300035 – Kinematics and Kinetics of Machines

Experimental determination of mass moment of inertia of a conrod

Experiment 1

Name: Isfakul Jamal shihan

Id: 19227290

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Contents

1.0 Aim .............................................................................................................................................. 3

2.0 Background ................................................................................................................................. 3
3.0 Methodology............................................................................................................................... 4
3.1 Experimental Setup and Procedure ................................................................................................ 4
3.2 Equations used for theoretical calculations.................................................................................... 6
4.0 Results ......................................................................................................................................... 6
5.0 Discussion: .................................................................................................................................. 8
6.0 Calculations ................................................................................................................................. 8
7.0 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 10
8.0 References ................................................................................................................................ 10

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1.0 Aim
The primary objective of this paper is to measure the mass moment of inertia of an internal combustion
engines connecting rod and to apply parallel axes theorem to determine the mass moment of inertia
about an axis passing through the center of mass of the connecting rod.

2.0 Background
The rotational (or polar) mass moment of inertia about an axis (of rotation) is a measure of distribution
of the rotating mass about that axis. Its dimension in SI units is km.m2 and it is usually denoted by I or J.

Consider the generalized body (compound pendulum) suspended at O, and let C denote its center
of mass, as indicated in the figure below.

Also, let d denote the distance between O and C, and IO the mass moment of inertia of the body about
an axis through the pivot point O. The body oscillates about O such that ∅ can be used to describe its
motion. For an angular displacement∅, the restoring moment (due to the weight of the body W = mg)
is W d sin ∅ and ‘d’ is the distance from each end.
This equation of motion is satisfied by ∅ = 𝑆𝑖𝑛(2𝜋𝐼𝑁 𝑡) , where

1 𝑊𝑑
𝐾𝑛 = √ − − − − − 𝐸𝑞. 1
2𝜋 𝐼𝑂

By measuring the duration of a cycle, we are able to calculate the value of 𝐾𝑛 . 𝐾𝑛 Is called the natural
frequency of the system and is measured in cycles/second.

The mass moment of inertia IO about the axis at O can now be calculated.

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The Parallel Axes Theorem states that the mass moment of inertia (IO) of a body about a given axis is
equal to the sum of the mass moment of inertia (IC) about a parallel axis through its center of mass (C)
and the product of its mass and the square of distance (d) between the two axes, 𝐼𝑜 = 𝐼𝐶 + 𝑚𝑑2 .

3.0 Methodology
3.1 Experimental Setup and Procedure

Figure 1.1 Figure 1.2

The figures above shows the connecting rod suspended by the inside of its larger end (figure 1.1) and
inside of its smaller end (figure 1.2), which has a protractor behind to measure 10 degrees from vertical.

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 Figure 2.1 Balance scale with knife edges

Conrod
Knife
edge

Figure 2.2

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The experimental procedure is as following:-

1. The weight of the connecting rod on mass balance is recorded.

2. The steel knife-edge is placed on the both scales (on the middle of the balance holding tray) and
their weight is recorded.
3. The distance between the two knife edges is measured, which is the separation between which
should be such that the provided connecting rod can span the distance wile each end rest on a
knife-edge.
4. The connecting rod is placed on the two knife-edges and weight is recorded from each mass
balance.
5. The connecting rod is suspended by the inside of its smaller edge on the knife edge attached to
the wall and release the connecting rod about 10 degrees from vertical.
6. Measure the time for 10, 20 and 30 oscillations three times.
7. Repeat steps 6-7 with the connecting rod suspended by the inside of its larger end on the knife-
edge attached to the lab wall.

3.2 Equations used for theoretical calculations.

1
𝐾𝑛 = − − − − − − − −𝐸𝑞. 1
𝑇𝑛

1 𝑊𝑑
𝐾𝑛 = √ − − − − − 𝐸𝑞. 2
2𝜋 𝐼𝑂

𝐼𝑜 = 𝐼𝐶 + 𝑚𝑑2 − − − − − − − 𝐸𝑞. 3

4.0 Results

No. of T1 (s) T2 (s) T3 (s) Taverage (s) Tn (S/cycle) Tn

oscillations Average

10 10.25 10.62 10.50 10.457 1.046

1.036
20 20.91 20.78 20.84 20.893 1.042

30 30.34 30.30 31.03 30.560 1.019

Table 1: Suspend by inside of smaller end

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 No. of T1 (s) T2 (s) T3 (s) Taverage (s) Tn (S/cycle) Tn
oscillations Average

10 09.62 10.01 09.54 09.74 0.974

0.963
20 19.06 19.13 19.09 19.09 0.955
30 28.78 28.90 28.60 28.76 0.959
Table 2: Suspend by inside of larger end

Object Balance 1 (Grams) Balance 2 (Grams)

Connecting rod 2992.0 516.5
Steel knife edge 116.5 116.5
Connecting rod on knife edge 2146.0 1362.0
Table 3: Recorded masses

Measured distance between 2 knife-edge = 32.0 cm

Difference in natural period of oscillations

1.06
1.04
Period of oscillation

1.02
1
0.98
Tn small
0.96
Tn Large
0.94
0.92
0.9
10 20 30
No of oscillations

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5.0 Discussion:

We can see that the value of 𝐼𝑂 for the smaller end is higher compared to the smaller end, which is
expected because the larger end is further away from the center of mass O than the smaller end.
We can see that the values of 𝐼𝐶 about the center of mass is almost similar, which proves that the
experiment is a success.

