This thesis is concerned with the prediction of the vibro-acoustic response of structures with uncertain properties in the mid frequency region. The motivation for this research is the growing need of engineers to understand the responses of a group of similar structures ranging from vehicles, aircraft and aerospace structures, to household whitegood appliances. These structures are complex in geometry and may possess variability in their material or geometric properties, as well as variation arising from the assembly and manufacturing processes. Small variations can have a significant effect on a dynamic response of a structure, and the effect of structural uncertainties increases as the frequency increases. Deterministic modelling techniques such as finite element analysis are only suitable to model complex structures at low frequencies. Furthermore, FEA cannot easily account for uncertainty or randomness in structural parameters. High frequency dynamic predictive techniques such as Statistical Energy Analysis can account for structural uncertainty but is limited to structures with high modal density. There exists a frequency range between the two methods in which neither technique can be applied with great confidence. The objective of this thesis is to investigate predictive techniques for mid frequency vibration analysis of dynamic systems with structural uncertainties. The first part of this work is to numerically characterise the effect of a range of uncertainties on the modal statistics of structures. The degree of uncertainty required to achieve universality of the statistical properties is investigated. This is achieved by examining the modal statistics of dynamic systems with a range of uncertainty, corresponding to uncertainty due to mass and stiffness perturbations, uncertainty at the boundaries of a structure, uncertainty in the coupling between structures, uncertainty in the material properties of a structure and uncertainty in the geometry of a structure. Several structures are examined corresponding to a plate with masses and/or linear springs added at random locations, a plate with torsional springs attached at random locations along its boundary edges, two plates coupled by linear springs at random locations, a mass-loaded coupled L-shaped plate, a mass-loaded frame-plate structure, and a plate with varying Young's modulus, density and thickness. The natural frequencies of the aforementioned structures have been derived using either the Lagrange-Rayleigh-Ritz technique, finite element analysis, or the use of interval analysis in conjunction with FEA. The natural frequency statistics of structures with uncertain properties are observed using two statistical measures; the statistical overlap factor and the probability density function of the spacing between successive natural frequencies. The statistical overlap factor is defined by the variation in a natural frequency from its mean value measured across an ensemble of nominally identical structures with uncertainty. For a single ensemble member, the probability density function of the spacing between successive natural frequencies is compared to a Rayleigh distribution of the mean frequency spacing. A Rayleigh distribution of modal spacings is a feature of the universality exhibited by structures with uncertainty. To further investigate the effect of structural uncertainty on the vibrational characteristics of structures, the interval analysis is applied to finite element models of a plate with uncertainty in its material properties and dimensions. Using this method, the Young's modulus, density and thickness of a rectangular plate were set to vary by a small amount within predefined bounds. Using finite element equations, the natural frequencies and modeshapes of the structure were then determined in terms of the Young's modulus, density and plate thickness. For the mass and spring loaded plates, the springs were shown to affect the lower order modes while the masses had a significant effect on the higher order modes. As the frequency increased, only a small amount of perturbation was sufficient to affect the natural frequencies of a structure. Using the interval analysis method, the variation of the natural frequencies from their deterministic value increased as the frequency increased. An ergodic hypothesis was used to examine the responses statistics of structures with uncertainty. Three structures have been computationally studied corresponding to two plates coupled by springs, an L-shaped plate and a frame plate structure. Uncertainty has been generated for the two coupled plates by locating the springs randomly across the surface of the two plates. For the L-shaped plate and a frame plate structure, uncertainty was generated by randomly positioning small masses across the plates. Using the ergodic hypothesis, the frequency averaged response on one member of an ensemble is compare with the ensemble averaged response. It was found that the ensemble averaged response was well predicted by a frequency averaged response of a single ensemble member. The width of the frequency averaging band was shown to have a large influence on the quality of the match between the frequency and ensemble averaged responses. Results were significantly improved using a frequency averaging bandwidth which varies proportionally to frequency. Finally, experiments have been conducted on an L-shaped plate, a frame plate structure and a vehicle to validate the computational results for the natural frequency and response statistics.

