Issue

Critical equipment onboard the UK’s newest aircraft carrier, the Queen Elizabeth, was found to have a severe vibration issue. Excessive motion could easily be observed on the machine’s control panel, putting at risk electronic components within. A small component, but vital in the operation of the vessel, the risk of failure whilst at sea was unacceptable. Isolation had been specified but not yet installed with its suitability still to be validated.

Solution

Deploying a series of accelerometers across the machine and control panel Xi undertook a series of measurements during various states of operation. This data was then fed into an Operational Deflection Shape (ODS) model of the machine. The ODS model was then used to visualise the behaviour of the machine at given states and frequencies, providing greater clarity of the systems dynamic behaviour. This allowed Xi to verify the effectiveness of the isolation.

Skillset Used
  • Operational Deflection Shape Analysis (ODS)
  • Multi-sensor signal processing
  • Multi-variant statistical analysis
  • Component Design optimisation
  • Isolation specification
Xi’s Role

Xi’s specialist engineering team were able to support Rolls-Royce engineers providing critical information to support the commissioning process.

Client Benefits
  • Detailed assessment and understanding of the machine dynamics
  • Allowed quantitative and informed decisions on the most appropriate remedial actions
  • Reduced risk of failure