ME3112 Mechanics of Machines

Solution to Problem Set 5

Problem 1
The springs are all connected to the mass. They can connected in
parallel.
The equivalent spring stiffness is the sum of all springs in parallel.
keq = 24 + 12 + 12 = 48 kN/m
Natural frequency
r
n =

keq
= 30.98 rad/s
m

Period of oscillation
T =

2
= 0.203 s
n

Amplitude of motion A = 0.06 m.

Maximum velocity
vmax = n A = 1.859 m/s
Maximum acceleration
amax = n2 A = 57.6m/s2

Problem 2
Assume sinusoidal motion for the center of mass C.
x = X cos(n t)
x = n X sin(n t)
The displacement of the center of mass and rotation of the cylinder are
related.
x = r
x = r
Position 1: Extreme position (one spring is extended by X and the
other is compressed by X).
T1 = 0
1
1
V1 = kX 2 + kX 2
2
2
Position 2: Equilibrium position (both springs are not extended or
compressed).
1
1
2 + 1 Mbar (vC )2
T2 = Mcyl (vC )2 + IC,cyl ()
2
2 
2
2
1
1
M
r
(n X)2 1
cyl
= Mcyl (n X)2 +
+ Mbar (n X)2
2
2
2
r2
2


1
3
=
Mbar + Mcyl n2 X 2
2
2
V2 = 0
Conservation of Energy
V1 + T1 = V2 + T2
wn = 27.7 rad/s
Period of vibration
T =

2
= 0.227 s
n

Amplitude of motion A = 0.012 m.

Maximum velocity
vmax = n A = 0.33 m/s
2

Problem 3
Moment of inertia of the block A about pivot B
IB = mb2
Equation of motion (taking moment about pivot B)
P L kL2 = mb2
mb2 + kL2 = P L
Excitation force P = Pm sin f t. Steady state motion will take the
form
= m sin f t
= 2 m sin f t
f

Substitute into the equation of motion

mb2 f2 m + kL2 m = Pm L
Pm L
m =
2
kL mb2 f2
To determine when the amplitude will exceed 3.5 mm, we find the
values of f for bm = 0.0035m
For bm = 0.0035m, f = 35.5 rad/s, and bm = 0.0035m, f =
44.1 rad/s.
Hence the range of frequency for the amplitude to exceed 3.5 mm is
35.5 rad/s < f < 44.1 rad/s
Problem 4
The damper provides a resistive force
Fd = cx = cL
Equation of motion (taking moment about pivot B)
P L kL2 cL2 = mb2
mb2 + cL2 + kL2 = P L
3

 Excitation force P = Pm sin f t = Im(Pm eif t ). Steady state motion

will take the form
= Im(m eif t )
= Im(if m eif t )
= Im( 2 m eif t )
f

Substitute into the equation of motion

mb2 f2 m + icL2 f m + kL2 m = Pm L
m =

kL2

Pm L
+ icL2 mb2 f2

The amplitude of vibration of block A is given by

bPm L
b|m | = q
(kL2 mb2 f2 )2 + (cL2 )2
Setting b|m | = 0.0035m, we get f = 38.0 rad/s and f = 41.2 rad/s.
Hence the range of frequency for the amplitude to exceed 3.5 mm is
38.0 rad/s < f < 41.2 rad/s
Notice that this range is narrower than the previous case. So the
damped system can work in a broader range of frequencies without
the amplitude exceeding the 3.5 mm limit.