

Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.

S1

The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.

S3

Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.

S4

Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.

E1

Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.

E2

Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.

E3

Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.

E4

Understanding of and ability to apply a systems approach to engineering problems.

P1

A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.

P3

Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).

US1

A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.

US2

A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations.

US3

An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.

US4

An awareness of developing technologies related to own specialisation.

 
Last modified: 24/05/2022 12:55

Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D8: Geo-Environmental Engineering, 2021-22

Module Leader

Prof S P G Madabhushi

Lecturers

Prof S P G Madhabhushi and Prof A Al-Tabbaa

Lab Leader

Prof S P G Madabhushi

Timing and Structure

Lent term. 16 lectures and Lab.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • The aim of the course is to introduce the transport processes of fluids, water and pollutants, in the porous media that constitute the geo-environment.
  • The module aims to address the factors that influence groundwater, heat and pollutant transport, practical and design applications and problems that might arise.
  • This course aims to introduce the students to the flow regimes that occur in porous media and ways to estimate the flow quantities using flownets.
  • Similarly heat flow through porous media is introduced drawing parallels with the groundwater flow.
  • Contaminant transport through porous media is another important aspect in geo-environmental engineering that is addressed in this module.
  • Practical ways to dispose waste into the ground, the effects the contaminants have on the host soil and necessary aspects of remediation of contaminated land will also considered.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Understand the geotechnical environment.
  • Determine flow patterns in steady state groundwater seepage.
  • Evaluate potentials, pore water pressures, and flow quantities in the ground by constructing flow nets.
  • Anisotropic soils and flow nets
  • Seepage below concrete dams
  • Seepage through embankment & earth dams
  • Excavations and seepage, Cofferdams and stability
  • Draw parallels between groundwater flow and heat flow in porous media
  • Develop necessary skills to estimate heat storage and extraction from ground
  • Introduction to contaminated soil and its remediation
  • Understand the soil properties that affect the geo-environment and vice versa
  • Develop an understanding of the interactions between soils and contaminants
  • Understand the effect of soil contamination on geotechnical properties
  • Develop an understanding of the fate and transport mechanisms of contaminants in the ground
  • Solving of Advection-Dispersion equation using error functions
  • Develop appreciation of the contaminated land/landfills environment
  • Understand disposal of waste into well-engineered systems
  • Be able to design a solution relevant to land remediation or a landfill

Content

The following topics will be covered:

Flow of Water through Porous Media, is an important aspect in the design of many civil engineering structures such as retaining walls, caissons, excavation for foundations, etc. As it will be shown in the second part of the module, the same physical principles and mathematical concepts can be used to understand flow of heat in porous media, for example, in the design of energy piles or ground source heat pumps.

Contaminant Transport through Porous Media, is important to understand the presence of contaminants in the ground and how they are transported through various mechanisms and how they affect the properties of the soil. Equally disposal of waste of waste safely into well-engineered facilities is critical to minimise the environmental impact of the waste.

Groundwater, Seepage and Heat Flow in Granular media (8L)

  • Introduction
  • Concept of porous media and bulk properties.
  • Definitions of potential head, pressure head and pore pressure.
  • Groundwater flow and seepage
  • Theory of flownets
  • Anisotropic soils and flownets
  • Darcy's law and Hydraulic conductivity
  • Laboratory and in situ measurements
  • Seepage below concrete dams
  • Seepage through embankments and earth dams
  • Stability and seepage around excavations
  • Coffer dams and their stability
  • Fourier’s law and heat flow in porous media
  • Parallels between ground water flow and heat flow
  • Ground source heat pumps
  • Storage and extraction of heat from ground

Contaminated Land and transport of contaminants through ground (8L)

  • Introduction to contaminated land and contaminants in the geo-environment
  • Introduction to waste containment structures – landfills
  • The structure of clays
  • The clay-water interactions
  • The clay-water-contaminant interactions
  • The effect of contaminants on the geotechnical properties of soils
  • Mechanisms of contaminant transport
  • Fick’s law for diffusion in porous media, dispersion and sorption, Peclet’s number
  • Solving advection-dispersion equation, Error functions
  • Land remediation and waste containment design applications
  • Relevant case studies and project examples.

