NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Tiruchirappalli

Mechanics of Machines II (MEPC20)– July 2021

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr.-Ing. Ashok K Nallathambi

Assignment 2 : Balancing
Release Date: October 20, 2021
Submission Date: Novermber 07, 2021

1. A shaft carries four masses in parallel planes A, B, C, and D, in this

order, along it. The masses at B and C are 18 kg and 12.5 kg, respectively, and
each has an eccentricity of 6 cm. The masses at A and D have an eccentricity of
8 cm. The angle between the masses at B and C is 100o , and that between the
masses at B and A is 190o ( both angles being measured in the same direction).
The axial distance between the planes A and B is 10 cm and that between B
and C is 20 cm. If the shaft is in complete dynamic balance, determine

ˆ the masses A and D

ˆ the distance between the planes C and D, and

ˆ the angular position of the mass at D.

2. A three-bladed ceiling fan has 475 mm by 76 mm equispaced rectangular

blades that normally weigh 8.9 N each. Manufacturing tolerances will cause
the blade weight to vary up to plus or minus 5%. The mounting accuracy of
the blades will vary the location of the CG versus the spin axis by plus or
minus 10% of the blades’ diameters. Calculate the weight of the largest steel
counterweight needed at a 50.8 mm radius to statically balance the worst-case
blade assembly if the minimum blade radius is 152.4 mm.

3. Fig.1a shows a fourbar linkage and its dimensions in meters. The steel
crank and rocker have uniform cross sections 50 mm wide by 25 mm thick.
The aluminum coupler is 25 mm thick. The crank O2 A rotates at a constant
speed of ω= 50 rad/sec. Design counterweights to force balance the linkage
and determine its change in peak torque versus the unbalanced condition.

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(a) Four bar linkage (b) Balancing machine

Figure 1: Problem 3 and 4

4. The device in Fig.1b is used to balance fan blade/hub assemblies running

at 600 rpm. The center distance between the two bearings on the machine is
250 mm. The left edge of the fan hub (plane A) is 100 mm from the centerline
of the closest bearing (at F2). The hub is 75 mm wide along its axis and has a
diameter of 200 mm along the surfaces where balancing weights are fastened.
The peak magnitude of force F1 is 0.5 N at a phase angle of 30o with respect
to the rotating x’ axis. Force F2 had a peak of 0.2 N at a phase angle of 130o .
Calculate the magnitudes and locations, with respect to the x’ axis, of balance
weights placed in planes A and B of the hub to dynamically balance the fan
assembly.

5. A crank of length r = 88.9 mm has a mass m2 = 10.51kg. Its mass

moment of inertia about its pivot is 0.0339 kg − m2 . Its CG is at 0.30 r from
the main pin, O2 .Calculate a statically equivalent, two-lumped mass dynamic
model with the lumps placed at the main pin and crankpin. What is the per-
cent error in the model’s moment of inertia about the crank pivot?

6. A five cylinder in-line engine running at 750 rpm has successive cranks
144o apart, the distance between the cylinder center lines being 375 mm. The
piston stroke is 225 mm and the ration of the connecting rod to the crank is 4.
Examine the engine for balance of primary and secondary forces and couples.
Find the maximum values of these and the position of the central crank at
which these maximum values occur. The reciprocating mass for each cylinder
is 15 kg.