TO: CHENYE YANG

FROM: BOCAR ZILLA-BA

LAB TITLE: VIBRATION DUE TO ROTATIONAL UNBALANCE
LAB DATE: 3/24/2017
DATE SUBMITTED: 4/14/2017

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this experiment is to study and understand static deflection, free vibrations
and forced vibrations in a system. For free vibration the experimental values were used to
calculate the three coefficients of the unforced equation of motion. The forced vibration was
created by rotating unbalance in the vibrating beam apparatus. The amplitude, motor revolutions
per minute, and motor Hz were recorded for several different motor voltages. From this the data
was analyzed graphically.
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION
For this experiment we used a vibrating beam apparatus, which is a slender horizontal bar,
pivoted at one end, and supported against gravity by a vertical spring as shown in Figure 1
below.

Figure 1: Vibrating Beam Apparatus

The dimensions for the apparatus can be seen in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Vibrating Beam Dimensions
 Length from pin to clamp 7.5 in
Length from pin to wheel 14 in
Length from pin to spring 26 in
Length from pin to mass 28.5 in
Length from pin to sensor 31 in
Length from pin to end 33 in
Wheel diameter 5 in
Wheel thickness .25 in
Small circle cut out diameter 1 in
Center to center of small circle 1.75 in

The sensor on the apparatus is a Linear Variable Differential Transformer also known as an
LDVT. An oscilloscope is also used to trace the sinusoidal motion of the beam as it oscillates.

PROCEDURE
To study static deflection, a mass of 500 grams was placed on the beam and the displacement
of the beam was calculated. From this we were able to calculate the K eq. For free vibration the
beam was displaced and then let freely oscillate. The data was recorded for this oscillation and
then used to calculate the damped frequency and the damping constant c. For the forced
vibrations the motor was set to different voltages and the amplitude, motor revolutions per
minute, and motor Hz were recorded.
RESULTS
The data in table 2 below was collected from the static deflection.

Table 2: Static Deflection Data

Mass 500 g
Displacement 8 mm
Change in Voltage 1.06 V

voltagedistance
From this data we were able calculate Keq. The equation displacement was
LVDT

used and a value of .0096 rad/V. Next the moment of the weight was calculated using equations.
m
F=mg=0.5 kg9.81 2 =4.905 N M =Fd=4.905 N.7239 m=3.551 Nm
s

Keq was calculated by dividing the moment by the value obtained earlier. Keq = 369.9.

The data in table 3 below was collected from the free vibration.
Table 3: Free Vibration Data
Number of cycles 5
Amplitude of cycle 1 1.9 V
Amplitude of cycle 6 1.06 V
Time 1.67 s
 We were able to calculate the damped frequency using the equation.
cycles 5 18.8 rad
w d= 2 = 2=
time 1.67 s
Next the logarithmic decrement was used to find the , which in turn was used to find the
undamped natural frequency. This was then used to find the damping constant.
x1
1
= ln
n ( )
x n +1
1
note nis number of cycles ln ( 1.8 ) =0 .118
5

0. 118
= = =0.0187
4 + 4 2+ 0.11 8 2
2 2

18.8 18.803 rad keq

w d=wn 1 wn=
2
= J 0 = 2 =1.046
1.0 1 87 2 s wn

c=2 w n=0. 703

The data in Table 4 below was obtained from forced vibration.

Table 4: Free Vibration Data
Exact Motor Motor Hz Motor rad/s Displacemen Angle
Voltage rpm, oscilloscop calculated* t amplitude, amplitude,
tachomet e, s volts radians,
er calculated.
4.03 82 2 1.366666667 .064 0.00062
4.99 105.4 1.62 1.756666667 .088 0.000853
5.99 129.6 1.36 2.16 .144 0.001396
6.99 151 1.16 2.516666667 .320 0.003101
7.47 166.1 1.06 2.768333333 .808 0.00783
7.75 169.3 1.03 2.821666667 1.72 0.016669
7.99 175.8 1 2.93 2.46 0.02384
8.25 176.57 .96 2.942833333 1.46 0.014149
8.48 186 .94 3.1 .98 0.009497
8.98 201.69 .88 3.3615 .56 0.005427
9.48 209.55 .84 3.4925 .44 0.004264
9.99 221.38 .8 3.689666667 .38 0.003683
11.99 260.85 .65 4.3475 .26 0.00252
15 342.19 .52 5.703166667 .176 0.001706
20 460.14 .396 7.669 .16 0.001551
 Figure 2: Vibration Amplitude vs. Frequency

As seen in Figure 2 above resonance occurs at 1 Hz. The equation for in terms of w n and
can be found below.
2 r 2

1r 2 2+

J 0
Rme r 2
=

DISCUSSION

All in all this experiment was a success. We were able to calculate the theoretical values based
off of the experimental values we obtained in the experiment. The experimental data shows a
clear resonance point when it was plotted. This was found to be at 1 Hz. Some possible sources
of error are that when measuring the timing and amplitude of the cycle, it could have not been
completely at the right point. Another source of error could be incorrect readings from the
tachometer.