Mira opens UK's first centre for 3D laser vibration measurement

Centre will help customers develop engineering solutions to tackle vibration and noise

 
The University of Leicester and Mira have opened a £2.5 million Advanced Structural Dynamics Evaluation Centre (ASDEC) – the UK’s first commercial robotised 3D scanning laser vibration measurement and modal analysis centre.

The centre, located at Mira Technology Park near Hinckley, has been developed by the University of Leicester and funded by grants from the government’s Regional Growth Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.

ASDEC offers full structural dynamics service covering vibration testing, modal analysis processing and CAE correlation.  

The project has been led by Professor Sarah Hainsworth from the university’s Department of Engineering and Anjuu Trevedi of the Enterprise and Business Development office. 

Professor Hainsworth said: “The project delivers a key research capability to industry to allow customers to use state-of-the-art technology to deliver innovative engineering solutions to problems of vibration and noise.” 

The centre's fully robotised 3D Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer enables high-speed and high-density vibration measurements without any loss of accuracy. The non-contact measurement technique removes all observer effects increasing accuracy. 

Tim Stubbs, general manager at ASDEC, added: “The centre works in synergy with industry’s requirement for reducing time to market for new products. We provide advanced structural dynamics testing and analysis in a significantly shorter timeframe compared with traditional methods. Our processes slot into industry Product Lifecycle Management systems closing the loop between physical prototype structural testing and upfront virtual engineering.”

Since 2010, Mira Technology Park has created more than 300 technology-related jobs as a result of the development. The aim is to create a total of 2,000 jobs in the technology park by 2020 and house businesses from across the global automotive, aerospace, rail, defence and associated digital technology sectors.