IMAC-XLIV - Pre-Conference Courses

 

Digitizing our Reality: Modeling, Visualizing, Predicting, Interacting
Riviera Resort & Spa Palm Springs, Palm Springs, CA  |  January 19-22, 2026

A Short Course in Experimental-Analytical Substructuring

DATE/TIME:
Saturday, January 17, 2026  |  9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
 

DESCRIPTION:
Dynamic substructuring is a powerful approach that enables engineers and researchers to analyze and optimize complex structural systems by breaking them down into manageable components. This methodology is particularly valuable in experimental settings, where structures that are difficult to model can be tested and then connected to analytical models of well-understood components. By leveraging dynamic substructuring techniques, practitioners can effectively address challenges in vibration control, structural integrity, and system response, making it an essential skill in modern engineering practice.

This short course provides a comprehensive exploration of dynamic substructuring principles and applications. We begin with a concise overview of structural dynamics, establishing a solid foundation for understanding the dynamic behavior of structures. Participants will learn how to connect two structures across physical, frequency, and modal domains, providing various tools for practitioners hoping to use these techniques. The course includes practical exercises in MATLAB and Python, allowing participants to apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios and gain hands-on experience with data analysis and simulation.

In the second half of the course, we will delve into advanced topics, including decoupling techniques, nonlinear substructuring, and key experimental considerations for validating models. Additionally, we will discuss transfer path analysis, which helps identify how vibrations propagate through structures and influence dynamic responses.

*Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
The course is designed for engineers, researchers, and practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding of dynamic substructuring, this course combines theoretical foundations with practical applications. Participants will leave equipped with valuable insights and tools to effectively analyze and optimize complex structural systems merging test and analysis.

 

COURSE OUTLINE:

• Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Dynamic Substructuring
• Coupling in the Physical Domain
• Frequency Based Substructuring
• Component Mode Synthesis
• Classroom exercise coupling in 3 domains
• The SEM Round Robin Structure
• Experimental Considerations
• Substructure Decoupling
• Transfer Path Analysis
• Nonlinear Substructuring

 

 

INSTRUCTORS:

 

COURSE FEE
The regular course fee is $500 and the student fee is $250.

CANCELLATION LIABILITY
If the course is cancelled for any reason, the Society for Experimental Mechanics’ liability is limited to the return of the course fees.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own laptops. None will be provided.

 

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Nonlinear Spectral Model Reduction for Equations and Data

DATE/TIME:
Sunday, January 18, 2026  |  9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
 

DESCRIPTION:
A long-standing objective in applied science and engineering has been to reduce complex nonlinear differential equations and data sets to simple, low-dimensional models. The main topic of this mini-course, model reduction to spectral submanifolds (SSMs), introduces a mathematically well-founded solution to this objective.

SSMs are very low-dimensional attracting invariant manifolds tangent to eigenspaces (spectral subspaces) of linearizations of nonlinear systems at steady states. The internal dynamics of SSMs provide simple reduced-order models with which typical system trajectories synchronize exponentially fast. Applications of SSM reduction include accelerated finite-element computations, reduced-order modeling of fluid-structure interactions from experimental data, derivation of equations of motion from videos, prediction of transitions to turbulence in pipe flows, model-predictive control of soft robots and other physical problems. Open-source Matlab and Python codes with growing libraries of worked examples are now available for both equation-driven and data-driven SSM reduction.

This mini-course targets both the more applied and the more theoretical attendees of IMAC. The former group will receive a practical introduction to constructing explicit SSM-based models, whereas the latter group will learn about very recent mathematical advances that further extend the applicability of SSM-reduction.

 

INSTRUCTORS:

 

COURSE FEE
The regular course fee is $500 and the student fee is $250.

CANCELLATION LIABILITY
If the course is cancelled for any reason, the Society for Experimental Mechanics’ liability is limited to the return of the course fees.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own laptops. None will be provided.