Brüel & Kjær supports ISVR Advanced Acoustic Training

Sound and vibration expert, Brüel & Kjær are supporting the Institute of Sound & Vibration Research (ISVR) 2011 Advanced Course.

ISVR's Advanced Course consists of a three-day core element, which is preceded by an optional two-day refresher in the principles of vibration and acoustics. Following completion of the refresher segment, attendees then select their training schedule from a choice of three, specialist areas including Noise Control, Structural Dynamics and Aeroacoustics.

The Noise Control course outlines the underlying principles of noise control, examines the character of noise in some key applications - and discusses how noise may be reduced by design or through palliative treatment. It's divided into three sections entitled Basic principles, Techniques and Applications & Case Histories.

Structural Dynamics helps delegates to fully appreciate the nature of structural dynamics and provides an overview of the potential and applicability of some measurement and analysis techniques. It includes a series of presentations and a half-day, hands-on laboratory session.

The Advanced Course for Aeroacoustics provides a sound practical basis for acousticians and engineers working at an advanced level within areas such as turbomachinery noise, aerodynamically generated noise in ducts and air moving systems, noise generated by unsteady flow over airframes and motor vehicles and noise generated by unsteady turbulent mixing in jets and wakes.

All of the training sessions will be held between 12th and 16th September at the University of Southampton's Highfield campus.

Further information and registration details can be found at the ISVR website: www.isvr.co.uk/courses/index.htm

Bruel & Kjaer gains environmental ISO 14001 certification:
International standards on environmental management

Bruel & Kjaer Royston - commonly associated with the colour green due to the colour of its instruments - is now officially greener, as the company has become ISO 14001 certified.

ISO 14001 is a series of international standards on environmental management - and the ISO 14001 part specifies a system of Environmental Management controls against which an organisation can be certified, as accredited, by a third party. Bruel & Kjaer's Royston site, which includes LDS Test & Measurement Ltd, was successfully certified against this system by the BSI.

As a result of implementing ISO 14001, Brüel & Kjær's UK operations are committed to being environmentally responsible in order to meet legal requirements and those from its customers.

The company will meet its environmental objectives using specified strategies, which includes managing its resources to minimise raw material usage, correctly disposing of waste, reducing harmful emissions and promote energy conservation and recycling. Where possible, Bruel & Kjaer Royston will use components, materials or substances that are less harmful to the environment and raise this awareness amongst its employees, to enable them to carry out their work with the same consideration.

Brüel & Kjaer's Head of Operations (UK) Andrew Turner said: "We are delighted to achieve this accreditation and join our Naerum facility, which has been ISO 14001 compliant since 2009. These changes, implemented at our UK site in Royston, means that our facility for manufacturing and servicing shakers - and our calibration laboratory - are now fully 14001 compliant."

"Brüel & Kjaer recognises the principle of sustainable development and has consequently established a system with the purpose of managing all significant environmental aspects of activities, products and services - and thereby controlling environmental impact from our activities, preventing pollution, continually improving the overall environmental performance and encouraging our suppliers to do the same."

In order to retain the ISO 14001 certification, a yearly review will be carried out by top management of the company's environmental performance and improvements.

For more information, e-mail: ukinfo@bksv.com 

University of Windsor establishes Wind
and Renewable Energies Research Centre

The University of Windsor recently signed an agreement with Brüel & Kjær - the world's oldest and largest manufacturer and supplier of sound and vibration measurement apparatus - to establish North America's first Wind and Renewable Energies Centre of Expertise (WRECE) in the Centre for Engineering Innovation.

The agreement, signed jointly by University of Windsor President Alan Wildeman and Grahame Clinch, Global Key Account Director for Brüel & Kjær, will provide $1.4 million in research equipment to University of Windsor's Noise Vibration and Harshness-Sound Quality Group (NVH-SQ), led by Assistant Professor Colin Novak. A graduate level course using the equipment has already been developed and will be taught this summer.

The centre will be located in the Industrial Courtyard of the University of Windsor's $112 million Centre for Engineering Innovation, currently under construction - the University's largest capital project to date. WRECE and Brüel & Kjær will jointly be the Industrial Courtyard's first occupants and will move into their new space later this year.

Equipment will include a large-scale wind turbine model and supporting software for teaching and research that will allow the group to study wind turbine noise and sound power, as well as design and vibration testing of turbine components.

"We have had an excellent partnership with the University of Windsor, working closely with Dr. Novak and the NVH-SQ group to provide the engineering faculty with access to the latest NVH technologies for both advanced education and application to industrial projects," says Alan Humphrey, Vice-President of Global Sales for Brüel & Kjær. "When combined with the expertise available from the University of Windsor, I believe we will achieve major research advancements while being mutually beneficial to both partners."

Dr. Novak says because wind turbines are now an integral part of the landscape and an important source of future power generation, ongoing research on noise, vibration and efficiency is essential.

"If we carefully monitor the vibration and noise wind turbines generate we are well-positioned to minimise their impact on people. Wind energy is a constantly evolving technology that will have an impact on the lives of everyone - not just in our immediate community but around the world."
Novak adds that advanced study of the turbines' gearboxes and blades will also be part of the research.

Once completed, the Industrial Courtyard will provide a venue for companies, researchers and students to work together to test ideas, solve problems and develop strategies for translating research into commercially viable processes.

"Our international relationship with Brüel & Kjær and the research opportunities it will present for our students makes it an ideal first occupant of the new Industrial Courtyard," says University of Windsor President Alan Wildeman. "With the new Centre for Engineering Innovation, the University of Windsor is uniquely positioned to provide an outstanding research environment, linking industry with the innovative ideas of our faculty and students."

Lars Rønn, Managing Director of Brüel & Kjær, says: "I am delighted to have this opportunity to offer my congratulations to The University of Windsor on the launch of the Wind and Renewable Energies Research Center.  The University of Windsor and Brüel & Kjær have a long-standing, highly successful and mutually beneficial relationship. Renewable energy has a strong global focus, for example, with offshore and land-based wind turbine installations, and this is recognised by us as an important industry segment".

Lars continues: "This cooperation with The University of Windsor complements our cutting edge research in providing high value and sustainable sound and vibration solutions for the wind turbine industry, which also includes the development of effective noise management applications."

Founded in 1963, the University of Windsor has close to 16,000 full-time and part-time students. The University of Windsor's mission is to enable people to make a better world through education, scholarship, research and engagement. For further information, view website: www.bksv.com or e-mail: heather.wilkins@bksv.com 

High-pressure surface microphones

Brüel & Kjær has been selected by Dassault Aviation to provide high-pressure surface microphones for the development of the nEUROn experimental Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV).

Led by France's Dassault Aviation, the nEUROn is an experimental UCAV demonstrator being developed with the international cooperation of six European countries. Dassault chose Brüel & Kjær to supply high-pressure versions of their surface microphones to conduct flight test measurements.

Surface microphones provide information about the true pressure load on components during flight. The microphones are typically flush-mounted on flat and curved surfaces, for example on aircraft fuselages. They must be capable of withstanding both high pressures and the harsh environments experienced during in-flight measurements. Importantly, the microphones must be able to perform in the presence of high velocity airflow, whilst producing minimal wind-generated noise.

For further information, view website: www.bksv.com or e-mail: heather.wilkins@bksv.com  Refer to page 157