Page 2 of 10

1.0

Introduction

Vibration is a mechanical phenomenon whereby oscillations occur about an equilibrium

point. The oscillations may be periodic such as the motion of a pendulum or random such as
the movement of a tire on a gravel road. A vibratory system, in general, includes a means for
storing potential energy (spring or elasticity), a means for storing kinetic energy (mass and
inertia) and a means by which energy is gradually lost (damper).
The vibration of a system involves the transfer of its potential energy to kinetic energy and of
kinetic energy to potential energy, alternately.
Vibration generally is divided into two main types which are free vibration and forced
vibration. Free vibration occurs when a mechanical system is set off with an initial input and
then allowed to vibrate freely.
Forced vibration is when a time-varying disturbance (load, displacement or velocity) is
applied to a mechanical system. The disturbance can be a periodic, steady-state input, a
transient input, or a random input. The periodic input can be a harmonic or a non-harmonic
disturbance.
1.1

Forced Vibration

Forced vibration refers to the motion of the system which occurs in response to an excitation
which is continuous whose magnitude varies sinusoidally with time. The type of excitation
can be force applied direction to the system for example force applied to the mass of single
degree of freedom system or subjected to the motion of the foundation that supports the
system.

Page 3 of 10

1.2

One Degree of Freedom Forced Vibration

In the case of sinusoidal force F = P sin wt applied to the mass of the undamped

single

degree of freedom system, considering the steady state component only,

F 0
d 2x
P sin t
dt 2
x A sin t

kx m

(1.6)

kAsin t m 2 sin t P sin t

A

P
k m 2

The frequency of excitation is increase from zero (w=0) the following would happen

At low frequency which means w = 0, the inertia resistance w2 m is approximately equal to

zero or close to zero. Then it showed the condition is still under controlled stiffness. From
low frequency to its natural frequency or resonance, as the excitation frequency will be
increased, the inertia will also increase and it will come to a moment that the inertia
resistance is equal to the stiffness resistance and they cancel each other(mw2 = k) . So we can
say that the force is now acting on the mass without any resistance. Largest amplitude can be

Page 4 of 10

observed at this moment since there is no resistance in the system. Amplitude becomes larger
and larger until the maximum amplitude is achieved and this is the resonance. The frequency
at that instant is called natural frequency. If the frequency is continuously increased, inertia
resistance will overcome the stiffness resistance. Displacement will be out of phase with
force F. Magnitude of the oscillation will become smaller and smaller until a point which the
whole system is fully controlled by the mass. And the system can be said in isolation state.

2.0

Calculation Formula

2.1

Determine stiffness of the beam:

Figure 1: Fixed-Fixed End Beam

[
when

fixed-fixed end.

) ]

Page 5 of 10

From Hooke's Law, response of beam to applied force is:

) ]

Moment of inertia:

Figure 2: Beam Cross-Sectional View

Page 6 of 10

2.2

Vibration term

Undamped natural frequency:

where

Critical Damping:

Damping ratio:

Damped frequency:

Page 7 of 10

3.0

Equipment and Material

a) Stainless steel beam (L 119.4cm W 2.5052 cm H 0.4654cm) 1082.5g
b) Motor and guide
c) Drive Load
d) Rotating Disc
e) LVDT
f) Tachometer
g) Motor Operating Unit
h) Data Acquisition System
i) Monitor
j) Software

3.1

i.

NI-DAQ Measurement and Instrumentation

ii.

DasyLab

Apparatus set-up

Page 8 of 10

4.0

Experiment Procedure

a) Fix the beam on the supporting beam.

b) Attach the rotating disc to the motor on the rotating disc.
c) Locate LVDT sensor on the beam and connect it to Data Acquisition System.
d) Fix Tachometer to the tripod stand and switch on the laser pointer pointing towards the
rotating disc.
e) Connect Tachometer to the Data Acquisition System.
f) Link computer to the Data Acquisition System by using the USB port and start the
National Instrument NI-DAQ software.
g) On the NI-DAQ software, under the Data Neighbourhood, create New NI-DAQ task.
h) Select as acquired analog signal and select voltage and assign to connected channel.
i) Rename the task, run and save the task.
j) Run the DasyLab program, synchronize the DasyLab with the NI-DAQ task created
before.
k) Built module on DasyLab and run the experiment.
l) Fix 100g on the motor and run the motor
m) Record the data.
n) Step 11 and 12 is repeated by applying another two masses which are 300g and 500g.
o) Analyze the data.

Page 9 of 10

5.0

Results and Discussion

5.1

Data Table

Mass (g)

Natural Frequency (rad/s)

Theoretical

Natural Frequency (Hz)

Theoretical

Experimental

200
400
600

Table 1: Effect of various mass on natural frequency.

RPM

Natural Frequency, 0 (Hz)

Experimental
Theoretical

100
200
300
400
500

Table 2: Effect of different RPM on natural frequency.

.

Page 10 of 10

6.0

Discussion

a. What is the natural frequency of the system?

b. What are the trends observed in its frequency? Are the natural frequencies the same or
different for 200g, 400g and 600g attached to the system?
c. Will different RPM affect the natural frequency? Are these results what you would
expect? Do they fit with theoretical predictions?
d. Calculate parameters theoretical value and compare with experimental value. (Take care
of the units).
Show your calculation:

e. Discuss some possible application of single degree of freedom forced vibration.

7.0

Conclusion

8.0

References