School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME)

Mechanical Vibrations ME-421

Dr. Mian Ashfaq Ali

Free Vibration of an Undamped Translation System:
Harmonic Motion

Previous equations are harmonic function of time

The motion is symmetric about the equilibrium position of the mass
The velocity is maximum and the acceleration is zero at the equilibrium position
At the extreme displacement the velocity is zero and the acceleration is a maximum
The quantity ωn is the natural frequency
Free Vibration of an Undamped Translation System:
Harmonic Motion (cont’d)
Considering following equation

Introducing
Free Vibration of an Undamped Translation System:
Harmonic Motion (cont’d)
Substituting in x(t), the solution can be written as,

If we use following relations:

A1 = A0 sin 0
A2 = A0 cos 0
We will end up with,

Where,
Free Vibration of an Undamped Translation System:
Harmonic Motion (cont’d)
Example Problem: Harmonic Motion

1. Obtain the free response of

2 x +128 x = f (t )
a. In the form

b. In the form x = A1 sin  n t + A2 cos  n t

x = A sin ( n t +  )

Initial condition are x(0) = 0.05 m and x’(0) = - 0.3 m/s

Free Vibration of an Undamped Translation System:
Harmonic Motion (cont’d)
Considering spring – mass system in vertical position, as shown in fig.
Circular natural frequency can be expressed as:

Static Deflection δst relates to the natural frequency of a spring-mass system

Free Vibration of an Undamped Translation System:
Harmonic Motion (cont’d)
Displacement , velocity and acceleration can now be given as:
Free Vibration of an Undamped Translation
System: Harmonic Motion (cont’d)

If in above equation initial displacement x0 =0

x0    x0
x(t ) = cos  n t −  = sin  n t
n  2  n
And if initial velocity x’0=0
Free Vibration of an Undamped Translation System:
Harmonic Motion (cont’d)
The response of a SDOF system can be represent in the
displacement ( x ) – velocity ( x’ ), known as the state space or
phase plane
Example Problem: Harmonic Motion

1. The column of the water tank shown is 300 ft. high and is made of
reinforced concrete with a tubular cross section of inner diameter 8 ft.
and outer diameter 10 ft. The tank weighs 6 x 105lb with water. By
neglecting the mass of the column assuming the Young’s modulus of
reinforce concrete as 4 x 106psi, determine the following:
a. The natural frequency and the natural time period of transverse vibration of
the water tank
b. The vibration response of the water tank due to an initial transverse
displacement of 10 in.
c. The maximum values of the velocity and acceleration experienced by the
water tank
Example Problem: Harmonic Motion
Reading Assignment

2.2.2 Equation of Motion Using Other Methods

2.2.3 Equation of Motion of a Spring-Mass System in Vertical Position

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