Document Reference No.

NV-LS-05
LABORATORY
PRACTICUM
BDC 4013

Document Title

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Revision No.
Amendment Date
Effective Date

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1 JULY 2009
6 JULY 2009

COURSE INFORMATION
COURSE CODE : BDC 4013
COURSE NAME : NOISE AND VIBRATION
EXPERIMENT : GEAR MESH AND BELT SPECTRUM
1.

INTRODUCTION
Successful diagnostics and troubleshooting of rotating machinery require an accurate and
repeatable quality data collection. The understanding of machinery design and operating
dynamics is vital to accurately interpret typical fault pattern and symptoms.
There are various problems with gear meshing and belt drive. These include part worn, loose,
mismatch and eccentricity.
The defect can be highlighted through frequency patterns resulted from data measurement.
Normally the defect can be identified by high amplitudes at timing frequency

2.

OBJECTIVES
The objective of this experiment is to determine the gear mesh and belt frequency in rotating
machine.

3.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this experiment, the student would be able to
a. Differentiate the vibration characteristics of belt and gear mesh,
b. Obtain the resonance frequency of gear mesh and belt

Prepared by: PANEL OF NOISE AND VIBRATION

Approved by: HEAD OF ENG. MECHANICS DEPARTME

Signature:

Signature:

Name: DR. NOORMAZIAH BTE JAFFERI

Name: DR. HJ. BADRUL BIN OMAR

Date: 01 JULY 2009

Date: 01 JULY 2009

Document Reference No.

Document Title

4.

NV-LS-05
LABORATORY
PRACTICUM
BDC 4013

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Revision No.
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Effective Date

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1 JULY 2009
6 JULY 2009

THEORY
Normal Gear Spectrum
A normal spectrum shows 1x and 2x RPM. Along with gear mesh frequency (Fg). Fg commonly
will have running speed sidebands. All peaks are of low amplitude. A typical pattern is shown in
Figure 1.
Worn, Loose and Mismatched Belts Spectrum.
Belt frequencies are below the RPM of either the motor or the driven machine. When they are
worn, loose or mismatched, they normally induce 3 to 4 multiples of belt pass frequency (F x PI x
D/L), 2 x belt frequencies is often the predominant peak. A typical pattern of loose belt is depicted
in Figure 2.

Figure 1: Gear Mesh pattern

5.

Figure 2: Belt pattern

APPARATUS
A specific experimental test bench and portable measurement tool (vibration analyser) with
accelerometer is used for this experiment.

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Document Title

6.

NV-LS-05
LABORATORY
PRACTICUM
BDC 4013

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Revision No.
Amendment Date
Effective Date

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1 JULY 2009
6 JULY 2009

PROCEDURES
Part A: Gear Mesh.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Mount accelerometer in correct position.

Set the frequency converter to 50Hz and switch on the motor.
Take readings according the route content: measurement points 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Set up the portable measurement tool (vibration analyser).
Print the relevant spectrum for each measurement point.

Part B: Belt
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Mount accelerometer in correct position.

Set the frequency converter to 50Hz and switch on the motor.
Take readings according the route content: measurement points 7 and 8.
Set up the portable measurement tool (vibration analyser).
Print the relevant spectrum for each measurement point.

Document Reference No.

LABORATORY
PRACTICUM
BDC 4013

Document Title

7.

NV-LS-05

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1 JULY 2009
6 JULY 2009

OBSERVATIONS
Observe the experimental measurement by completing Table 1 and Table 2. Take note on the
measurement reports and issued spectra, the presence of the gear mesh and belt frequency.

Table 1: Data measurement for gear mesh

Accelerometer

Spectrum

Velocity
(RPM)

Frequency
(Hz)

Amplitude
(g)

p3
Point 3

p4
p5
p3

Point 4

p4
p5
p3

Point 5

p4
p5
p3

Point 6

p4
p5

Table 2: Data measurement for belt

Accelerometer

Spectrum
p3

Point 7
p4
p3
Point 8
p4

Velocity
(RPM)

Frequency
(Hz)

Amplitude
(g)

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8.

NV-LS-05
LABORATORY
PRACTICUM
BDC 4013

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DISCUSSIONS
1. Explain the characteristics of vibration occur in gear mesh and belt frequency.
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2. Compare the result obtained at p3, p4 and p5 of gear mesh frequency. Explain.
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3. Compare the result obtained at p3 and p4 of belt frequency. Explain.
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Document Title

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LABORATORY
PRACTICUM
BDC 4013

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4. If, the gear tooth is wear, what do you expect the characteristics of the spectrum?
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5. If, the belt resonance, what do you expect the characteristics of the spectrum?
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6. If you want to use either one of this part, which part will you use? Please explain why?
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9.

NV-LS-05
LABORATORY
PRACTICUM
BDC 4013

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Revision No.
Amendment Date
Effective Date

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6 JULY 2009

CONCLUSION
Please comment on your experimental work in terms of achievement, problems facing throughout
the experiment and recommendation for improvements.
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10. REFERENCES
1. Rao, S. S., (2005). Mechanical Vibrations, 4th Edition, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson
Education
2. De Silva, C. W., (2000).Vibration: Fundamentals and Practice, 2nd Edition, Boca Raton, FL:
Taylor & Francis.
3. Ver, I. L. and L. L. Beranek (2006).Noise and Vibration Control Engineering: Principles and
Applications, 2nd Edition, New Jersey: John Wiley.