Experiment 1 : FORCED VIBRATION OF AN UNDAMPED SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

1.0 Objective
To determine the amplitude of vibration for an undamped simply supported beam subjected to a
rotating unbalanced mass, variable mass and fixed motor speed.

2.0 Procedure
Setting the apparatus

1. The position of the supports is check to make sure that they are at the same level.
2. The beam is take and mount it on the two supports. The beam is held in position at one
support by slightly turning the screw such that it touches the beam. The other end of the
beam is free to slide over the support.
3. The centre of the beam is locate and fixed the motor with the out-of-balanced mass at this
location.
4. The vertical guide is fixed to the horizontal member of the frame directly below this
position.
5. The mass has been decide to be used for loading beam.
6. The weight stopper is anchor tightly to the loading load.
7. The loading rod is insert through the hole at the centre of the mass.
8. The another weight stopper is insert at the bottom of the mass and tightened it so that the
mass is between the two weight stoppers.
9. The lower end of the loading rod is insert thoroughly the hole in the vertical guide.
10. The top if universal joint is screw to the top end of the loading load.
11. The top of the universal joint is screw to the threaded hole at the bottom of the motor
mounting.
12. The position of the vertical guide is adjust so that the loading rod is vertical and free to
oscillate.
13. The LVDT to the LVDT stand is fixed.
 14. The position of the stand is adjust so that the LVDT’s probe is resting on top of the motor
and clear of all objects.
15. The stand is anchor to the frame by turning the knob at the top of the stand.
16. The height of the LVDT is adjust so that the probe is approximately at its centre position.
The LVDT is anchor to the stand.
17. The LVDT to one of the channel at the data acquisition terminal block is connected.

Setting the motor speed

18. The motor speed in rpm is decided.

19. The motor is switch on. The speed control button is adjust until the desired speed is
displayed on the LED monitor.
20. The motor is switch off and let the oscillation dies down.

Setting the software

21. From the Window Start Menu, go to the program menu. Choose Data translation Inc.
then click on the quickDAQ button. This will run the data acquisition program.
22. Refer to the quickDAQ manual to setup the data acquisition system.
23. Click the ‘Run’ button to record the initial position of the displacement transducer.
24. After a few seconds, click the ‘Stop’ button.
25. Save data using the ‘Save as’ command in the ‘File’ menu. Save data in the CSV format
so that it can be read by EXCEL spreadsheet.
26. The motor is switch on and click the ‘Run’ button to record the oscillation of the beam.
27. After a few seconds, click the ‘stop’ button and switch off the motor. Let the oscillation
dies down.
28. Save data using the ‘Save As’ command in the ‘File Menu’. Save data in the CSV format
so that it can be read by EXCEL spreadsheet.
29. The loading load is unscrew and the weight stopper and increase the load on the rod.
30. The weight stopper is tightened and the top end of the loading rod is screw to the hole of
the bottom of the motor mounting.
31. Step 27 to 29 is repeated for a few more load increments.
32. The width and thickness of the beam is measured.
3.0 Experiment result
A) Parameters measurement

Parameters Measurements
Diameter of out of balance mass 62.22 mm
Mass of out of balance mass 200 gm each
Mass of motor assembly 1070 gm
Mass of loading rod 225 gm
Thickness of beam 7.1 mm
Width of beam 25.4 mm
Moment of Inertia, I of beam 757. 58 mm4
Length between support 1010 mm
Motor speed from speed indicator 453 rpm

Table 1 : Parameters Measurement Information

Formula :

 Moment of inertia of beam, I :  Stiffness of beam, k :

b 3 Elasticity of stainless steel, E = 193 GPa
I x =( )h
12
k =( 48 EI )/l 3
1
()(25 .4)(7.1)3 9 −10
= 48 (193 x 10 )(7 . 5758 x 10 )/1 . 010
3
= 12
= 757. 58 mm4 = 7.5758x10-10 m4 = 6811.82 N/m
B) Frequency and Period Oscillation
Mass : 200g

