Product category:
Condition monitoring and vibration analysis
News Release from: Reactec | Subject: RT440
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 September 2005
Reactec bridges the gap with vibration
analysis
A unique new bridge design has benefited from a vibration measuring tool developed by Reactec, the leading UK provider of consultancy, products and services for vibration reduction
A unique new bridge design has benefited from a vibration measuring tool developed by Reactec, the UK's leading provider of consultancy, products and services for vibration reduction The bridge over the river Forth near Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire, is built entirely of wood and is able to reach distances previously unobtainable from a wooden construction in a single span of 20m
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 12 Sep 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Industry ill-prepared for vibration regulations
Most of British industry has failed to take adequate steps to prepare for upcoming health and safety regulations relating to use of vibrating machinery or equipment
Able Instruments to supply new Buzzard development
Able Instruments and Controls have been awarded the contracts to supply miscellaneous nucleonic level controls and allocation metering to the Buzzard field development in the North Sea
Applied Weighing lightens loads for Castle Cement
Applied Weighing, the UK's leading manufacturer of weighing systems, has developed an innovative control and instrumentation system for the UK's second largest cement producers, Castle Cement
It has been built using a technique called mechanical stress lamination of timber to form arches, developed by Geoff Freedman, head of design, Forestry Commission Civil Engineering, based in Peebles.
One of the key concerns was the impact of vibration on the integrity of the structure.
On the infamous Millennium Bridge in London, the pedestrians' motion matched the "natural frequency" of the bridge producing resonance and reflection causing it to sway.
If this happens the whole structure starts to rock and can become unstable and even break.
Geoff started to look for a way to measure the natural frequency to make sure problems this did not happen to his bridges.
The solution came from Edinburgh-based Reactec who have developed a hand-held vibration measuring device - the RT440 - in conjunction with Diagnostic Instruments.
The RT440 provides a complete solution to the problem of measuring and analysing vibration level.
"The RT440 gives me the ability to check vibration levels against recorded standards and analyse readings on the spot," said Geoff.
"The fact that it is battery-powered means it can be used for a whole day in the field without needing to be recharged.
I was astonished that someone with such a fantastic device was so close! Vibration analysis is now at the forefront of bridge design and assessment of existing bridges.
New techniques use vibration fingerprints to assess structural integrity".
Mark-Paul Buckingham, managing director, Reactec, said: "We are very excited to add bridges to a growing list of applications using vibration technology.
Many products and processes can be made more efficient with vibration management.
However, it can be so case-specific that we often rely on people like Geoff to approach us first to look at new applications".
For further information about Reactec and the RT440 please visit the website or phone for information.
• Reactec: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