This thesis is concerned with the prediction of the vibro-acoustic response of structures with uncertain properties in the mid frequency region. The motivation for this research is the growing need of engineers to understand the responses of a group of similar structures ranging from vehicles, aircraft and aerospace structures, to household whitegood appliances. These structures are complex in geometry and may possess variability in their material or geometric properties, as well as variation arising from the assembly and manufacturing processes. Small variations can have a significant effect on a dynamic response of a structure, and the effect of structural uncertainties increases as the frequency increases. Deterministic modelling techniques such as finite element analysis are only suitable to model complex structures at low frequencies. Furthermore, FEA cannot easily account for uncertainty or randomness in structural parameters. High frequency dynamic predictive techniques such as Statistical Energy Analysis can account for structural uncertainty but is limited to structures with high modal density. There exists a frequency range between the two methods in which neither technique can be applied with great confidence. The objective of this thesis is to investigate predictive techniques for mid frequency vibration analysis of dynamic systems with structural uncertainties. The first part of this work is to numerically characterise the effect of a range of uncertainties on the modal statistics of structures. The degree of uncertainty required to achieve universality of the statistical properties is investigated. This is achieved by examining the modal statistics of dynamic systems with a range of uncertainty, corresponding to uncertainty due to mass and stiffness perturbations, uncertainty at the boundaries of a structure, uncertainty in the coupling between structures, uncertainty in the material properties of a structure and uncertainty in the geometry of a structure. Several structures are examined corresponding to a plate with masses and/or linear springs added at random locations, a plate with torsional springs attached at random locations along its boundary edges, two plates coupled by linear springs at random locations, a mass-loaded coupled L-shaped plate, a mass-loaded frame-plate structure, and a plate with varying Young's modulus, density and thickness. The natural frequencies of the aforementioned structures have been derived using either the Lagrange-Rayleigh-Ritz technique, finite element analysis, or the use of interval analysis in conjunction with FEA. The natural frequency statistics of structures with uncertain properties are observed using two statistical measures; the statistical overlap factor and the probability density function of the spacing between successive natural frequencies. The statistical overlap factor is defined by the variation in a natural frequency from its mean value measured across an ensemble of nominally identical structures with uncertainty. For a single ensemble member, the probability density function of the spacing between successive natural frequencies is compared to a Rayleigh distribution of the mean frequency spacing. A Rayleigh distribution of modal spacings is a feature of the universality exhibited by structures with uncertainty. To further investigate the effect of structural uncertainty on the vibrational characteristics of structures, the interval analysis is applied to finite element models of a plate with uncertainty in its material properties and dimensions. Using this method, the Young's modulus, density and thickness of a rectangular plate were set to vary by a small amount within predefined bounds. Using finite element equations, the natural frequencies and modeshapes of the structure were then determined in terms of the Young's modulus, density and plate thickness. For the mass and spring loaded plates, the springs were shown to affect the lower order modes while the masses had a significant effect on the higher order modes. As the frequency increased, only a small amount of perturbation was sufficient to affect the natural frequencies of a structure. Using the interval analysis method, the variation of the natural frequencies from their deterministic value increased as the frequency increased. An ergodic hypothesis was used to examine the responses statistics of structures with uncertainty. Three structures have been computationally studied corresponding to two plates coupled by springs, an L-shaped plate and a frame plate structure. Uncertainty has been generated for the two coupled plates by locating the springs randomly across the surface of the two plates. For the L-shaped plate and a frame plate structure, uncertainty was generated by randomly positioning small masses across the plates. Using the ergodic hypothesis, the frequency averaged response on one member of an ensemble is compare with the ensemble averaged response. It was found that the ensemble averaged response was well predicted by a frequency averaged response of a single ensemble member. The width of the frequency averaging band was shown to have a large influence on the quality of the match between the frequency and ensemble averaged responses. Results were significantly improved using a frequency averaging bandwidth which varies proportionally to frequency. Finally, experiments have been conducted on an L-shaped plate, a frame plate structure and a vehicle to validate the computational results for the natural frequency and response statistics.

