Around the World in 80 Courses

This paper summarises the genesis and evolution over 30 years of a series of short courses on Analytical and Experimental Structural Dynamics. In total, more than 120 of these courses have been presented in more than 20 countries. In the early days, the courses were specifically focussed on teaching the basic techniques and applications of the then-new subject of Modal Testing (or Experimental Modal Analysis). Later came the need for more advanced and complex capabilities in some of the more demanding tasks, and especially in the more challenging applications to which the modal test results were to be subjected. The major changes in information technology that have taken place in this 30-year period have resulted in some significant changes in the style and content of the courses. Most recently, the ‘courses’ have turned more towards developing a full integration of the experimental, numerical an theoretical skills that combine to make the complete Structural Dynamicist – that rare individual who knows, above all, that solving problems in structural dynamics hinges on being able to ask the right questions. The answers can usually be found in text books and scientific papers. Not so the questions. Learning how to formulate these requires practice and experience and this is best passed on in courses.