Statistical Descriptors in Vibration Data

Last month, I gave a talk at ESTECH 17 to present some of the core ideas behind the "temporally-informed" techniques for developing meaningful environmental vibration datasets. Here are some excerpts from that discussion about using statistical descriptors in evaluating micro-vibration environments.

I've previously discussed temporal vibration survey methods and the interesting -- and very useful -- statistical perspectives that can be extracted from well-crafted datasets. Now, these methods are being drafted into IEST's recommended-practices document for vibration evaluations in critical environments like laboratories.

I think this is very valuable, because there are myriad ways that temporal effects have been under-appreciated -- with regard to both risks as well as opportunities.

Reproducibility vs. Vibration and Noise Impacts in Animal Labs

Nature’s LabAnimal journal has published an interesting collection of articles regarding experimental reproducibility in animal models. Unsurprisingly, confounding stressors like noise and vibration figure into the discussion. This is precisely Vibrasure's goal for design and monitoring in laboratory facilities: to minimize confounding variables, reduce the number of animals and time required to obtain good data, and improve animal welfare.

How instrument criteria are developed: regimes of interference

How instrument criteria are developed: regimes of interference

In a previous post, we wrote about how realistic laboratory vibration criteria for sensitive tools like electron microscopes could be developed from data relating performance to vibration level. Having real data is important for both customers and consultants, since non-physical criteria aren’t helpful to anyone. In this post, we discuss where a useful criterion might fall on that curve.

How instrument criteria are developed: “error-vs-vibration”

How instrument criteria are developed: “error-vs-vibration”

Many laboratory instruments are exquisitely sensitive to “energetic contaminants” like vibration, noise, and electromagnetic interference. It’s not always easy reading and interpreting these criteria; they’re sometimes confusing even to vibration consultants. But to be honest, it’s not easy developing them, either. So, where do these criteria come from, and what do they mean? We explore more in this blog post.

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Building vibration: mechanical systems vibration isolation

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Machine vibration isolation schemes fail for all kinds of reasons, ranging from conceptual problems to bad hardware selections to poor installation. So, how can you tell if mechanical systems' isolators are working? A formal test is expensive and requires a lot of planning and coordination. Here, Vibrasure has produced a video on a easy way to tell if the isolators are working.

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Floor vibration: here's what different walker speeds look like

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A Vibrasure produced video on floor vibration and walker speed. It turns out that pace is by far the most-important parameter in predicting walker-generated floor vibrations. So, how fast do people really walk in buildings, anyway?