Coursework

Environmental Geotechnical Engineering

Learning objectives

  • Axi-Symmetric flow of ground water into a well boring
  • Axi-Symmetric heat flow in saturated soil

Practical information:

  • Sessions will take place in [ISG-88], during week(s) [2-6].
  • This activity [doesn't involve] preliminary work but read the lab handout prior to the lab session ([1 hr]).

Full Technical Report:

Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

UK-SPEC

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

GT1

Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

IA1

Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.

KU1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.

KU2

Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.

D1

Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.

S1

The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.

S3

Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.

S4

Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.

E1

Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.

E2

Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.

E3

Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.

E4

Understanding of and ability to apply a systems approach to engineering problems.

P1

A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.

P3

Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).

US1

A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.

US2

A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations.

US3

An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.

US4

An awareness of developing technologies related to own specialisation.

 
Last modified: 27/07/2021 16:23

Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3C6: Vibration, 2018-19

Module Leader

Prof D Cebon

Lecturers

Prof D Cebon, Dr T Butlin

Lab Leader

Dr T Butlin

Timing and Structure

Lent term. Vibration of Continuous Systems: 1 lecture/week, weeks 1-8 Lent term (Dr T Butlin), Vibration of Lumped Systems: Rayleigh's method, 1 lecture/week, weeks 1-8 Lent term (Prof D Cebon). 16 lectures.

Prerequisites

3C5 useful (there is one particular result from the Lagrange section of 3C5 which will be quoted without proof)

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • Introduce the central ideas and tools for the analysis of small (linear) vibration in mechanical systems.
  • Introduce simple continuous systems which may be combined as components of larger systems.
  • Introduce the general approach to lumped systems via mass and stiffness matrices, and the resulting properties of vibration modes and their frequencies.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Derive the partial differential equations governing the forced or free motion of uniform one-dimensional systems.
  • Use these equations and appropriate boundary conditions to obtain vibration modes and natural frequencies.
  • Analyse continuous systems using modal methods.
  • Compute impulse and harmonic response by modal and direct methods.
  • Be able to derive the dispersion relation for wave propagation in 1D structures.
  • Understand that vibration can be expressed in terms of wave propagation or superposition of modes.
  • Calculate the response of a coupled system from a knowledge of the responses of the separate subsystems.
  • Apply Rayleigh's method to continuous systems.
  • Take advantage of the link between Lagrange's equations and small vibration.
  • Explain the concept of a vibration mode, and be able to find the modes and their natural frequencies by an eigenvector/eigenvaluecalculation.
  • Understand orthogonality of modes, modal damping, modal density and modal overlap factor.
  • Express the frequency response functions or the impulse response functions of a system in terms of the normal modes, and be familiar with the concepts of resonances and antiresonances.
  • Recognise and apply the reciprocal theorem for responses.
  • Use the stationary property of normal mode frequencies to estimate frequencies given assumed mode shapes, using minimisation with respect to any free parameters.

Content

This course aims to present a systematic approach to the study of small vibration of engineering components and structures. The course picks up where Part IA Linear Systems and Vibration left off. Concepts which were barely discussed (e.g. reciprocity and the orthogonality of vibration modes) are important for building up qualitative insights into vibration behaviour. Alongside the mathematical tools for quantitative analysis the course offers vital ingredients for an engineer's education.

Vibration of Continuous Systems (8L)

  • Vibration of strings; axial and transverse vibration of beams, torsional vibration of circular shafts; 1D acoustic vibration in a duct;
  • Modal analysis of simple systems; 
  • Electrical transmission line analogy of 1D mechanical wave propagation;
  • D'Alembert's solution;
  • Dispersion relation for travelling waves;
  • Response to impulse and harmonic excitation;
  • Transfer functions and the meaning of poles and zeros;
  • Coupling of systems;
  • Rayleigh's method for continuous systems.

Vibration of Lumped Systems (8L)

  • Application of Lagrange's equations to small vibrations; undamped vibration of systems with N degrees of freedom;
  • Matrix methods and modal analysis;
  • Response functions in frequency and time domains; properties of frequency-response functions; reciprocal theorems;
  • Modal damping and modal overlap;
  • Rayleigh's method for discrete systems.

Coursework

A data-logging and FFT analysis system is used to measure the frequency response of a vibrating system by three different methods, to compare their merits and disadvantages.

[Coursework]

Learning objectives

  • To investigate alternative methods of determining calibrated frequency response transfer functions of a mechanical vibrating system, using a digital measuring system;
  • To predict the response of a system from measured responses of its decoupled subsystems, and to compare with the measured response of the coupled system.

