Main research topics in the Vibrations Department

The Vibrations Department is divided into the following main areas of research:

In the field of SHM, research is being carried out on the combination,  application, and further development of vibration-based global SHM algorithms, which are applicable to measured data on rotor blades,  supporting structures of wind turbines, or civil engineering structures. Essential requirements for all methods are robustness and modularity, as well as considering uncertainties to make a probabilistic statement about the condition of the monitored structure possible.

The group was established to harness the power of cutting-edge machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques, both in their application and in advancing the underlying theory to achieve state-of-the-art performance. The group's research focuses on the application of data-driven methods across various domains, including structural health monitoring of engineering and composite structures. Key areas of interest include fault detection, predictive maintenance, time series prediction, data augmentation, sensor data fusion, and signal processing.

In acoustics, current research focuses on the investigation of atmospheric and topographic conditions on the sound propagation due to operating wind turbines. To this end, numerical forecast models as well as experimental concepts, based on extensive measurements, are being developed to validate both complex numerical models and analytical approaches.

The development of efficient parameterized simulation models for complex structures under acceptable calculation times is a special challenge from a scientific point of view. In the working group main focus lies in the development of deterministic models and analyses for aero-elastic structures with different nonlinearities and interactions, which use energy-, linear and angular momentum-preserving time integration methods. Both the investigated and developed methods are being implemented into the inhouse-code DeSiO (Design and Simulation Framework for Offshore Support Structures), which is based on multi body systems and the Finite Element method. 

The research group Model Update focuses on the localization and quantification of damage in structures using model-based structural health monitoring methods. In particular, the consideration of uncertainties in optimization methods is examined to achieve more accurate and reliable results, which aim to improve the reliability and safety, as well as to extend the lifespan, of buildings.