Method and system for optimizing the vibrational characteristics of a structure

A computer-readable medium that, when executed by a processor, optimizes the vibrational characteristics of a three-dimensional (3D) structure by performing the steps of:

• causing an excitation input to be imparted to the 3D structure;
• receiving a measurement of a dynamic response produced by the 3D structure;
• determining that the 3D structure does not comply with one or more design goals set for the 3D structure;
• determining at least one structural modification to be made to the 3D structure to bring the 3D structure into compliance with the one or more design goals;
• and
• causing a multi-axis CAM unit to make the at least one structural modification to the 3D structure.

A system for optimizing the vibrational characteristics of a 3D structure, including:

• an actuation mechanism configured to impart an excitation input to the 3D structure;
• a sensor array configured to measure a dynamic response produced by the 3D structure;
• a multi-axis CAM unit configured to add material to or remove material from the 3D structure via a CAM implement;
• and
• a computing device that includes:
• one or more input/output I/O devices,
• a processor, and
• a memory that includes a structural optimization engine configured to perform the steps of:
• causing the actuation mechanism to impart the excitation input to the 3D structure,
• receiving a measurement of the dynamic response produced by the 3D structure from the sensor array,
• determining that the 3D structure does not comply with one or more design goals set for the 3D structure,
• determining at least one structural modification to be made to the 3D structure to bring the 3D structure into compliance with the one or more design goals, and
• causing the multi-axis CAM unit to make the at least one structural modification to the 3D structure.

A method for generating dependency data that reflects at least one dependency between a response characteristic associated with a 3D structure and a specific region of a 3D model, wherein the 3D model represents the 3D structure, and the specific region of the 3D model corresponds to a first region of the 3D structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• imparting a first excitation input to the 3D structure;
• measuring a first dynamic response produced by the 3D structure;
• generating a first response profile for the 3D structure based on the first dynamic response produced by the 3D structure, wherein the first response profile includes at least one response characteristic, including a quality factor Q, one or more resonant frequencies, one or more impedance values, one or more admittance values, or a transfer function;
• causing a multi-axis CAM unit to make at least one structural modification to the first region of the 3D structure;
• imparting a second excitation input to the 3D structure;
• measuring a second dynamic response produced by the 3D structure;
• generating a second response profile for the 3D structure based on the second dynamic response;
• identifying at least one response characteristic included in the first response profile that is different than a corresponding response characteristic included in the second response profile;
• determining an amount of material removed from or added to the first region of the 3D structure;
• generating dependency data that reflects at least one dependency between the amount of material in the specific region of the 3D model and the at least one response characteristic included in the first response profile;
• and
• storing the 3D model and the dependency data in a structure database.