Dr. Wells - Research

Areas of Interest and Expertise

• Vibration and noise analysis.

 

• Dynamic systems testing, measurement and simulation.

 

• Modal testing and analysis.

 

• Data acquisition and real time control.

 

• Signal processing.

 

• Design and optimization.

 

• Manufacturing systems.

 

• Engineering education.

Funded Research at UT Tyler

• Wells, R.L., Goddard, D.L., Mountain, J.R., "Integrating the Product Realization Process into a New Mechanical Engineering Curriculum," National Science Foundation CCLI-A&I, University of Texas at Tyler, Spring 2000, total funding $160,644. Award number DUE-9952364. Follow this LINK to read about the project.

Graduate Research Directed at UT Tyler

• Ifaidi, Charles, "A Study of Modal Chatter in a Face Turning Operation," Master of Engineering Project, UT-Tyler, Spring 2007.

• Hood, Robin, "The Dice Game: A Computer Simulation for Teaching Principles of Lean Manufacturing," Master of Engineering Project, UT-Tyler, Spring, 2003.

 

• Doss, Ronald, "A Design for One Sulzer-Burckhardt Vent Gas Compressor to Supply Two Separate Unipol Polypropylene Vent Recovery Units," Master of Engineering Project, UT-Tyler, Spring, 2002.

 

• Xiang, Julia, "Maintenance Management for Industrial Machinery Vibration Problems," Master of Engineering Project, UT-Tyler, Fall, 2001.

Current Research Projects

• "A Study of Modal Chatter in a Face Turning Operation." A Master of Engineering project has been completed identifying the phenomenon of modal chatter in face-turning a steel rotor. Subsequent research will formulate an analytical model of this type of chatter mechanism (in which the flexibility of the system is in the workpiece, not the tool).

• "Using Shock Response Spectra to Control Motion Induced Vibrations in a Servo-Driven Flexible Structure." This project builds on previous research outlined in the following paper: Wells, R.L., "Using Shock Response Spectra to Design Motion Control Profiles for Flexible Structures," Journal of Vibration and Control, Vol. 7, No. 6, pp. 905-921. A servo-driven flexible beam apparatus is being constructed to implement the feed forward control strategy developed in the previous work.
  

• "Design of a Rotating Machinery Fault Simulator." A test fixture is being constructed that will allow the study of rotating machinery faults such as unbalance, looseness, misalignment, and bearing defects.
• "Real-Time Vibration Signature Analysis and Fault Diagnosis in Rotating Machinery." A real time portable diagnostic system will be developed that allows a machine operator to diagnose machinery faults such as unbalance, misalignment, looseness and bearing defects. 

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