A Framework for Modelling Video Content

Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosoph

Estimation of Bearing Forces in Rotating Machinery: A Problem Revisited

Development of a new ship machinery installation may require combinations of prime movers, electric motors, generators, gearboxes and other items that have not been used previously. Large items of this type are expensive to develop, so that only existing production items are likely to be affordable. Modern quiet ship design requires careful attention to the source characteristics of the individual machinery items as well as the dynamic characteristics of any new combination, so that fluctuating forces transmitted to the hull via mounting systems and flexible connectors in the final installation are within acceptable limits. Almost periodic components, which arise at multiples of machine rotational frequency, are of particular concern. Machine source properties are often known only in terms of the vibration characteristics of previous installations, not in terms of the disturbing forces that cause that vibration. The aim of the techniques described in this paper is to allow deduction of those disturbing forces from a matrix of transfer functions at each frequency of interest, measured with an existing machine in operation. The number of forces to be estimated must be less than the number of structural degrees of freedom. Those degrees of freedom arise from rigid body motions and machine flexural properties, which may change significantly when shafts are rotating. Also, the matrices must be redundant in order to allow estimation of the accuracy of derived force estimates. The larger the machine, the greater the number of degrees of freedom that are likely to arise at a given frequency. A first use of the methodology was to establish the bearing forces in a marine turbo generator (TG) set with plain journal bearings. Measurements of transfer functions were made with the machine stationary and then with the machine in normal operation. Direct and reciprocal measurements in different directions were made for a large number of locations on the machine structure and bearings, covering the frequency range up to more than twice shaft rotational frequency. There were large differences in some frequency ranges between the static and operational conditions. Vibration due to machine operation was then measured to allow deduction of bearing forces using the transfer function matrices. Repeat measurements were made to establish whether machine source properties changed significantly with time, while statistical techniques were also used to identify and eliminate any suspect measurements. Those early experiments are described in this paper with a view to future application of similar techniques

Evaluation of live human-computer music-making: Quantitative and qualitative approaches

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in International Journal of Human-Computer Studies. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, [VOL 67,ISS 11(2009)] DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2009.05.00

Accessible Spectrum Analyser

Presented at the 22nd International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD-2016)This paper presents the Accessible Spectrum Analyser (ASA) developed as part of the DePic project (Design Patterns for Inclusive collaboration) at Queen Mary University of London. The ASA uses sonification to provide an accessible representation of frequency spectra to visually impaired audio engineers. The software is free and open source and is distributed as a VST plug-in under OSX and Windows. The aim of reporting this work at the ICAD 2016 conference is to solicit feedback about the design of the present tool and its more generalized counterpart, as well as to invite ideas for other possible applications where it is thought that auditory spectral analysis may be useful, for example in situations where line of sight is not always possible

The Serendiptichord: Reflections on the collaborative design process between artist and researcher

The Serendiptichord is a wearable instrument, resulting from a collaboration crossing fashion, technology, music and dance. This paper reflects on the collaborative process and how defining both creative and research roles for each party led to a successful creative partnership built on mutual respect and open communication. After a brief snapshot of the instrument in performance, the instrument is considered within the context of dance-driven interactive music systems followed by a discussion on the nature of the collaboration and its impact upon the design process and final piece