CATEGORIES OF VIBRATION

This sheet explains the categories into which vibrations may be classified.

Harmonic and periodic vibrations are analogous to pure tones and musical notes, respectively, in acoustic
signals. Random vibrations are analogous to noise (e.g. white noise, pink noise, traffic noise, etc).
Transient vibrations are analogous to single, audible clicks, bangs, explosions, implosions, etc.

Real vibrations may be a complex combination of two or more of the following: harmonic/periodic;
random and transient.

Harmonic vibration

Here the vibration is continuous and involves one single,

sinusoidal frequency.

The graph shows acceleration against time. The graphs of

velocity against time and of displacement against time
would also be sinusoids.

This category of vibration would be created by an out of

balance rotating device (e.g. the spinning drum in a
washing machine or an unbalanced tyre on a car). The
frequency of the vibration is the frequency of the rotation.

Periodic vibration

Here the vibration is continuous but involves more than

one single, sinusoidal frequency. Because the vibration
signal is periodic, the constituent frequencies must be in a
harmonic series.

The graph shows acceleration against time as, for

example, measured with an accelerometer. It would be
difficult to predict the exact shapes of the graphs of
velocity against time and of displacement against time.

The examples given in harmonic vibration, above, could

also produce periodic vibration.

Random vibration

Here the vibration is continuous but has no periodic

content. It is totally random (stochastic) vibration.

The graph shows acceleration against time.

Random vibration could be caused by a number of heavy

vehicles continuous passing a reception point.

Categories of vibration page 1 of 2.

Transient vibration

Transient vibration is of short duration. It is due to

mechanical shock, the commonest examples of which
would be pile-driving and quarry blasting.

RMS acceleration

Vibrations are most often evaluated in terms of the root-

mean-square acceleration.

The graph shows the acceleration against time for a

duration T, which may be the period of a harmonic, or
periodic, vibration, or just a measuring interval of a
random vibration.

The peak acceleration is clearly indicated.

The rms acceleration is determined, by instrumentation,

on the basis of the following mathematical expression.

T
a rms 
1
a
2
t dt
T
0

Crest factor

In the case of transient vibration, the rms acceleration will, as a number, underestimate the potential
consequences of the vibration. In this case use is made of the crest factor, which is the ratio of the peak
acceleration to the rms acceleration.
a peak
crest factor 
a rms

For a harmonic vibration,

a peak 2  a rms
crest factor    2  1.414
a rms a rms

BS 6841:1987 Guide to Measurement and evaluation of human exposure to whole-body mechanical

vibration and repeated shock recommends other evaluation methods for vibrations where the crest factor
for (the frequency-weighted) acceleration is greater than 6.

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