BH&C offers the following services to various sectors of industry:

Working closely with our European manufacturing partners, we provide a one-stop acoustic solution: site noise investigation, analysis of noise transmission mechanisms, noise reduction engineering, material consultation, procurement, installation of acoustic materials and final acceptance testing. Our engineers deal with all the common transmission mechanisms – airborne, structure-borne and flanking noise – and we are committed to designing and delivering tailor-made, professional, safe and cost-effective solutions.

Resonance is one of the most damaging phenomena affecting machinery and its supporting structures. Left uncorrected, it drives fatigue damage that can grow from small cracks to progressive failure of the machine or its foundation. The most effective prevention is to address vibration at the design stage. By tuning the stiffness of the foundation and supporting structure, and adjusting system mass and damping, the natural frequencies of the system can be kept clear of the machine’s operating frequencies. Correctly specified isolators complete the solution.

Where prevention was not possible, or where equipment already in service trips on high vibration, we work closely with the customer on site to collect all the data needed for diagnosis. We then carry out the necessary engineering analysis using in-house calculation tools and specialist finite element software such as Abaqus® and ANSYS®. Where required, this extends to detailed fatigue and fracture mechanics assessment to validate the solution. Once the design is confirmed, we supply and install isolation materials or devices from leading manufacturers of vibration and shock-absorbing products.

Often there is no time for a detailed study: the equipment must be restarted safely and reliably as soon as the most probable cause of failure has been identified. Drawing on our record of case studies and site data, we provide an immediate interim solution while the full investigation continues.

Our vibration services include:

• Site vibration measurement, diagnosis and root-cause analysis
• Modal and forced-response analysis of machine foundations, skids and supporting steelwork
• Design and specification of isolation systems
• Supply, installation and acceptance testing of isolators

Drawing on both academic research and practical engineering experience in deterioration mechanisms, prevention methods and system reliability of materials, machinery and structures, BH&C Dynamics® offers comprehensive solutions for extending the service life of our customers’ assets in the following areas:

• Offshore fixed platforms and associated structures
• Floating structures (FPSO, FSO, Spar, TLP)
• Offshore and onshore steel pipelines
• Static and rotating machinery
• Infrastructure

A typical life-extension study includes:

• Review of design, as-built, inspection and operating history
• Strength and fatigue reassessment against current codes such as ISO 19902, AISC, DNV and API RP 2A
• Ultimate strength (pushover) analysis to demonstrate reserve capacity where linear code checks are not met
• Risk-based inspection planning for the extended life
• Recommendations for repair, strengthening, mitigation and monitoring

Ultimate strength and collapse analysis, accidental limit state analysis (ship impact, dropped objects, explosion and fire), seismic, buckling and soil–structure interaction analysis for offshore, energy and building structures. See the dedicated page for full details.

[Link to the new Advanced Nonlinear Structural Analysis page.]

Engineering support for marine operation planning and execution: load-out, sea transportation and towing, single- and multi-body dynamic lifting, vessel mooring, motion and stability analysis, local and global vessel strength, float-over docking and mating analysis, barge deck strength, and grillage and sea-fastening design. See the dedicated page for full details.

[Link to the new Naval Architecture & Marine Operations Engineering page]