Research in noise and vibration was initiated in the late sixties, as an off-spring of instabilities in milling operations. Initial efforts focussed entirely on the development of generic experimental methods, with the birth of modal analysis and applications in the automotive and aeronautics sectors. The eighties are marked with the introduction of numerical techniques (finite elements and bounda
ry elements) and combined numerical-experimental methods (FE model updating). In the nineties, the scope widened even further with the development of active control strategies to improve the vibro-acoustic behaviour of systems, together with the advent of mechatronics. And still today, after more than 40 years, noise and vibration issues remain a major challenge, not only in the development of high-tech products, processes and systems, but also for the health of people and the well-being of society, for sustainable environment and energy supply, and for safe and comfortable mobility. Industrial relevance and advanced applications have always been major drivers in our strategy. LMS International, now Siemens Industry Software NV (SISW), was established in 1979 as one of the first spin-off companies of KU Leuven and is now the global leader in dynamic testing and mechatronic simulation. Since 1975 we organise the yearly ISMA and ISAAC courses and the biennial ISMA conference on Noise & Vibration engineering, attracting more than 600 participants from industry and academia. The research group is member of Flanders Make: the strategic research centre for the manufacturing industry supported by the Flemish Government, the Limburg Fund and the EFRD.