Data. No of cycle Time per cycle

Cycle no
Start End (milisecond)
1 31.8 32.1 130

2 11.6 11.8 130

3 12.5 12.7 130

4 12.1 12.3 130

5 10.0 10.3 140

Table 2: Cycles Data for Load Bouncing for 200g

i. Scanning rate = 500 samples / sec

ii. Time to scan 1 sample = 1/500 sec
iii. Average time per cycle = 0.132 sec.
iv. Average frequency =7.576 cycle/sec
v. Average Angular frequency = 47.60 rad/sec
vi. Average period of oscillation = 0.132 sec/cycle

√
 Angular frequency , ꞷ: 6811.82
= 1 . 635
m = 0.2 + 0.2 + 1.010 + 0.225
= 64.55 rad/sec

= 1.635 kg
 Force

√ k ω 0 = (453/60)(2П) = 47.44 rad/sec

ω=
m e=0 . 15
F=mω20 e
 = (0.2)(47.44)2(0.15) F
Y=
= 67.52 N ω −ω20
2

67 . 52
2 2
 Amplitude, Y = (64 . 55) −(47 . 44 )
= 0.0352 m
Analysis :
Graph :

LVDT vs Time per cycle no 1 LVDT vs Time per cycle no 2

12 12

10 10

8 8

6 6

4 4

2 2

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

LVDT vs Time per cycle no 3 LVDT vs Time per cycle no 4

12 12

10 10

8 8

6 6

4 4

2 2

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
 LVDT vs Time per cycle no 5
12

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Mass : 400g

Data. No of cycle Time per cycle

Cycle no
Start End (milisecond)
1 11.5 11.6 156

2 14.1 14.3 152

3 11.8 12.0 154

4 0.5 0.6 158

5 11.0 11.2 152

Table 3: Cycles Data for Load Bouncing for 400g

i. Scanning rate = 500 samples / sec

ii. Time to scan 1 sample = 1/500 sec
iii. Average time per cycle = 0.154 sec.
iv. Average frequency = 6.50 cycle/sec
v. Average Angular frequency = 40.80 rad/sec
vi. Average period of oscillation = 0.154 sec/cycle

 Angular frequency , ꞷ:
 e=0 . 15
m = 0.2 + 0.4 + 1.010 + 0.225
F=mω20 e
= (0.4)(47.44)2(0.15)
= 1.835 kg
= 135.03 N

ω=
√ k
m  Amplitude, Y

= √ 6811.82
1 . 835 Y=
F
ω −ω20
2
= 60.93 rad/sec
135 . 03
2 2
= (60 . 93) −( 47 . 44 )
 Force
= 0.092
ω 0 = (453/60)(2П) = 47.44 rad/sec
Analysis :

LVDT vs Time per cycle no 1 LVDT vs Time per cycle no 2

12 12

10 10

8 8

6 6

4 4

2 2

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

LVDT vs Time per cycle no 3 LVDT vs Time per cycle no 4

12 12
10 10

8 8

6 6

4 4

2 2

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

LVDT vs Time per cycle no 5

12

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Mass : 600g

Data. No of cycle Time per cycle

Cycle no
Start End (milisecond)
1 13.4 13.5 160

2 15.5 15.6 164

3 11.9 12.1 166

4 9.4 9.5 156

5 7.7 7.8 158

Table 4: Cycles Data for Load Bouncing for 600g

i. Scanning rate = 500 samples / sec

ii. Time to scan 1 sample = 1/500 sec
iii. Average time per cycle = 0.16 sec.
iv. Average frequency = 6.25 cycle/sec
v. Average Angular frequency = 39.27 rad/sec
vi. Average period of oscillation = 0.16 sec/cycle

 Angular frequency , ꞷ:

= 57.86 rad/sec
m = 0.2 + 0.6 + 1.010 + 0.225

 Force
= 2.035 kg ω 0 = (453/60)(2П) = 47.44 rad/sec

ω=
√ k
m
e=0 . 15
F=mω20 e

= √ 6811.82
2 . 035
= (0.6)(47.44)2(0.15)
= 202.55 N
 202 .55
2 2
 Amplitude, Y = (57 . 86) −(47 . 44 )
= 0.184 m
F
Y= 2
ω −ω20