Practical information:

  • Sessions will take place in the South Wing Mechanics Laboratory, throughout Lent term.
  • This activity doesn't involve preliminary work.

Full Technical Report:

Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.

Booklists

Please see the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references for this module.

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

UK-SPEC

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

GT1

Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

IA1

Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.

KU1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.

KU2

Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.

E1

Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.

E2

Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.

E3

Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.

E4

Understanding of and ability to apply a systems approach to engineering problems.

P1

A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.

US1

A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.

US2

A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations.

 
Last modified: 01/06/2018 12:25

Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3C6: Vibration, 2022-23

Module Leader

Dr T Butlin

Lecturers

Prof D Cebon, Dr T Butlin

Lab Leader

Dr T Butlin

Timing and Structure

Lent term. Vibration of Continuous Systems: 1 lecture/week, weeks 1-8 Lent term (Dr T Butlin), Vibration of Lumped Systems: Rayleigh's method, 1 lecture/week, weeks 1-8 Lent term (Prof D Cebon). 16 lectures.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • Introduce the central ideas and tools for the analysis of small (linear) vibration in mechanical systems.
  • Introduce simple continuous systems which may be combined as components of larger systems.
  • Introduce the general approach to lumped systems via mass and stiffness matrices, and the resulting properties of vibration modes and their frequencies.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Derive the partial differential equations governing the forced or free motion of uniform one-dimensional systems.
  • Use these equations and appropriate boundary conditions to obtain vibration modes and natural frequencies.
  • Analyse continuous systems using modal methods.
  • Compute impulse and harmonic response by modal and direct methods.
  • Be able to derive the dispersion relation for wave propagation in 1D structures.
  • Understand that vibration can be expressed in terms of wave propagation or superposition of modes.
  • Calculate the response of a coupled system from a knowledge of the responses of the separate subsystems.
  • Apply Rayleigh's method to continuous systems.
  • Take advantage of the link between Lagrange's equations and small vibration.
  • Explain the concept of a vibration mode, and be able to find the modes and their natural frequencies by an eigenvector/eigenvaluecalculation.
  • Understand orthogonality of modes, modal damping, modal density and modal overlap factor.
  • Express the frequency response functions or the impulse response functions of a system in terms of the normal modes, and be familiar with the concepts of resonances and antiresonances.
  • Recognise and apply the reciprocal theorem for responses.
  • Use the stationary property of normal mode frequencies to estimate frequencies given assumed mode shapes, using minimisation with respect to any free parameters.

Content

This course aims to present a systematic approach to the study of small vibration of engineering components and structures. The course picks up where Part IA Linear Systems and Vibration left off. Concepts which were barely discussed (e.g. reciprocity and the orthogonality of vibration modes) are important for building up qualitative insights into vibration behaviour. Alongside the mathematical tools for quantitative analysis the course offers vital ingredients for an engineer's education.

Vibration of Continuous Systems (8L)

  • Vibration of strings; axial and transverse vibration of beams, torsional vibration of circular shafts; 1D acoustic vibration in a duct;
  • Modal analysis of simple systems; 
  • Electrical transmission line analogy of 1D mechanical wave propagation;
  • D'Alembert's solution;
  • Dispersion relation for travelling waves;
  • Response to impulse and harmonic excitation;
  • Transfer functions and the meaning of poles and zeros;
  • Coupling of systems;
  • Rayleigh's method for continuous systems.

Vibration of Lumped Systems (8L)

  • Application of Lagrange's equations to small vibrations; undamped vibration of systems with N degrees of freedom;
  • Matrix methods and modal analysis;
  • Response functions in frequency and time domains; properties of frequency-response functions; reciprocal theorems;
  • Modal damping and modal overlap;
  • Rayleigh's method for discrete systems.

Coursework

A data-logging and FFT analysis system is used to measure the frequency response of a vibrating system by three different methods, to compare their merits and disadvantages.

[Coursework]

Learning objectives

  • To investigate alternative methods of determining calibrated frequency response transfer functions of a mechanical vibrating system, using a digital measuring system;
  • To predict the response of a system from measured responses of its decoupled subsystems, and to compare with the measured response of the coupled system.

Practical information:

  • Sessions will take place in the South Wing Mechanics Laboratory, throughout Lent term.
  • This activity doesn't involve preliminary work.

