Vibration & Dynamics Engineers — Investigation → Measurement → Analysis → Design → Verification

How we help you (outcomes)

• Reduce vibration and resonance to protect assets and extend fatigue life.

• Meet OEM/client vibration limits and international standards (e.g. ISO 20816/10816, ISO 7919, API 619, MIL-STD-810, RTCA DO-160, VC criteria).

• Control structure-borne noise from vibrating machines, frames and pipework.

• Provide defensible evidence to customers, certifiers, regulators and internal design reviews.

• Move from recurring vibration problems to stable, predictable operation and improved MTBF.

What we do (buyer-intent services)

• Piping and structural vibration: diagnose resonance, reduce amplification, manage stiffness/mass/boundary conditions, and reduce piping fatigue risk in pipework, supports and frames.

• Machinery analysis: vibration analysis and troubleshooting for rotating machinery (including unbalance, misalignment, looseness, forcing functions and resonance interaction).

• Field engineering & troubleshooting: rapid on-site measurement, clear root-cause conclusions, practical mitigation options and verification.

• Rotating equipment reliability: condition/performance assessments, monitoring strategy input, and engineering actions that reduce repeat failures.

• Noise management (structure-borne): reduce noise generated by vibrating structures and machines by addressing excitation, transmission paths and radiating surfaces.

Vibration performance & compliance

For many projects vibration is a compliance requirement, not a “nice to have”. We interpret and apply limits so your design or installation meets its criteria in practice.

• Apply OEM and client vibration limits to real installations and operating modes.

• Assess against relevant standards and criteria (API / ISO 10816/20816 / ISO 7919 / VC criteria / project-specific specifications).

• Design and refine frames, supports, joints and isolation systems so machinery runs within its permitted vibration envelope.

• Support design verification and qualification testing so equipment passes first time — reducing redesign loops and corrective-action spend.

Design it right first time

We apply vibration and dynamics expertise early, so compliance and performance are built in from the start — de-risking the project, improving confidence, and avoiding wasted investment in late-stage fixes.

Why vibration & structural dynamics matter

Frames, pipework, platforms, floors and vehicles have natural frequencies and mode shapes. When these are excited by rotating machinery, flow/forcing inputs, impacts or external sources, the result can be damaging and disruptive.

Typical symptoms

• High vibration at particular speeds, loads or operating conditions.

• Repeated cracking of welds, brackets, supports, frames or pipework.

• Loosened fasteners, leaking joints, failed seals and recurring maintenance issues.

• “Ringing” or booming panels/housings producing structure-borne noise.

• Failure to meet OEM acceptance criteria, customer requirements or test limits.

What’s at risk

• Safety & asset integrity: fatigue crack growth, bracket/shaft failures, bearing damage, structural degradation.

• Business continuity: outages, forced derating, reduced throughput, increased maintenance burden.

• Compliance & reputation: failure to meet customer/OEM/standard requirements; recurrent complaints and escalation.

Our engineering process

Investigate → Measure → Analyse → Design → Support

1) Investigate

• Review failure history, inspection findings, maintenance records and complaints.

• Review drawings, specifications, past calculations and previous reports.

• Site walk-down to confirm layout, supports, boundary conditions and operating envelope.

• Where relevant, confirm pass/fail targets (OEM/customer requirement, acceptance criteria, or standard-based limits).

2) Measure

We measure real behaviour so decisions are based on evidence:

• Vibration levels at key locations and directions on machines, structures and pipework.

• Rotational speeds, orders, 1X/2X components, gear mesh and characteristic frequencies.

• Transient and steady-state behaviour during start-up, shutdown and critical operating points.

Typical techniques include:

• Multi-channel acquisition with tri-axial accelerometers, velocity sensors and (where appropriate) proximity probes.

• Experimental modal testing (impact hammer / shakers).

• Operating Deflection Shape (ODS) measurement to visualise motion and amplification.

3) Analyse

• Spectral analysis, order tracking, time history review and correlation to operating conditions.

• Structural dynamics interpretation: modes, forcing functions and amplification mechanisms.

• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of frames/platforms/components where it adds value.

• Model correlation / updating where required, so design decisions are made on a reliable basis.

Typical questions we answer:

• Is it resonance, unbalance, misalignment, looseness — or a combination?

• Are dynamic stresses exceeding fatigue allowables or detail category limits?

