A non-intrusive laser doppler interferometer for measuring vibratory motion of mechanical components and a computer-based data acquisition and analysis system will be used to initiate a research laboratory at UCLA dedicated to the development of analytical and experimental techniques for the investigation of machine dynamics, and the analysis and control of noise and vibration in electro-mechanical systems. For its first application, the instrumentation will be used as part of a fully coordinated experimental and theoretical effort to study the modal and self-excited vibration phenomenon of a magnetic head suspension system in a high-performance floppy disk drive. Future applications will be related to the investigation of chatter vibration experienced in high-precision manufacturing processes.
