University of KwaZulu-Natal
School of Mechanical Engineering
EXAMINATIONS JUNE 2004
DNM4MV1 Mechanical Vibrations
Internal Examiner: Dr RC Loubser
External Examiner: Dr CJ Dutton
Duration : Three hours
Total Marks: 100.
Answer ALL five questions
The questions do not carry equal marks
The marks for each section are shown in brackets next to the question number.
Calculators may be used.
All working must be clearly shown
QUESTION 1 [18]
A schematic of a horizontal shaker is shown in figure 1. The shaker consists of a mass supported on four
thin rectangular springs. The springs are L=200mm long, w=50mm wide and t=4mm thick. The Young’s
modulus for the springs is 200 GPa. The mass is coupled to the ground via a damper with damping factor
C=894Ns/m.
The shaker is driven by a motor with an eccentric mass, m0=50g at an eccentricity of e=150mm. The total
mass of the shaker, including motor, is 10 kg.
1) Plot the curve for the amplitude of vibration, x to the frequency ratio, r for 0<=r<=3.
2) Determine the amplitude of vibration for a motor speed of 1440 rev per min.
M
m0
e
Four places
width w
L
C
t
Figure 1 Shaker
QUESTION 2 [18]
A vibration model of lowering mechanism is shown in figure 2. The mechanism consists of the mass,
m=10kg, supported on an inextensible cord. The cord runs over a pulley with moment of inertia
I1=9.8×10 3kgm2 and radius R1=70mm. The cord is wound on a drum of raduis r2=80mm. The flange of the
drum, which has radius R2=110mm is acted on by a brake system which is effectively a linear spring of
stiffness k=5kN/m and a viscous damper with coefficient C=2,8Ns/m.
If the mass is acted on by an alternating force of magnitude F0=20N at a frequency of 1,5Hz, calculate the
amplitude, X, of vibration that would result
k I2
I1
C r2 R1
θ
R2
x
M F0cosΩ t
Figure 2 Lowering mechanism
QUESTION 3 [18]
Figure 3 shows the construction of an acceleration transducer. It consists of a mass, m=20g, on a massless
beam of length 3L. A spring of stiffness k=3,2kN/m is attached a distance L=60mm from the pivot point.
Damper is attached at the end of the beam. The position of the beam, z, is measured midway between mass
and the damper. The mass has negligible width and its moment of inertia can be ignored.
If the transducer is subject to a 50 g oscillation (g=9.81m/s2) at its undamped natural frequency the output
is z=11mm.
Calculate the output displacement, z, for an input of 1m/s2 at 30Hz
L L L
L/2 C
k
θ m
x
z
Figure 3 Acceleration transducer
QUESTION 4 [36]
Figure 4 shows a mass suspended from a pulley. The moment of inertia of the pulley is I=0.2kgm2 and its
radius is r=200mm. The rotation of the pulley is restrained by a shaft with angular stiffness
kθ=1962Nm/rad. The mass, m=100kg, is supported by a light cord with stiffness k=49kN/m. Use the co-
ordinate system [x,θ]T.
1) Determine the mass and stiffness matrices
2) Plot the mass normalized mode shapes
3) If and alternating force F=F0cos Ωt is applied to m. Where F0=100N and Ω=20 rad/s. Use the
spacial model to determine the magnitudes [X,θ]T of the resulting vibration.
4) Use the modal model to determine the magnitudes of the displacements as in 3 above.
Shaft 0
k =1962Nm/rad
θ
Pulley
I=0.2kgm²
r=200mm θ
Spring
x k=49kN/m
x
Mass
m=100kg F0cos Ωt
F0 =100N
Ω =20rad/s
Side View End View
Figure 4 Mass and pulley system
QUESTION 5 [10]
Figure 5a shows a gearbox arrangement. A motor drives the input shaft at 1440 rev per min. The pinion has
25 teeth. This pinion drives a gear with 55 teeth. The pinion on the same shaft has 30 teeth. It drives a gear
with 600 teeth. All the bearings are journal bearings and not rolling element bearings.
Figure 5b shows a spectrum that was measured from the gear box when it was installed. Indicate the origin
of each of the peaks shown on the frequency trace.
Figure 5c shows a trace taken from the same gear box eighteen months later. Describe what faults could be
developing in the gearbox.
30 teeth
60 teeth
25 teeth
55 teeth
1440 rpm
Figure 5a Gearbox layout
Gear Train Gear Train
1600 1600
1400 1400
1200 1200
1000 1000
800 800
600 600
400 400
200 200
0 0
0 500 1000 1500 0 500 1000 1500
Frequency Frequency
Figure 5b Baseline spectrum Figure 5c Condition spectrum
.
FORMULA SHEET
∂ ⎛ ∂E ⎞ ∂E ∂V
⎜ ⎟− + = QqNC i = 1,2,3..N
∂t ⎜⎝ ∂q& i ⎟⎠ ∂qi ∂qi
Lagrange’s Equations:
i
E = 12 mx& 2 + 12 Iθ& 2 , V = 12 kδ 2
−ζω n t
Damped free oscillation: x (t ) = X 0 e cos(ω d t + ϕ )
x(t ) δ
δ = ln ,ζ =
x(t + T ) 4π 2 + δ 2
Forced oscillation of SDOF system: &x& + 2ζω n x& + ω n x = f 0 cos( Ωt )
2
A0 k A0ω n2 1
Imposed force = =
F0 f0 (1 − r ) 2 + (2ζr ) 2
2
m0 e r2
Rotating imbalance X=
m (1 − r 2 ) 2 + (2ζr ) 2
X 1 + (2ζr ) 2
Base =
Y (1 − r 2 ) 2 + (2ζr ) 2
Z r2
Measurement =
Y (1 − r 2 ) 2 + (2ζr ) 2
3EJ EA wt 3
Cantilever k = 3 Rod k = Rectangle J =
l l 12
Small Oscillations of MDOF systems
[K − ω M ]u = 0
2
r λr = ω r2
a 2 λ2 − a1λ + a0 = 0
a 2 = m11m22 − m122 , a1 = k11m22 + k 22 m11 − 2k12 m12 , a0 = k11k 22 − k122
T
⎡ k − λr m12 ⎤
u = ⎢− 12
r
,1⎥
⎣ k11 − λr m11 ⎦
⎡\
⎢⎣
⎤= u T M u
⎥
\⎦
m [ ] [ ][ ]
1
φ =
r r
u
r
m
[K − ω M ]X = F
2
r
N φ rj φ kr
α jk = ∑
r =1 ω r2 − Ω 2
X = [α ]F
Student Number ………………………………….
Gear Train
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0 500 1000 1500
Frequency
Baseline spectrum
Gear Train
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0 500 1000 1500
Frequency
C
Condition spectrum