Full Technical Report:

Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

UK-SPEC

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

GT1

Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

IA1

Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.

KU1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.

KU2

Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.

E1

Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.

E2

Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.

E3

Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.

E4

Understanding of and ability to apply a systems approach to engineering problems.

P1

A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.

US1

A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.

US2

A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations.

 
Last modified: 21/02/2023 15:01

Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3C6: Vibration, 2019-20

Module Leader

Dr T Butlin

Lecturers

Prof D Cebon, Dr T Butlin

Lab Leader

Dr T Butlin

Timing and Structure

Lent term. Vibration of Continuous Systems: 1 lecture/week, weeks 1-8 Lent term (Dr T Butlin), Vibration of Lumped Systems: Rayleigh's method, 1 lecture/week, weeks 1-8 Lent term (Prof D Cebon). 16 lectures.

Prerequisites

3C5 useful (there is one particular result from the Lagrange section of 3C5 which will be quoted without proof)

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • Introduce the central ideas and tools for the analysis of small (linear) vibration in mechanical systems.
  • Introduce simple continuous systems which may be combined as components of larger systems.
  • Introduce the general approach to lumped systems via mass and stiffness matrices, and the resulting properties of vibration modes and their frequencies.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Derive the partial differential equations governing the forced or free motion of uniform one-dimensional systems.
  • Use these equations and appropriate boundary conditions to obtain vibration modes and natural frequencies.
  • Analyse continuous systems using modal methods.
  • Compute impulse and harmonic response by modal and direct methods.
  • Be able to derive the dispersion relation for wave propagation in 1D structures.
  • Understand that vibration can be expressed in terms of wave propagation or superposition of modes.
  • Calculate the response of a coupled system from a knowledge of the responses of the separate subsystems.
  • Apply Rayleigh's method to continuous systems.
  • Take advantage of the link between Lagrange's equations and small vibration.
  • Explain the concept of a vibration mode, and be able to find the modes and their natural frequencies by an eigenvector/eigenvaluecalculation.
  • Understand orthogonality of modes, modal damping, modal density and modal overlap factor.
  • Express the frequency response functions or the impulse response functions of a system in terms of the normal modes, and be familiar with the concepts of resonances and antiresonances.
  • Recognise and apply the reciprocal theorem for responses.
  • Use the stationary property of normal mode frequencies to estimate frequencies given assumed mode shapes, using minimisation with respect to any free parameters.

Content

This course aims to present a systematic approach to the study of small vibration of engineering components and structures. The course picks up where Part IA Linear Systems and Vibration left off. Concepts which were barely discussed (e.g. reciprocity and the orthogonality of vibration modes) are important for building up qualitative insights into vibration behaviour. Alongside the mathematical tools for quantitative analysis the course offers vital ingredients for an engineer's education.

Vibration of Continuous Systems (8L)

  • Vibration of strings; axial and transverse vibration of beams, torsional vibration of circular shafts; 1D acoustic vibration in a duct;
  • Modal analysis of simple systems; 
  • Electrical transmission line analogy of 1D mechanical wave propagation;
  • D'Alembert's solution;
  • Dispersion relation for travelling waves;
  • Response to impulse and harmonic excitation;
  • Transfer functions and the meaning of poles and zeros;
  • Coupling of systems;
  • Rayleigh's method for continuous systems.

Vibration of Lumped Systems (8L)

  • Application of Lagrange's equations to small vibrations; undamped vibration of systems with N degrees of freedom;
  • Matrix methods and modal analysis;
  • Response functions in frequency and time domains; properties of frequency-response functions; reciprocal theorems;
  • Modal damping and modal overlap;
  • Rayleigh's method for discrete systems.

Coursework

A data-logging and FFT analysis system is used to measure the frequency response of a vibrating system by three different methods, to compare their merits and disadvantages.

[Coursework]

Learning objectives

  • To investigate alternative methods of determining calibrated frequency response transfer functions of a mechanical vibrating system, using a digital measuring system;
  • To predict the response of a system from measured responses of its decoupled subsystems, and to compare with the measured response of the coupled system.

Practical information:

  • Sessions will take place in the South Wing Mechanics Laboratory, throughout Lent term.
  • This activity doesn't involve preliminary work.

Full Technical Report:

Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.

Booklists

Please see the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references for this module.

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

UK-SPEC

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

GT1

Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

IA1

Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.

KU1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.