Ce travail de thèse s'intéresse au développement de stratégies de calcul pour résoudre les problèmes de Helmholtz, en moyennes fréquences, dans les milieux hétérogènes. Il s'appuie sur l'utilisation de la Théorie Variationnelle des Rayons Complexes (TVRC), et enrichit l'espace des fonctions qu'elle utilise par des fonctions d'Airy, quand le carré de la longueur d'onde du milieu varie linéairement. Il s'intéresse aussi à une généralisation de la prédiction de la solution pour des milieux dont la longueur d'onde varie d'une quelconque autre manière. Pour cela, des approximations à l'ordre zéro et à l'ordre un sont définies, et vérifient localement les équations d'équilibre selon une certaine moyenne sur les sous domaines de calcul.Plusieurs démonstrations théoriques des performances de la méthodes sont menées, et plusieurs exemples numériques illustrent les résultats. La complexité retenue pour ces exemples montrent que l'approche retenue permet de prédire le comportement vibratoire de problèmes complexes, tel que le régime oscillatoire des vagues dans un port maritime. Ils montrent également qu'il est tout à fait envisageable de mixer les stratégies de calcul développées avec celles classiquement utilisées, telle que la méthode des éléments finis, pour construire des stratégies de calcul utilisables pour les basses et les moyennes fréquences, en même temps. / This thesis develops numerical approaches to solve mid-frequency heterogeneous Helmholtz problem. When the square of wave number varies linearly in the media, one considers an extended Variational Theory of Complex Rays(VTCR) with shape functions namely Airy wave functions, which satisfy the governing equation. Then a general way to handle heterogeneous media by the Weak Trefftz Discontinuous Galerkin (WTDG) is proposed. There is no a priori restriction for the wave number. One locally develops general approximated solution of the governing equation, the gradient of the wave number being the small parameter. In this way, zero order and first order approximations are defined, namely Zero Order WTDG and First Order WTDG. Their shape functions only satisfy the local governing equation in average sense.Theoretical demonstration and academic examples of approaches are addressed. Then the extended VTCR and the WTDG are both applied to solve a harbor agitation problem. Finally, a FEM/WAVE WTDG is further developed to achieve a mix use of the Finite Element method(FEM) approximation and the wave approximation in the same subdomains, at the same time for frequency bandwidth including LF and MF.

As microprocessors move towards higher frequencies, lower operating voltages and higher power consumption, supplying noise-free power to the ICs becomes increasingly challenging. Decoupling capacitors with low inductance interconnections are critical to meet the power supply impedance targets. A variety of capacitors are used today to provide decoupling at different frequencies. Surface-mount multi-layer ceramic capacitors currently used at package level provide decoupling only till about 100 MHz because of the component and lead inductances. Embedding thin film capacitors into the package can expand the operating range of package level capacitors to low GHz frequencies. Thin films with capacitance of several microfarads and organic-compatible processes are required for embedding decoupling capacitors at package level. The organic-compatible high-permittivity materials available today do not provide adequate capacitance for the application on hand. While ferroelectric thin films can provide the required capacitance, processing temperatures over 300o C are required to achieve crystalline films with high permittivity. Hence, there is a need to develop novel materials and processes to integrate decoupling capacitors into currently prevalent organic packages. To this end, hydrothermal synthesis and sol-gel synthesis of BaTiO3 films were explored in this study. BaTiO3 films were synthesized by low temperature hydrothermal conversion of metallic titanium. Hydrothermal process parameters such as bath molarity and temperature were optimized to obtain thin films with grain sizes close to 100 nm, at temperatures less than 100o C. Novel post-hydrothermal treatments were developed to improve the dielectric properties of the films. Sol-gel process requires sintering at >700o C to obtain crystalline BaTiO3 films. However, the films can be synthesized on free-standing copper foils and subsequently integrated into organic packages using lamination. Prevention of foil oxidation during sintering is critical. Nickel and titanium barriers explored in this study were ineffective due to instabilities at the interfaces. Hence, films were synthesized on bare copper foils by controlling the oxygen partial pressure during sintering. Using these techniques BaTiO3 thin films with capacitances of 400 1000 nF/cm2 and breakdown voltages of 6 15 V were demonstrated. The films synthesized via either techniques exhibited stable dielectric properties up to 8 GHz owing to fine grain sizes.

Récemment, les industries aérospatiale et automobile sont de plus en plus intéressées par les tests virtuels, car ils accélèrent le processus de conception et ils réduisent les coûts. C’est particulièrement vrai dans le cas des industries spatiales où les maquettes sont très coûteuses car les fusées sont uniques ou produites en nombre limité. Ariane 5 (et 6 dans l'avenir) est un lanceur qui est fabriqué par CNES et Airbus DS. Pendant le lancement, la coiffe est détachée par des charges pyrotechniques quand la fusée est à une hauteur suffisante (généralement au-dessus de 100 km). Les vibrations générées par les explosions se propagent dans les coques de la fusée jusqu'à la charge utile qui peut être endommagé. Le test au sol età pleine échelle HSS3+ a été effectué par CNES et Airbus DS pour enquêter sur cette éventualité. Cette thèse développe un logiciel capable de simuler le test HSS3+ pour caractériser les efforts produits par les charges pyrotechniques et pour réduire dans l'avenir le nombre de tests réels nécessaires. La tâche est difficile car la bande de fréquence considérée est très large (jusqu'à moyenne fréquence), les efforts des explosions sont inconnus, la géométrie est complexe et la maquette est composé des coques composites et sandwich. Le logiciel appelé Transient Analysis for PYROtechnic Shocks in Shells (TAPYROSS) est basée sur la Théorie variationnelle des Rayons Complexes (TVRC) qui est une méthode de Trefftz spécifiquement développé pour analyser la moyenne fréquence. De nombreuses améliorations de la théorie et des performances ont été introduits pour étudier ce cas réel de complexité industriel. Le dernier chapitre est dédié aux comparaisons entre les données réelles et les simulations pour valider TAPYROSS et caractériser les efforts des explosions. / Recently, aerospace and automotive industries are increasingly interested in virtual testing since it speeds-up the design process and reduces costs. This is particularly true in case of space industries where specimens are very costly because rockets are unique or produced in limited number. Ariane 5 (and 6 in the future) is a heavy lift launch rocket manufactured by CNES and Airbus DS. During launch the protective fairing is severed from the rocket by pyrotechnic charges once sufficient altitude is reached (typically above 100 km). Shock vibrations propagate throughout rocket shell structure to the payload which can be damaged. The HSS3+ ground full-scale test was developed by CNES and Airbus DS to investigate such eventuality. This thesis develops a software capable of simulating the HSS3+ test to characterize explosion loads and to reduce the number of future required real tests. The task is difficult since the interesting frequency band is wide (up to mid-frequency), the explosion loads are unknown, the geometry is complex, and the specimen is composed of sandwich composite shells. The software called Transient Analysis for PYROtechnic Shocks in Shells (TAPYROSS) is based on the Variational Theory of Complex Rays (VTCR) which is a Trefftz method specifically developed to analyze the mid-frequency band. Many theory and performance improvements are introduced to address this real industrial test case. At the end, comparisons between real data and simulations validate TAPYROSS and characterize explosion loads.

La prestation vibroacoustique est une question primordiale pour les constructeurs de véhicules, qui sont contraints par des lois ainsi que par des besoins commerciales: d'une part, un grand nombre de normes existe, visant à régler les niveaux vibratoires et acoustiques que les occupants d'un véhicule peuvent supporter, d'autre part le constructeur est intéressé à garantir un haut degré de confort pour que son produit soit compétitif. L'industrie du poids lourds comporte des spécificités par rapport à d'autres secteurs industriels, et surtout par rapport au marché des véhicules légers: non seulement l'architecture d'un véhicule industriel est unique, mais en plus ce qui caractérise les poids lourds par rapport à d'autres véhicules terrestres est la grande diversité des configurations disponibles. Une bonne connaissance des mécanismes de transmission des vibrations et du bruit, ainsi que du bilan de leurs sources, permette de fixer des règles de conception plus rigoureuses pour les composants. Par ailleurs, la connaissance des influences des paramètres architecturaux d'un camion sur les prestations vibroacoustiques donne une meilleure clé d'interprétation pour prédire les caractéristiques qu'un composant du véhicule doit avoir. Actuellement ces vérifications sont largement basées sur des essais, soit subjectifs (estimations par des techniciens experts) soit objectifs (acquisitions par microphones et accéléromètres). Cette pratique est très coûteuse car, pour prendre en compte la diversité des camions, il faut tester un grand nombre de véhicules. Pour franchir ces limitations, le prototypage virtuel - au lieu des essais physiques - doit être renforcé. Les méthodologies numériques sont déjà utilisées au sein du Groupe Volvo, mais les outils disponibles sont considérés en partie inappropriés pour les besoins de calcul des prestations NVH. Les activités de cette thèse ont été réalisées dans le cadre du service Noise and Driveline Vibration, qui est responsable de l'estimation du confort acoustique perçu par les occupants du camion, dans toutes ces conditions d'utilisation. Les travaux de thèse sont concentrés sur le comportement du châssis comme composant principale; le châssis est la principale voie de transfert des vibrations depuis le moteur vers la cabine. En outre, une attention particulière sera donnée à l'effet des accessoires sur le comportement dynamique du châssis, bien que peu d'intérêt sera porté sur la signature vibratoire des accessoires mêmes. / The vibroacoustic performance is a matter of primary concern for modern vehicle manufacturers, that are constrained by health and safety legislation as well as by commercial needs: on the one hand, a number of norms exists regulating the level of vibration and noise that vehicle occupants can tolerate, but on the other hand a manufacturer is also interested in guaranteeing a high level of