Thesis Defense – Burcu Kaya (MSME)

Burcu Kaya - M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Polat Şendur - Advisor

Date: 29.12.2025

Time: 10.00

Location: AB1 - 412

“DYNAMIC CHARACTERIZATION OF UNBALANCED LOADS IN FRONT-LOADING WASHING MACHINES”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Polat Şendur, Özyeğin University

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özkan Bebek, Özyeğin University

Professor Çetin Yılmaz, Boğaziçi University

Abstract:

Uneven laundry distribution in front-loading washing machines can trigger severe dynamic responses, especially as drum speed traverses resonance regions. These effects include high-amplitude vibrations, complex motion patterns, elevated forces on critical components, and increased noise. This thesis presents a physics-guided framework for unbalanced-load detection that integrates multibody dynamic modelling, experimental modal analysis, and operational measurements. A validated computational model is used to characterise resonance-sensitive behaviour under controlled unbalance, while real laundry responses are mapped to calibrated reference cases. A hybrid CNN-BiLSTM model is then developed to infer unbalanced load characteristics directly from displacement signals. Ultimately, the approach aimed to estimate both the unbalanced mass and its location within the drum.

Bio:

Burcu Kaya received her degree in B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Özyeğin University, Istanbul, and is completing her M.Sc. under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Polat Şendur. Her research focuses on machine dynamics, advanced signal processing, and the application of machine learning to vibro-acoustic diagnostics. As a Specialist Engineer at Beko Central R&D, she works on the machine dynamics of home appliances. Burcu Kaya is the author of “Dynamic Characterization of Unbalanced Loads in Front-Loading Washing Machines,” recently presented at Inter-noise 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil.