PerfectDecibel, the Portuguese representative of Gantner Instruments, has supplied an advanced modular data acquisition system to the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (DEMI) at NOVA FCT – NOVA University Lisbon, for its Structural Mechanics Laboratory at the Caparica Campus, Portugal.

The system, currently featuring 24 high-resolution measurement channels and expandable with additional channels supporting different sensor types, enables experimental testing across a wide range of structural dynamics applications, including vibration and/or structural strain measurements.

Designed to support experimental research, the solution combines dynamic signal acquisition, strain measurement and dedicated data acquisition software. It supports measurements using IEPE (ICP) triaxial accelerometers, an instrumented impact hammer and strain gauges, allowing researchers to investigate the dynamic response and mechanical deformation of structures and components.

Beyond its current laboratory applications, the Gantner Instruments architecture provides a flexible foundation for future research projects, including advanced signal processing, real-time monitoring and control.

The Gantner Instruments system supplied to NOVA FCT currently comprises 24 measurement channels, combining vibration and strain measurements within a modular architecture that can be expanded with additional modules for different sensor types and physical quantities.

Courtesy of Prof. Tiago Silva – Structural Mechanics Laboratory (DEMI), NOVA FCT, Portugal

The system includes the following components:

Q.station XB (1 unit) – Data Acquisition Controller

The Q.station XB is a high-performance data acquisition controller featuring an embedded processor and a Real-time Linux operating system. It supports two main operating modes:

• PC-connected acquisition: Ethernet communication with an external computer for system configuration, data visualization and recording.

• Standalone operation: Autonomous data acquisition and local processing without requiring a permanently connected computer.

This flexibility allows the same platform to support conventional laboratory measurements and more advanced autonomous acquisition applications.

Q.bloxx A111 BNC (4 units) – Vibration Measurement (Total: 16 channels)

Each Q.bloxx A111 BNC module provides four analog input channels suitable for IEPE (ICP) sensors and voltage measurements.

Key specifications:

• 4 channels per module, providing 16 channels in total

• 24-bit analog-to-digital conversion

• Simultaneous sampling rates up to 100 kHz per channel

• BNC input connectors

• Support for IEPE sensors and voltage signals

At the NOVA FCT Structural Mechanics Laboratory, these modules are intended for vibration testing using multiple triaxial accelerometers and an instrumented impact hammer. This configuration enables the simultaneous acquisition of multiple dynamic signals, supporting experimental investigations into the vibrational behavior of structures and mechanical components.

Q.bloxx A116 (1 unit) – Strain Measurement (Total: 8 channels)

The Q.bloxx A116 provides eight analog measurement channels designed for strain gauge applications. Key specifications:

• 8 measurement channels

• 24-bit analog-to-digital conversion

• Simultaneous sampling rates up to 20 kHz per channel

• Support for strain gauge measurements

• Dedicated connection cable and terminal block

This module complements the vibration measurement channels, allowing researchers to investigate structural deformation under different experimental loading conditions.

Courtesy of Prof. Tiago Silva – Structural Mechanics Laboratory (DEMI), NOVA FCT, Portugal

GI.bench – Data Acquisition and Visualization Software (perpetual license)

GI.bench is Gantner Instruments' software platform for configuring, visualizing and recording measurement data through a graphical interface, without requiring programming. Its main capabilities include:

• Measurement channel configuration

• Data acquisition and visualization

• Measurement data recording

• Data analysis and presentation tools

• Integration with the modular Gantner Instruments hardware platform

The perpetual license provides continued use of the licensed software without an annual subscription requirement.

Open Architecture and Software Integration

Gantner Instruments provides an open and flexible data acquisition architecture, with APIs and drivers supporting integration with widely used engineering environments such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python and C/C++. 

This flexibility allows universities and research laboratories to develop customized measurement and analysis applications using their preferred programming tools, while maintaining compatibility with existing laboratory software and experimental testing infrastructures. Combined with its modular hardware architecture, this approach enables researchers to expand their measurement capabilities and develop new applications without being restricted to a single software environment.

From Data Acquisition to Real-Time Processing and Control

The Gantner Instruments architecture offers capabilities that extend beyond conventional data acquisition.

Q.station controllers, equipped with Real-time Linux, can execute customized signal processing and analysis algorithms directly on the controller, reducing dependence on external computers for certain processing tasks. For advanced applications, algorithms developed in C/C++, including code generated from MATLAB/Simulink models, can be integrated into the Q.station environment using the mechanisms provided by Gantner Instruments: Learn more about MATLAB/Simulink integration with Q.station.

These capabilities open opportunities for advanced research and industrial applications, including:

• Real-Time Signal Processing
• Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)
• Condition Monitoring
• Predictive Maintenance
• Real-Time Control
• Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL)

Future Research Opportunities at NOVA FCT

The Gantner Instruments system supplied to the NOVA FCT Structural Mechanics Laboratory was initially acquired to support experimental structural dynamics research, including vibration and/or structural strain measurements. Its modular architecture allows the laboratory to expand the system with additional measurement channels and different sensor types as new research requirements emerge. Furthermore, the Q.station XB controller provides a technological foundation that may also support advanced signal processing and real-time control applications in future research projects.

These additional capabilities are not part of the laboratory application described in this project. They represent potential future developments that can be explored using the existing Gantner platform, subject to the technical requirements of each application. This ability to evolve from conventional data acquisition to more advanced processing and control functions is particularly valuable in academic environments, where research objectives and experimental requirements may change over time.

By combining high-performance data acquisition, open interfaces, modular hardware and local processing capabilities, Gantner Instruments provides a flexible technological foundation for both academic research and advanced industrial testing. This approach helps facilitate the transfer of engineering knowledge and innovation from universities and research laboratories to practical industrial implementation.

Acknowledgment to NOVA FCT