comfort in order to keep products competitive. The commercial vehicle industry presents some peculiarity with respect to other vehicle manufacturing businesses, and especially to the more known car industry: not only the architecture of a commercial vehicle is a class of its own, but what differentiates the most trucks from other ground vehicles are the configuration diversity and customization. A deep knowledge of the vibration and noise transmission mechanisms in trucks as well as source breakdown allows defining more rigorous and strict component specifications. Furthermore, the comprehension of the sensitivity of truck architecture parameters on vibroacoustic features provides even deeper means to assess the needed properties for a component to be installed on a vehicle. At present the verification is largely based on tests, both subjective (assessment by experimented test engineers) and objective (microphone and accelerometer acquisitions). This practice is extremely expensive, since, in order to take into account the large diversity of trucks, a large number of vehicles has to be tested. To overcome this limit, virtual testing - as opposed to physical testing - should be strengthened. Numerical methods are already largely used in the Volvo Group, but the available tools are considered partly unfit to the NVH demands and inappropriate with respect to their specific needs. The activities of the current thesis have been developed in the framework of the Interior Noise and Driveline Vibration group, which is responsible for the estimation of the acoustic comfort perceived by driver and passengers in all driving conditions and vehicle uses. This thesis will focus on the behaviour of the chassis as a primary component. The chassis is the main transfer path for engine-induced vibrations transmitted to the cabin. Besides, a peculiar attention will be given to the effect the chassis equipment components have on the chassis dynamics, even though limited interest will be put on the investigation of the dynamic signature of the equipment itself.

Ce travail de recherche a été réalisé au sein du Laboratoire de Tribologie et Dynamique des Systèmes de l’École Centrale de Lyon (FRANCE) en cotutelle avec l’Unité de Mécanique, Modélisation et Productique (U2MP) à l’École Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Sfax (TUNISIE) dans le cadre du projet européen "Mid-Frequency". La prédiction du comportement dynamique des structures est une tâche importante dans la phase de conception de tout produit mécanique. Le choix de l’outil ou de la méthode utilisée dépend de plusieurs facteurs. Pour un système dynamique, la bande de fréquence d’étude est l’un des paramètres essentiels étant donné qu’il existe des approches appropriées pour chaque domaine fréquentiel. Ces derniers seront rapidement inapplicables en changeant le domaine d’application. Par exemple, les méthodes dites hautes fréquences ou globales sont très limitées dans la partie basse du spectre. De même, les méthodes dites basses fréquences deviennent, numériquement, très lourdes et peu performantes si l’on monte en fréquence. Les moyennes fréquences représentent alors les hautes fréquences pour les méthodes globales et les basses fréquences pour les méthodes locales. Comme les incertitudes jouent un rôle important dans les comportements vibratoires en moyennes fréquences, le travail présenté de ce mémoire est une contribution à la recherche d’une approche peu coûteuse en temps de calcul permettant l’extension d’une méthode locale : la méthode des éléments finis ondulatoires, à cette bande de fréquence pour les systèmes à caractère non déterministe. Cette contribution consiste à tenir compte des incertitudes présentes dans le système étudié pour évaluer la dispersion des différents paramètres (spectraux, de diffusion, dynamiques, etc.) et leurs effets sur la réponse globale (cinématique et énergétique) de la structure. Le travail présenté peut être partagé en deux parties. La première concerne le développement des formulations explicites et directes des dispersions des différents paramètres. Cette partie se base sur l’utilisation de la méthode de perturbation à l’ordre un. La deuxième partie est une généralisation de la première. En effet, l’utilisant de la projection des variables aléatoires sur la base des polynômes de chaos permet une évaluation plus générale des effets des incertitudes sur la dynamique des structures périodiques en moyennes fréquences. / The prediction of dynamic behavior of structures is an important task in the design step of any mechanical product. There are many factors affecting the choice of the used methods. For a dynamic system, the frequency band under study is one of the important parameters since for each frequency range exists its appropriate approach which can be quickly inapplicable in other domains. For example, the high frequency methods are very limited in the lower part of the spectrum. Similarly, the so-called low-frequency methods become numerically inefficient if it goes up in frequency range. The mid-frequencies then represent the high-frequencies for global and low frequencies for local methods. Knowing that uncertainties play an important role on the vibro-acoustics behavior in mid-frequencies, the presented work is a contribution to the research approach, with inexpensive computing time, allowing the extension of a local method, called ’the wave finite element method’, in this frequency band. These contributions consist in taking into account uncertainties in the studied system to evaluate the dispersion of all parameters (spectral, diffusion, dynamics, etc.) and their effects on the global response (kinematic and energetic) of the structure. The presented work can be divided into two main parts. The first one involves the development of an explicit and direct formulation describing the dispersion of different parameters; this part is based on the first-order perturbation method. The second part is a generalization of the first one; indeed, using the chaos polynomial projection of all random variables allows a more general assessment of the effects of uncertainties on the dynamics of periodic structure in mid-frequency range.

