Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton

Knowledge and understanding
Having successfully completed the module, you will

• be able to represent first and second order systems in generalised form.
• understand how instability arises in feedback systems
• have an awareness of poles, zeros and convolution
• understand the different physical principles used in transducers
• have some familiarity with the most commonly used types of sound and vibration sensors and actuators.

Cognitive (thinking) skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able

• To think in terms of a system and understand the strengths and limitations of engineering models
• To select actuators and sensors through an understanding of the main trade-offs.

Practical, subject specific skills
The most important outcome is that students will have developed a way of looking at systems that is different from the traditional approaches in Physics and Mathematics in schools. This introduction is vital for the courses in control and signal processing that follow in the 2nd and 3rd years.

The aims of this module are to:

• introduce the student to a unified approach to the treatment of complex "systems" (mechanical, electrical, electronics, biological, etc) that is intended to guide the students into thinking of the integration of a variety of dynamic behaviour under a common mathematical framework.


• emphasise the importance of taking measurements of physical quantities in systems


• introduce the physical principles of transducers with particular reference to acoustics and vibration

The concept of a system is likely to be new to a University entrant. The objective is to ensure students have a familiarity with the language and meaning of linear systems in the time and transform domains. They should develop the ability to use and interpret the mathematical procedures. The familiarity with transducer principles and applications will show the applicability of the system theory.

Systems (12 lectures)

• Examples of systems
  
• Linearity, superposition, time invariance


• General first and second order systems


• Complex frequency response
·

• Feedback systems, instability


• Transfer function, introduction to poles and zeros


• Impulse response, introduction to convolution

Transducers (12 lectures)

• Physical quantities and the relationship to electrical presentations.
Types of transducers used for input to and output from systems in the field of acoustics and vibration.

• Reversible and non-reversible transducers.


• Use in practical applications such as reproduced sound systems.


• Resistive transducers, strain gauge.


• Piezoelectric transducers - microphone, accelerometer.


• Electro-dynamic transducers - moving coil microphone and loudspeaker.


• Capacitive transducers - condenser microphone, electrostatic loudspeaker.


• Optical transducers - photo detectors, laser velocimeter.


• Recording systems - digital and analogue tape, hard disc, etc.


• Acoustic and vibration measurement and instrumentation systems.


• The sound level meter and the frequency analyser.

2 lectures/week.

Examples are provided to students in order to practice their analytical skills and these are backed up with interactive tutorial sessions. Students are encouraged to read supporting texts and a booklist is provided.