The values in this experiment are less than theoretical values mainly because we neglect human reacting
time in the calculation. It is assumed to be zero, which is not true in real life situations. Other
assumptions that allow us to make use of equation of motion equation, but at the same time reduce the
accuracy of experimental values obtained (Genta and Delprete, 1994).

While the proportion of the mass of any segment is basic and can be performed effectively with the
required precision, the test assurance of the snapshots of dormancy is unmistakably progressively
troublesome especially where evaluation of the feasible exactness is concerned. The moments of inertia
about the principal axes about the primary axis are typically estimated and, before really taking any
estimation, these axes must be found, which is clear whether at least one planes of symmetry exist.

In any case, even for this situation the genuine mass distribution can veer off to a lesser or more greater
degree from the hypothetical one and the estimations taken accepting a given position of the primary
axes of inertia can bring approximate values. In some cases as opposed to estimating the snapshot of
idleness around one of the main axes straightforwardly, the estimation is alluded to a pivot parallel to it:
there is no trouble to process the required inertial trademark if the separation of the focal point of mass
from the hub is known (Ringegni, Actis and Patanella, 2001).

6.0 Calculations

Calculating the center of mass of the rod:

Mg

A C B

X Y=32-X
F1 F2

32cm

By reading the mass from 2 balance, we found, F1 = 21.05 N and F2 = 13.36 N.

Taking moments about C;

𝑀𝐶 = 0

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 𝐹1 ∗ 𝑋 − 𝐹2 ∗ (32 − 𝑋) = 0
21.05𝑋 − 427.52 + 13.36𝑋 = 0
34.41𝑋 = 427.52
∴ 𝑋 = 12.42 𝑐𝑚
∴ 𝑌 = 19.58 𝑐𝑚

Calculating 𝐾𝑁 of the smaller end:

1
𝐾𝑁 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 = = 0.965
1.036

Calculating 𝐾𝑁 of the larger end:

1
𝐾𝑁 𝐿𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 = = 1.039
0.963

Calculating mass moment of inertia, 𝐼𝑂 about the axis at O for smaller end:
1 𝑊𝑑
𝐾𝑁 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 = √
2𝜋 𝐼𝑂

1 𝑊𝑑
0.965 = √
2𝜋 𝐼𝑂
1 𝑊𝑑
0.9652 = ( )2
2𝜋 𝐼𝑂

0.9312𝐼𝑂 = 0.0253𝑤𝑑

0.0253 ∗ 34.418 ∗ 0.1957

∴ 𝐼𝑂 =
0.9312

𝐼𝑂 = 0.184 𝑚4

Mass moment of inertia, 𝐼𝐶 about center C for smaller end:

𝐼𝑜 = 𝐼𝐶 + 𝑚𝑑 2 .

0.183 = 𝐼𝐶 + (3.508 ∗ 0.1957)2

∴ 𝐼𝐶 = 0.0486 𝑚4

Calculating mass moment of inertia, 𝐼𝑂 about the axis at O for larger end:
1 𝑊𝑑
𝐾𝑁 𝐿𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 = √
2𝜋 𝐼𝑂

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 1 𝑊𝑑
1.039 = √
2𝜋 𝐼𝑂
1 𝑊𝑑
1.0392 = ( )2
2𝜋 𝐼𝑂

1.0795𝐼𝑂 = 0.0253𝑤𝑑

0.0253 ∗ 34.418 ∗ 0.1242

∴ 𝐼𝑂 =
1.0795

𝐼𝑂 = 0.100 𝑚4

Mass moment of inertia, 𝐼𝐶 about center C for larger end:

𝐼𝑜 = 𝐼𝐶 + 𝑚𝑑 2 .

0.100 = 𝐼𝐶 + (3.508 ∗ 0.1242)2

∴ 𝐼𝐶 = 0.0479 𝑚4

7.0 Conclusion

The objective of this experiment to measure the mass moment of inertia of an internal combustion
engines connecting rod and to apply parallel axes theorem to determine the mass moment of inertia
about an axis passing through the center of mass of the connecting rod, both of which have been met.
Both the values of 𝐼𝑜 and 𝐼𝐶 has been calculated and the values for 𝐼𝐶 is almost similar can be seen
clearly.

8.0 References

1. Genta, G. and Delprete, C. (1994). Some considerations on the experimental determination of

moments of inertia. Meccanica, 29(2), pp.125-141.
2. Ringegni, P., Actis, M. and Patanella, A. (2001). An experimental technique for determining mass
inertial properties of irregular shape bodies and mechanical assemblies. Measurement, 29(1),
pp.63-75.

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