Induced vibrations due to tire-pavement interaction are one of the main sources of vehicle exterior noise, especially near highways and main roads where traveling speeds are above 50 kph. Its dominant spectral content is approximately within 500-1500 Hz. However, accurate prediction tools within this frequency range are not available. Current methods rely on structural modeling of the complete tire using finite elements and modal expansion approaches that are accurate only at low frequencies. Therefore, alternative physically-based models need to be developed. This work proposes a new approach that incorporates wave behavior along the tire's circumferential direction, while modes are assumed along its transversal direction. The formulation for new infinite plate and cylindrical shell structural models of a tire is presented. These are capable of accounting for orthotropic material properties, different structural parameters between the belt and sidewalls, inflation pressure, and rotation of the tire. In addition, a new contact model between the pavement and the tire is developed presented. The excitation of the tire due to the impact of the tread-pattern blocks in the contact patch region is characterized and coupled to the structure of the tire. Finally, a Boundary Element Method is implemented in order to compute the vibration-induced noise produced by the tire. All the modeling components are combined in a single prediction tool named Wave Pro Tire. Lastly, simulated responses and validation cases are presented in terms of harmonic responses, Frequency Response Functions (FRF), and produced noise. / Doctor of Philosophy / Induced vibrations due to tire-pavement interaction are one of the main sources of vehicle exterior noise, especially near highways and main roads where traveling speeds are above 50 kph. Accurate prediction tools are not currently available. Therefore, new physically based models need to be developed. This work proposes a new approach to model the tire’s structure with a formulation that accounts for multiple physical phenomena. In addition, a model that simulates the contact between the pavement and the tire’s tread is presented. Finally, the vibrations are coupled to the produced noise in a single prediction tool named Wave Pro Tire. This work also includes simulated responses and validation cases.

In many international schools where English is the language of learning and teaching there are large percentages of students whose first language is not English. Many of these students may have low vocabulary levels which inhibits their chances of taking full advantage of their education. Low vocabulary levels can be a particular problem for students in mainstream classes where fluent English speaking teachers are using English to teach content areas of Mathematics, Science and History. Not only do students have to comprehend the low-frequency, academic and technical vocabulary pertaining to the subject, but they also need to know the higher frequency vocabulary that makes up general English usage. If students’ vocabulary levels fall too far below the vocabulary levels with which their teachers are speaking, then their chance of comprehending the topic is small, as is their chance of succeeding in their subjects. This study has two broad aims. Firstly, I have set out to assess the English vocabulary levels of students at an international school where English is the language of learning and teaching. The majority of students at this school do not have English as their first language. The second aim of this study is to explore the vocabulary profile of the teachers’ spoken discourse at the research school. By gaining a better understanding of the nature of teacher discourse – specifically the percentage of high, mid and low-frequency vocabulary, as well as academic vocabulary that they use – English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers will be in a stronger position to identify what the vocabulary learning task is and be able to assist students in reaching the vocabulary levels necessary to make sense of their lessons. This study revealed a large gap between the generally low vocabulary levels of ESL students and the vocabulary levels spoken by their teachers. As a result the need for explicit vocabulary instruction and learning is shown to be very important in English medium (international) schools, where there are large numbers of students whose first language is not English. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Applied Linguistics)