Students should be familiar with structural dynamics, modal analysis and numerical methods. Familiarity with Python programming is a plus. The knowledge of MATLAB is also welcome.

To provide students in civil engineering (but not only) with the basic concepts of structural dynamics, both in terms of modeling and at the experimental and numerical levels : metrology, modal analysis, damping, and software to extract natural frequencies and vibration modes.

This course is an introduction to the world of structural vibrations. It covers how the effects of these vibrations, which are generally harmful to structures, can be reduced using passive damping devices.

Monday 16 November : Foundation of the Structural Dynamics

- Morning : Modal analysis – Review on vibration modes; The damping (1DoF system) - Peak-picking and Half-power bandwidth methods; Flexural vibrations of straight beams

- Afternoon : Sensors for vibration measurement –Fourier Analysis; Digital signal processing of measurements via Fourier transform; Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) – Principle

Tuesday 17 November : Lab Session: Vibrations of laboratory structures

- Morning : Vibration sensors: accelerometers and impact hammer; Instrumentation and calibration; Setting up the data acquisition chain

- Afternoon : Experiment 1: Cantilever beam testing; Experiment 2: Vibration based structural health monitoring applied to a cantilever beam and truss structures (Matlab); Wrap-up of the experiments demonstration + a 10–15 minute online quiz.

Wednesday 18 November : Numerical methods for assessing the dynamic response of structures

- Morning : Theory & demonstration with examples using OpenSees software (written in Python)

- Afternoon : Continuation and wrap-up of the OpenSees demonstration examples + Workshop dedicated to the preparation of oral presentations

Thursday 19 November : New approaches for processing the dynamic responses of structures

- Morning : Continuous wavelet Transform & Cauchy Pauk wavelet

- Afternoon : Application to feature-based bridge fingerprinting from vibration signatures + Oral presentation workshop

Friday 20 November :

- Morning : Damping and seismic isolation devices in civil engineering structures : an industrial perspective for Nuclear Power Plants

- Afternoon : Vibrations from the perspective of a young engineer in a consulting firm (EGIS)

Mix of :

- oral participation during the week,

- performance during the practical lab session,

- a 10-15 min online quiz

- an oral presentation prepared throughout the week