• Are vibration levels within ISO/API/VC limits or your project criteria?

4) Design

Once root cause is proven, we design practical solutions within your constraints:

• Structural modifications (stiffening, mass changes, bracing, boundary condition changes).

• Isolation and mounting systems, tuned supports and interface details.

• Support and joint redesign: fastening strategy, welded detail improvements, layout changes.

5) Support (implementation & verification)

• Support during implementation and supplier/fabricator coordination as needed.

• Post-modification verification measurements to demonstrate objectives are met.

• Documentation suitable for design reviews, customer approval, governance and compliance evidence.

Specialist vibration & dynamics services

This page is your hub. The services below can each be expanded into dedicated pages as needed.

Vibration diagnostics & root-cause investigation

• On-site diagnostics, structured root-cause analysis, and clear mechanisms (resonance/unbalance/misalignment/looseness/interaction effects).

• Prioritised recommendations that are practical, proportionate, and evidence-led.

Vibration testing & on-site measurement

• Operational vibration surveys across speed ranges, duty cycles and operating modes.

• Data sets and reports suitable for compliance evidence, design input and qualification support.

Structural dynamics, resonance & modal analysis

• FEA to identify natural frequencies/mode shapes and sensitivity to stiffness/mass/support changes.

• Experimental modal testing and ODS to validate behaviour and guide targeted design changes.

Vibration isolation, mounting & plinth design

• Isolation/mounting arrangements for both industrial machinery and vibration-sensitive equipment.

• Plinth/foundation concepts that balance structural integrity and dynamic performance.

Fatigue, durability & design for reliability

• Dynamic stress assessment and fatigue life estimation for welds, brackets, frames and components.

• Detail improvements that reduce hot-spots and cut in-service failure risk.

Design verification & qualification testing

• Test planning, instrumentation definition, acceptance criteria and evaluation against standards (e.g. MIL-STD-810, RTCA DO-160, customer requirements).

• Traceable reports and evidence packs that stand up to technical scrutiny.

Floor vibration & sensitive equipment (VC criteria)

• Floor vibration surveys and assessment to VC criteria (and tool-specific limits where provided).

• Identification of dominant sources/transmission paths and practical mitigation options.

See case studies (proof of delivery)

What you receive (deliverables)

• Clear diagnosis and root-cause conclusions supported by measured data and plots.

• Assessment against relevant limits (ISO/API/VC/customer criteria) where applicable.

• Practical design options with rationale (and FEA/modal evidence where used).

• Implementation guidance and verification measurements when required.

• A report that can be used for internal governance, customer approval, certification support and stakeholder confidence.

Who is behind the work?

Paul Schmitz MBA CEng MIMechE MIoA

• Chartered Mechanical Engineer and Member of the Institute of Acoustics.

• Nearly 30 years specialising in vibration, structural dynamics and noise.

• Extensive experience in measurement, analysis, design and verification.

• Independent of equipment vendors — we represent your interests with evidence-based engineering.

This page was written by a Chartered Mechanical Engineer (CEng MIMechE, MIoA). Last updated: November 2025.

Next steps

• Call with the symptom, asset type and timescale.

• Send any drawings/specs/photos/plots you already have.

• We’ll advise the minimum effective measurement/analysis needed to reach a defensible conclusion and an implementable solution.

Call 01908 643 433 Email the engineering team Request a call back

Vibration & Dynamics — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between vibration analysis and structural dynamics?

Vibration analysis identifies what is happening (levels, frequencies, orders and operating dependence). Structural dynamics explains why it’s happening (modes, forcing mechanisms and amplification paths) and guides what to change to remove the problem.

Do you only advise, or can you design the solution?

We do both. Where needed we design modifications (stiffening/bracing/layout changes/isolation/interfaces) and support implementation and verification measurement so the outcome is proven.

Which standards and criteria do you work to?

We commonly work to ISO 20816/10816, ISO 7919, API 619, VC criteria, MIL-STD-810 and RTCA DO-160, plus customer/OEM and project-specific specifications.

What information should we prepare before contacting you?

Asset details, operating conditions, recent failures/symptoms, any existing vibration plots, drawings/photos of supports/boundary details, and any pass/fail vibration limits or specifications.

Which locations do you cover?

We support projects across the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Germany and Scandinavia, and can support further afield by agreement.