11/3/2018 Balancing of Reciprocating and Rotating Masses Study Notes for Mechanical Engineering

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Balancing of Reciprocating and Rotating Masses Study

Notes for Mechanical Engineering
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Balancing

Balancing is de ned as the process of designing a machine in which

unbalance force is minimum. The rotating and reciprocating parts of a high
speed engine if are not properly balanced, the dynamic forces will be setup.

Balancing of rotating Masses

If the centre of mass of rotating machines does not lie on the axis of rotation,
the inertia force is given by F 1 = mω 2 e

where, m = mass of the machine

ω = angular speed of the machine
e = eccentricity i.e., the distance from the centre of mass to the axis of
rotation.
Internal and external Balancing

Let a shaft carry an unbalanced mass m 1 with the centre of mass located at
distance e from the axis of rotation. The shaft can be completely balancing by
adding a mass m 1 at a distance e 1 from the axis of rotation diametrically
opposite to m so that,

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11/3/2018 Balancing of Reciprocating and Rotating Masses Study Notes for Mechanical Engineering

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mω 2 e = m 1 ω 2 e 1
(where, = speed of rotation of the shaft)
me = m 1 e 1

In this case R A = 0, R B = 0

The shaft will also be free from dynamic bending stress. This situation is referred
to as internal balancing.
The dynamic reactions R A and R B can be reduced to zero, by adding two balancing
masses m 1 and m 2 at distances e 1 and e 2 respectively from the shaft in the same
axial plane as m but on the opposite side of the axis of rotation.
me = m1e1 + m2e2
mea = m 1 e 1 a 1  + m 2 e 2 a

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11/3/2018 Balancing of Reciprocating and Rotating Masses Study Notes for Mechanical Engineering

This situation is referred as external balancing where the entire length of

the shaft is not from dynamic bending stresses.
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Static Balancing

If a shaft carries a number of unbalanced masses such that the centre of

mass of the system is said to be statically balanced.
Statically balancing is de ned as below

Dynamic Balancing

A system of rotating masses in dynamic balance when there does not exist
any resultant centrifugal force as well as resultant couple.

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11/3/2018 Balancing of Reciprocating and Rotating Masses Study Notes for Mechanical Engineering

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Balancing of Several Masses in Different Planes

Let there be a rotor revolving with a uniform angular velocity ω, m 1 , m 2 and m 3

are the masses attached to the rotor at radii r 1 , r 2 and r 3 respectively. The
masses m 1 , m 2 and m 3 rotate in planes 1, 2, 3 respectively. In order to
complete balancing, Let introduce two counter masses

 and

 at radii 

 and

 respectively.

Balancing Forces

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11/3/2018 Balancing of Reciprocating and Rotating Masses Study Notes for Mechanical Engineering

According to gure, the balancing forces are de ned as

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Balancing Couples

Let be

 placed in reference plane and

 be l 2 from reference plane

By complex method,

and

Balancing of Reciprocating Mass

This diagram shows the condition of the balancing of reciprocating mass

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11/3/2018 Balancing of Reciprocating and Rotating Masses Study Notes for Mechanical Engineering

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Force required to accelerate mass is

Primary Balancing of Reciprocating Mass

If c is the fraction of the reciprocating mass, primary force balanced by the

mass

= cmr ω 2 cos θ

Primary force unbalanced by the mass

= (1-c)mr ω 2 cos θ

Vertical component of centrifugal force which remains unbalanced

= cmr ω 2 sin θ

Resultant unbalanced force at any instant

The resultant unbalanced force is minimum when 

Secondary Balancing of Reciprocating Mass

The secondary balancing of reciprocating mass is de ned as the given below.

Secondary force 

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11/3/2018 Balancing of Reciprocating and Rotating Masses Study Notes for Mechanical Engineering

Primary forces must balance i.e., primary force polygon is enclosed.

Primary
Allcouples
Exams must balance i.e., primary couple polygon STORE
is enclosed.
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Secondary forces must balance i.e., secondary force polygon is enclosed.

Secondary couples must balance i.e., secondary couple polygon is enclosed.

Balancing of Inline Engine

The in-line engine is a multi-cylinder engine in which the line of stroke of all
reciprocating parts are placed parallel to each other. The net force acting on
inline is equal to zero. For this, the line of action of the forces must be same,
or in other words, the centre of mass of the system lie on the line.
Primary force = mr ω 2 [cos θ + cos(180°+θ)]=0
Primary couple = mr ω 2 l cos θ

Maximum value at θ = 0° and 180°

Secondary force 

Maximum value at θ = 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°

Primary couple

Balancing of V-Engines
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11/3/2018 Balancing of Reciprocating and Rotating Masses Study Notes for Mechanical Engineering

Consider a symmetrical two cylinder V-engine as shown in gure.

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Primary Force
Total primary force along x-axis= 2 mr ω 2 cos 2 α cos θ
Total primary force along z-axis= 2 mr ω 2 sin 2 α cos θ
Resultant primary force

In case of 2α = 90°
tanβ = tanθ

and resultant force = mr ω 2 i.e., β=θ or it acts along the crank and it can be
complete balance volume by diametrically opposite mass such that m r r r = mr.
For a given value of α, the resultant primary force is maximum when θ is 0 o .
Secondary Force

Total secondary force along x-axis

Total secondary force along z-axis

Resultant secondary force

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11/3/2018 Balancing of Reciprocating and Rotating Masses Study Notes for Mechanical Engineering

If 2α = 90° or α = 45°
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Secondary force 

tanβ’ = ∞ ⇒ β’=90
This means that at α = 45 o , the force out along z-axis and is a harmonic force and
special methods are needed to balance it.
Balancing of Radial Engine

Crank rotating in the direction of engine rotation is known as the direct crank
and imaginary crank rotating in the opposite direction is known as reverse
crank.
OA = primary direct crank
OA’ = primary reverse crank
OC = secondary direct crank
OC’ = secondary reverse crank

Component of centrifugal force due to rotating mass along the line of stroke are
given below
Due to mass at 

Due to mass at 

Thus total force along line of stroke = mr ω 2 cosθ

Which is equal to the primary force.

Secondary accelerating force 

Component of centrifugal force due to rotating mass along the line of stroke are
given below

Due to mass at

Due to mass at
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11/3/2018 Balancing of Reciprocating and Rotating Masses Study Notes for Mechanical Engineering

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Total secondary force along line of stroke

Thanks
Team gradeup!

144 upvotes 19 comments

Tags : Mechanical Engineering GATE ME Theory of Machines

Posted by:

Vineet Vijay
Sep 19 Mechanical Engineering

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