Analysis :

LVDT vs Time per cycle no 1 LVDT vs Time per cycle no 3

12 12

10 10

8 8

6 6

4 4

2 2

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

LVDT vs Time per cycle no 2 LVDT vs Time per cycle no 4

12 12

10 10

8 8

6 6

4 4

2 2

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
 LVDT vs Time per cycle no 5
12

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
 Average Angular Freq
= Frequency of Double
No Mass (kg)
rotating Mass Amplitude,YT (mm)
(rad/sec)
1 0.2 47.60 1.32
2 0.4 40.80 1.20
3 0.6 39.27 1.20

Table 5: Data of Average Angular Frequency and Period

Theoretical Amplitude

Average Single Experimental Double

Oscillating Mass, m
Double Amplitude Yт Amplitude, Amplitude, Yт
kg
m Y=Yт/2 m
m

0.2 0.0704 0.0352 0.00132

0.4 0.184 0.092 0.00132
0.6 0.368 0.184 0.00120
4.0 DISCUSSION

From this experiment that is forced vibration of an undamped simply supported beam.
The main objectives is to determine the amplitude of vibration for an undamped simply
supported beam subjected to a rotating unbalanced mass, variable mass and fixed motor speed.

While carrying out this experiment, setting up the apparatus, motor speed and software
are the crucial things to be observed. While setting up the apparatus, we need to check the pinned
supports whether they are at the same level. Ensure the mass to be used for loading the beam are
200g, 400g and 600g. Next, the motor speed is set up. All in rpm and adjust the speed control
button until the desired speed displayed on LED monitor, then switched off the motor. After that,
The software must be set up correctly. As the previous experiment, when it comes to the loading
beam calculation experiment, we must use quickDAQ manual that is referred to data acquisition
system. All the data is saved in CSV format that only could be read by EXCEL spreadsheet
software only.

The problem that we face during this experiment is we could not get the maximum value
of the amplitude on the graph. In order to solve that problem, the speed of the motor, must be
increase slowly until it reaches to its maximum speed. The second problem faced is that the
value of the amplitude is not accurate. We solve this problem by repeating this experiment and
takes the average values.

5.0 CONCLUSION

After finish the experiment we managed to determine the amplitude of vibration for an
undamped simply supported beam subjected to a rotating unbalanced mass, variable mass and
fixed motor speed.
6.0 QUESTION

1. Briefly explain the definition of amplitude in vibration

the maximum displacement of a vibrating particle or body from its position of rest. The
maximum displacement of a vibrating object from its Central position is called the
amplitude of vibration.

The amplitude actually tell us how far the vibrating object is displaced from its central
position.

We can increase the amplitude of vibration of a simple pendulum by raising the height
from which the pendulum bob is initially released. We can decrease the amplitude of
Vibration by releasing the pendulum bob from a smaller height.

2. Explain how mass effect the amplitude of the system

This same idea can be shown on a graph. The graph of force and stretch of the spring is a
straight line. The slope of this line is k, the "spring constant", which describes how strong
or weak the spring is. The spring constant k is large for a strong spring and k is small for
a weak spring.

Since a mass attached to a beam is a simple harmonic oscillator, we know the amplitude
does not affect the period. If the mass is moved only a little from equilibrium and
released, it will oscillate back and forth gently with some period. If we pull the mass a
larger distance from equilibrium and release it, it will move back and forth with more
speed but the period will remain the same. If we now pull it an even greater distance from
equilibrium and release it, it will rush back and forth with greater speed but the period
will still be the same.

3. Explain how the beam length affects the amplitude of the system.
Based on the formula given :

48 EI
k= 3
L
 Where length is inversely proportional to the stiffness, so it’s meant when the length is
increase the stiffness of the beam will decrease. Then, the amplitude of the beam is increase and
also affected.