MRI: Acquisition of a Vibration Measurement System for Enhancement of Research and Education at Saint Louis University

这一重大研究仪器(MRI)项目支持购买最先进的振动测量系统，以支持工程和生物学的基础研究和教育。该仪器将使研究人员能够对振动如何在复杂环境中传播有一个基本的了解，从而导致改进的人机界面、更高效的可再生能源和基于超声波的新治疗策略。该仪器将促进30名教职员工和学生以及与行业合作伙伴之间的跨学科研究合作。该仪器将被整合到课程和实验室中，并将加强针对K-12学生和代表性不足的少数族裔的外联活动。这些研究将支持开发复杂系统中的振动传播模型，以及以新的方式使用振动的技术的开发。这些项目将获得关于跨越尺寸、规模和材料特性的结构的高分辨率、非接触、全场数据：从微观到更大的振幅，从短到长，从低频到高频，以及通过不同的介质。这些数据将使研究人员能够开发更好的模型，以了解(1)与表面触觉技术相关的超声波振动；(2)昆虫和蜘蛛类动物的振动交流；(3)超声波与多孔结构之间的物理相互作用以促进骨骼愈合；以及(4)受自然启发的风力涡轮机叶片的新设计。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) project supports the acquisition of a state-of-the-art vibration measurement system to enable fundamental research and education in engineering and biology. The instrumentation will enable researchers to develop a fundamental understanding of how vibrations propagate in complex environments, leading to enhanced man-machine interfaces, more efficient renewable energy sources and new ultrasound-based therapeutic strategies. The instrumentation will catalyze interdisciplinary research collaborations among thirty faculty, staff and students and with industrial partners. The instrumentation will be integrated into coursework and labs and will enhance outreach activities for K-12 students and underrepresented minorities. These investigations will support the development of models for vibration propagation through complex systems and the development of technologies that use vibrations in novel ways. The projects will acquire high-resolution, non-contact, full-field data on structures that span size, scale, and material properties: from microscopic to larger amplitude, from short to long range, from low to high frequencies, and through varying mediums. These data will enable researchers to develop better models to understand (1) ultrasonic vibrations as it relates to surface haptic technologies; (2) vibrational communication in insects and arachnids; (3) insights into physical interactions between ultrasound and porous structures for bone healing; and (4) new designs for nature-inspired wind turbine blades.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.