KU2

Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.

E1

Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.

E2

Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.

E3

Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.

E4

Understanding of and ability to apply a systems approach to engineering problems.

P1

A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.

US1

A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.

US2

A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations.

 
Last modified: 15/05/2019 09:49

Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3C6: Vibration, 2020-21

Module Leader

Dr T Butlin

Lecturers

Prof D Cebon, Dr T Butlin

Lab Leader

Dr T Butlin

Timing and Structure

Lent term. Vibration of Continuous Systems: 1 lecture/week, weeks 1-8 Lent term (Dr T Butlin), Vibration of Lumped Systems: Rayleigh's method, 1 lecture/week, weeks 1-8 Lent term (Prof D Cebon). 16 lectures.

Prerequisites

3C5 useful (there is one particular result from the Lagrange section of 3C5 which will be quoted without proof)

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • Introduce the central ideas and tools for the analysis of small (linear) vibration in mechanical systems.
  • Introduce simple continuous systems which may be combined as components of larger systems.
  • Introduce the general approach to lumped systems via mass and stiffness matrices, and the resulting properties of vibration modes and their frequencies.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Derive the partial differential equations governing the forced or free motion of uniform one-dimensional systems.
  • Use these equations and appropriate boundary conditions to obtain vibration modes and natural frequencies.
  • Analyse continuous systems using modal methods.
  • Compute impulse and harmonic response by modal and direct methods.
  • Be able to derive the dispersion relation for wave propagation in 1D structures.
  • Understand that vibration can be expressed in terms of wave propagation or superposition of modes.
  • Calculate the response of a coupled system from a knowledge of the responses of the separate subsystems.
  • Apply Rayleigh's method to continuous systems.
  • Take advantage of the link between Lagrange's equations and small vibration.
  • Explain the concept of a vibration mode, and be able to find the modes and their natural frequencies by an eigenvector/eigenvaluecalculation.
  • Understand orthogonality of modes, modal damping, modal density and modal overlap factor.
  • Express the frequency response functions or the impulse response functions of a system in terms of the normal modes, and be familiar with the concepts of resonances and antiresonances.
  • Recognise and apply the reciprocal theorem for responses.
  • Use the stationary property of normal mode frequencies to estimate frequencies given assumed mode shapes, using minimisation with respect to any free parameters.

Content

This course aims to present a systematic approach to the study of small vibration of engineering components and structures. The course picks up where Part IA Linear Systems and Vibration left off. Concepts which were barely discussed (e.g. reciprocity and the orthogonality of vibration modes) are important for building up qualitative insights into vibration behaviour. Alongside the mathematical tools for quantitative analysis the course offers vital ingredients for an engineer's education.

Vibration of Continuous Systems (8L)

  • Vibration of strings; axial and transverse vibration of beams, torsional vibration of circular shafts; 1D acoustic vibration in a duct;
  • Modal analysis of simple systems; 
  • Electrical transmission line analogy of 1D mechanical wave propagation;
  • D'Alembert's solution;
  • Dispersion relation for travelling waves;
  • Response to impulse and harmonic excitation;
  • Transfer functions and the meaning of poles and zeros;
  • Coupling of systems;
  • Rayleigh's method for continuous systems.

Vibration of Lumped Systems (8L)

  • Application of Lagrange's equations to small vibrations; undamped vibration of systems with N degrees of freedom;
  • Matrix methods and modal analysis;
  • Response functions in frequency and time domains; properties of frequency-response functions; reciprocal theorems;
  • Modal damping and modal overlap;
  • Rayleigh's method for discrete systems.

Coursework

A data-logging and FFT analysis system is used to measure the frequency response of a vibrating system by three different methods, to compare their merits and disadvantages.

[Coursework]

Learning objectives

  • To investigate alternative methods of determining calibrated frequency response transfer functions of a mechanical vibrating system, using a digital measuring system;
  • To predict the response of a system from measured responses of its decoupled subsystems, and to compare with the measured response of the coupled system.

Practical information:

  • Sessions will take place in the South Wing Mechanics Laboratory, throughout Lent term.
  • This activity doesn't involve preliminary work.

Full Technical Report:

Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

UK-SPEC

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

GT1

Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

IA1

Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.

KU1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.

KU2

Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.

E1

Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.

E2

Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.

E3

Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.

E4

Understanding of and ability to apply a systems approach to engineering problems.

P1

A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.

