CHAPTER-5

VIBRATION MEASURING INSTRUMENTS

Topics covered:
Theory of Vibration measuring instruments
Displacement measuring instrument (Vibrometer)
Velocity measuring instrument (Velometer)
Acceleration measuring instrument (Accelerometer)
Numerical Problems/Discussions
Theory of Vibration measuring instruments
It is well known that the dynamic forces in a vibratory system depend on the
displacement, velocity and acceleration components of a system:
Spring force displacement
Damping force velocity
Inertia force acceleration
Therefore, in vibration analysis of a mechanical system, it is required to measure the
displacement, velocity and acceleration components of a system. An instrument,
which is used to measure these parameters, is referred as vibration measuring
instrument or seismic instrument. A simple model of seismic instrument is shown in
Fig.5.1. The major requirement of a seismic instrument is to indicate an output, which
represents an input such as the displacement amplitude, velocity or acceleration of a
vibrating system as close as possible.
m-seismic mass
c-damping coefficient of seismic unit
K-stiffness of spring used in seismic unit
x-absolute displacement of seismic mass
y-base excitation (assume SHM)
K
x
m
c
z
Machine
y=Y sint
Frame
Scale
Fig.5.1 Seismic instrument
VTU e-learning Course ME65 Mechanical
Vibrations
Dr. S. K. Kudari, Professor Session: I&II 03-04/04/07
Deptt. Mech. Engg.,
B. V. B. College of Engineering and Technology, Hubli - 580031.
2
z=(x-y) displacement of seismic mass relative to frame
To study the response of the system shown in Fig.5.1, we shall obtain the equation of
motion of seismic mass:
0 ) ( ) ( = + + y x K y x c x m (1)
y m Kz z c z m = + + (2)
Considering base excitation to be SHM:
y(t) =Y sint (3)
t Y m Kz z c z m sin
2
= + + (4)
The above equation represents a equation of motion of a forced vibration with
F Y m =
2

Solution of governing differential equation is:

z
c
is the complimentary solution, which nullifies after some time. The total solution is
thus, only steady state solution z
p
Let, the steady state solution of Eqn.(4) is:
) sin( ) ( = t Z t z (5)
Eqn.(5) has to satisfy Eqn.(4). Substitute Eqn.(5) in (4) and draw force polygon as
already studied in forced vibration. The amplitude of steady state vibration is:
2 2 2
2
) ( ) (

c m K
Y m
Z
+
= (6)
devide above equation by K
2 2 2
2
) 2 ( ) 1 ( r r
Y r
Z
+
= (7)
substitute eqn.(5.7) in eqn.(5.5)
) sin(
) 2 ( ) 1 (
) (
2 2 2
2

+
= t
r r
Y r
t z (8)
the phase angle is:
|
.
|

'

=

2
1
tan

m K
c
(9)
|
.
|

'

=

2
1
1
2
tan
r
r
(10)
The variation of non-dimensional amplitude (Z/Y) with respect to frequency ratio (r)
is shown in Fig.5.2
) ( ) ( ) ( t z t z t z
p c
+ =
VTU e-learning Course ME65 Mechanical
Vibrations
Dr. S. K. Kudari, Professor Session: I&II 03-04/04/07
Deptt. Mech. Engg.,
B. V. B. College of Engineering and Technology, Hubli - 580031.
3
Displacement measuring instrument (Vibrometer)
It is an instrument used to measure the displacement of a vibrating system.
In Eqn.(8) if,
1
) 2 ( ) 1 (
2 2 2
2
~
+ r r
r

(11)
then,
) sin( . ) ( = t Y t z (12)
Eqn.(11) is the condition for vibrometer.
Acceleration measuring instrument (Accelerometer)
It is an instrument used to measure the acceleration of a vibrating system. The
response of the seismic mass is given by Eqn.(8). Double differentiating the Eqn.(8),
we get.
)) sin( (
) 2 ( ) 1 (
) (
2
2 2 2
2
2

+
= t Y
r r
r
t z (13)
)) sin( (
) 2 ( ) 1 (
1
) (
2
2 2 2
2

+
= t Y
r r
t z
n
(14)
In above equation if
1
) 2 ( ) 1 (
1
2 2 2
~
+ r r
(15)
Then,
) sin( ) (
2 2
= t Y t z
n
(16)
we have acceleration component of base excitation:
Eqn.(15) is the condition for accelerometer.
Fig.5.2 Plot of equation 7
0 1 2 3 4
0
1
2
3
4
,=0.0
,=0.1
,=0.2
,=0.3
,=0.4
,=0.5
,=0.707
,=1
Z
/
Y
e/e
n
(r)
VTU e-learning Course ME65 Mechanical
Vibrations
Dr. S. K. Kudari, Professor Session: I&II 03-04/04/07
Deptt. Mech. Engg.,
B. V. B. College of Engineering and Technology, Hubli - 580031.
4
Numerical problems
Problem-1
A seismic instrument is mounted on a machine running at 1000 rpm. The natural
frequency of the seismic instrument is 20 rad/sec. the instrument records relative
amplitude of 0.5 mm. Compute the displacement, velocity and acceleration of the
machine. Neglect the damping in seismic instrument.
Given data
e
n
=20 rad/s, =0
Speed of the machine (N) = 1000 rpm
60
) 1000 ( 2
60
2
= =
N
=104.72 rad/s
Frequency ratio
23 . 5
20
72 . 104
= = =
n
r

For seismic instrument

2 2 2
2
) 2 ( ) 1 ( r r
r
Y
Z
+
=
For the given system damping is neglected
mm
Z
Y 48 . 0
042 . 1
5 . 0
042 . 1
= = =
042 . 1
23 . 5 1
23 . 5
2
2
=

=
Y
Z
Displacement of the machine:
mm
Z
Y 48 . 0
042 . 1
5 . 0
042 . 1
= = =
Velocity of the machine:
.Y = (104.72) 0.48 = 50.26 mm/s
Acceleration of the machine:

2
.Y = (104.72)
2
0.48 = 5263.81 mm/s
2
Problem-2
A seismic instrument has natural frequency of 6 Hz. What is the lowest frequency
beyond which the amplitude can be measured within 2% error. Neglect damping
Given data
e
n
= 6 Hz, =0 and error = 2%
VTU e-learning Course ME65 Mechanical
Vibrations
Dr. S. K. Kudari, Professor Session: I&II 03-04/04/07
Deptt. Mech. Engg.,
B. V. B. College of Engineering and Technology, Hubli - 580031.
5
Damping is neglected for given system
2
2
1 r
r
Y
Z

=
02 . 0 Error =

=
Y
Y Z
Z = Y+0.02 Y = 1.02 Y
2
2
1
02 . 1
r
r
Y
Z

= =
2 2
02 . 1 02 . 1 r r =
r= 0.7034
The lowest frequency beyond which the amplitude can be measured within 2% error
is:
=r.
n
= (0.7034) 6
= 4.22 Hz
Summary
Seismic instruments are used to measure the displacement, velocity and acceleration
components of a vibratory system. Basic theory of Seismic instruments is based on
forced vibration considering the vibratory system under base excitation. A single
Seismic instrument can be sued as vibrometer, velometrer and accelerometer using
suitable calibration.