LAS CRUCES, New Mexico.- 28 December 11
Bethany Davis: Intern Conducts Modal Analysis
Heather L. Ogletree
Undergraduate Student Research Program (USRP) interns come from all walks of life with one thing in common – a strong dedication to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Bethany Davis, a senior mechanical engineering major from New Mexico State University, serves as an excellent example of this commitment. She said, “I am not able to move away from my husband so I am commuting 120 miles a day to my job at White Sands Test Facility (WSTF).”
Davis was selected by NASA Mentor Jeremy Bruggeman to participate in a 10 week hands-on internship project concerning thrust stand model analysis. Davis admitted, “I was really nervous about starting on this project; I didn’t know anything about vibrations or what ‘modal analysis’ was!” However, Bruggeman chose Davis based on her past experiences; the work she conducted in past internships and research projects were similar to the work she would be accomplishing at WSTF.
“My project is developing a new mechanism that can aid in conducting modal analysis and nothing like it has been made before,” said Davis. And by taking part in the mechanics of the project, she realized that she did not have a lot of knowledge in reference to mechanical components, but she noted, “Fortunately, my mentor is extremely patient and has been able to fill in the spots and help with the areas that I have less experience with.”
During her time at WSTF, Davis learned about the effect of vibrations on mechanical systems. “Our thruster stands are designed to test rocket engines,” Davis explained. “If the engines vibrate at a similar frequency as our test stand, you can run into problems with data collection and if it is severe enough you can even have structural failure. Our project determines what the stand’s vibration characteristics are so that we can convey our capabilities to our customers.”
In reference to her internship experience, Davis was excited to be able to be doing such technical work. She stated, “Being able to make connections between your coursework and real world examples is so cool. I am learning a lot about vibrations and getting to do actual design work.”
When she graduates in May, Davis hopes to work for NASA and eventually pursue graduate school. “As a mechanical engineering student with a strong passion for aerospace, you have a list of dream employers. Mine were Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and NASA, with NASA at the top.”