US1

A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.

US2

A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations.

 
Last modified: 28/08/2020 10:59

Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3C6: Vibration, 2021-22

Module Leader

Prof D. Cebon

Lecturers

Prof D Cebon, Prof R.S. Langley

Lab Leader

Prof D. Cebon

Timing and Structure

Lent term. Vibration of Continuous Systems: 1 lecture/week, weeks 1-8 Lent term (Dr T Butlin), Vibration of Lumped Systems: Rayleigh's method, 1 lecture/week, weeks 1-8 Lent term (Prof D Cebon). 16 lectures.

Prerequisites

3C5 useful (there is one particular result from the Lagrange section of 3C5 which will be quoted without proof)

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

  • Introduce the central ideas and tools for the analysis of small (linear) vibration in mechanical systems.
  • Introduce simple continuous systems which may be combined as components of larger systems.
  • Introduce the general approach to lumped systems via mass and stiffness matrices, and the resulting properties of vibration modes and their frequencies.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Derive the partial differential equations governing the forced or free motion of uniform one-dimensional systems.
  • Use these equations and appropriate boundary conditions to obtain vibration modes and natural frequencies.
  • Analyse continuous systems using modal methods.
  • Compute impulse and harmonic response by modal and direct methods.
  • Be able to derive the dispersion relation for wave propagation in 1D structures.
  • Understand that vibration can be expressed in terms of wave propagation or superposition of modes.
  • Calculate the response of a coupled system from a knowledge of the responses of the separate subsystems.
  • Apply Rayleigh's method to continuous systems.
  • Take advantage of the link between Lagrange's equations and small vibration.
  • Explain the concept of a vibration mode, and be able to find the modes and their natural frequencies by an eigenvector/eigenvaluecalculation.
  • Understand orthogonality of modes, modal damping, modal density and modal overlap factor.
  • Express the frequency response functions or the impulse response functions of a system in terms of the normal modes, and be familiar with the concepts of resonances and antiresonances.
  • Recognise and apply the reciprocal theorem for responses.
  • Use the stationary property of normal mode frequencies to estimate frequencies given assumed mode shapes, using minimisation with respect to any free parameters.

Content

This course aims to present a systematic approach to the study of small vibration of engineering components and structures. The course picks up where Part IA Linear Systems and Vibration left off. Concepts which were barely discussed (e.g. reciprocity and the orthogonality of vibration modes) are important for building up qualitative insights into vibration behaviour. Alongside the mathematical tools for quantitative analysis the course offers vital ingredients for an engineer's education.

Vibration of Continuous Systems (8L)

  • Vibration of strings; axial and transverse vibration of beams, torsional vibration of circular shafts; 1D acoustic vibration in a duct;
  • Modal analysis of simple systems; 
  • Electrical transmission line analogy of 1D mechanical wave propagation;
  • D'Alembert's solution;
  • Dispersion relation for travelling waves;
  • Response to impulse and harmonic excitation;
  • Transfer functions and the meaning of poles and zeros;
  • Coupling of systems;
  • Rayleigh's method for continuous systems.

Vibration of Lumped Systems (8L)

  • Application of Lagrange's equations to small vibrations; undamped vibration of systems with N degrees of freedom;
  • Matrix methods and modal analysis;
  • Response functions in frequency and time domains; properties of frequency-response functions; reciprocal theorems;
  • Modal damping and modal overlap;
  • Rayleigh's method for discrete systems.

Coursework

A data-logging and FFT analysis system is used to measure the frequency response of a vibrating system by three different methods, to compare their merits and disadvantages.

[Coursework]

Learning objectives

  • To investigate alternative methods of determining calibrated frequency response transfer functions of a mechanical vibrating system, using a digital measuring system;
  • To predict the response of a system from measured responses of its decoupled subsystems, and to compare with the measured response of the coupled system.

Practical information:

  • Sessions will take place in the South Wing Mechanics Laboratory, throughout Lent term.
  • This activity doesn't involve preliminary work.

Full Technical Report:

Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

Examination Guidelines

Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.

UK-SPEC

This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:

Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.

GT1

Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

IA1

Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.

KU1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.

KU2

Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.

E1

Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.

E2

Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.

E3

Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.

E4

Understanding of and ability to apply a systems approach to engineering problems.

P1

A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.

US1

A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.

US2

A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations.

 
Last modified: 20/05/2021 07:36

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