BALANCING OF ROTATING MASSES

When the centre of gravity of a rotor/disc doesn’t coincide with the axis of rotation, there exists a
condition of unbalance. Consider a disc of mass ‘m’ mounted on a shaft revolving at an angular
velocity of ‘ω’ rad/sec as shown.
Let the CG of the disc is offset by a distance ‘r’ from the axis mw2 r

of rotation. This offset creates the centrifugal force of

magnitude mω2r and it acts away from the centre of rotation.
This centrifugal force is the unbalanced force responsible for r
the vibratory motion of the frame, human discomfort and m
noise of any such machinery. Most of the serious problems w b
encountered in high speed rotating machinery are the direct
result of unbalanced forces. To avoid the unpleasant
condition of this type, correction is necessary. It may be noted B
here that when a mass of ‘B’ is mounted at an offset distance
of ‘b’, diametrically opposite to the position of CG of the
disc, there exists one more centrifugal force of magnitude ‘B
ω2b’ and if mω2r = B ω2b, i.e., mr = Bb, then the system is
under equilibrium. This condition is called as balancing. 2
Bw b

STATIC BALANCING

2
A system of rotating masses is said to be in static balance if m2w r2
the combined mass centre of the system lies on the axis of 2
m1w r1
rotation. Fig. below shows four masses m1, m2, m3 and m4 m2
revolving at radii r1, r2, r3 and r4 respectively at an angular m1
velocity ω rad/sec in the same plane. The centrifugal forces r2 r1
q1
produced by these masses would act away from the centre of
r3
rotation. If F represents the vector sum of these forces, qB r4

m3 b
2
m3w r3 B
m4
F = m1 r1 ω + m2 r2 ω + m3 r3 ω + m4 r4 ω
2 2 2 2
m4w2r4

The rotor is said to be statically balanced if the vector sum of 2

m3w r3
F is zero. If F is not zero, then introduce a balancing mass of 2
m2w r2
magnitude B at radius b to balance the system so that

m1 r1 ω2 + m2 r2 ω2 + m3 r3 ω2 + m4 r4 ω2 + B b ω2 = 0 m4w2r4
or m1 r1 + m2 r2 + m3 r3 + m4 r4 + B b = 0 qB
If ∑ 𝑚𝑟 is the vector sum of m1 r1, m2 r2, m3 r3, m4 r4, etc.,
Bw b 2
m1w r1
2

Then ∑ 𝒎𝒓 + 𝑩𝒃 = 𝟎 or ∑ 𝒎𝒓 = 𝑩𝒃

DYNAMIC BALANCING
m1
When several masses rotate in different planes, the r1 w
centrifugal forces, in addition to being out of balance, also
form couples. A system of rotating masses is in dynamic l r2
balance when there does not exist any resultant centrifugal m2
force as well as resultant couple.

If m1 and m2 are two masses revolving diametrically opposite to each other in different planes such
that m1r1 = m2r2, the centrifugal forces are balanced but an unbalanced couple of magnitude
m1 r1 l = m2 r2 l is introduced. When this couple is also balanced, the system is said to be dynamically
balanced.
EFFECT OF TRANSFERING A ROTATING WEIGHT FROM ONE PLANE TO ANOTHER:
Let the centrifugal force produced by a rotating weight in
Plane ‘B’ be F = (W/g) ω2r. The equilibrium in planes A A B
and B is not at all altered by introducing two equal and
opposite forces F1 and F2 each equal and parallel to F. Then F1
F & F1 constitute a couple of magnitude F*l. In addition,
there remains a residual force F2 = F. Thus the effect of F2 F
transferring a rotating mass/weight from one plane in to l
another is to introduce in the reference plane,

(i) An unbalanced force equal and parallel to the centrifugal force produced by rotating mass/weight
(ii) A couple of magnitude equal to the product of centrifugal force and the distance between the
planes under consideration.

PROBLEM – 1. Four masses A, B, C and D are to be completely balanced. Masses B, C and D

are 30 kg, 50 kg and 40 kg respectively and their radii are 240 mm, 120 mm and 150 mm respectively.
Mass A has a radius of 180 mm. The planes containing masses B and C are 300 mm apart and the
angle between them is 90°. Masses B and C make angles of 120°and 210°espectively with D in the
same sense. Find
(i) The magnitude and angular position of mass A and
(ii) The position of planes A and D.

Distance 'a' m-r-a A B Ref. Plane C D

Planes Mass m (kg) Radius r (m) m-r (kg-m) from ref. plane (kg-m2)

A mA 0.18 0.18 mA -x -0.18 mA x

B 30 0.24 7.2 0 0 0.3 m
C 50 0.12 6 0.3 1.8 x y
D 40 0.15 6 y 6y
B
Force polygon: SCALE: 1cm = 1kg-m
120O
O
210
6(C) D
O
311 7.2(B) Therefore mA O

C 311
= (4.28x1)/0.18 O
= 23.7 kg at 311
0.18 mA
A
4,2
8

6(D)
2
Couple polygon: SCALE: 0.2kg-m = 1cm

90
5,9
6

-0.18 mA x
6y = 11.6CM; Therefore y = (11.6x0.2)/6 = 0.386 m
1.8(c)

-0.18 mA x = 5.96 CM;

Therefore x = (-5.96 x 0.2)/(0.18x23.7)
6y = - 0.279 m
11,6
 PROBLEM – 2. A workman is required to machine a casting of 210 kg mass. 60 kg
270 mm
He fixes it in such a way that its CG is 180 mm from lathe axis and 320 mm 45°
from the face plate. The workman obtains static balancing by bolting two
masses to the face plate. One of the masses is of 60 kg and is fixed as shown in 180 mm

the Fig. Its CG is 160 mm from the face plate. The other is of 50 kg and has its 210 kg
CG 100 mm from the face plate. Find the position of the second mass and the
rocking couple at 50 rpm.

160 mm
Mass 'm' Radius 'r' m-r Dist. from face m-r-a 60 kg
Planes (kg) (kg-m) plate 'a' (m) 270 mm 100 mm
(m) (kg-m2) 45°

Casting 210 0.18 37.8 0.32 12.09

180 mm
Mass-1 60 0.27 16.2 0.16 2.59
210 kg 50 kg 60 kg 210 kg
Mass-2 50 50 r2 0.1 5 r2 = 5X0.55
r2 = 2.75
320 mm

2
FORCE POLYGON - SCALE: 1cm = 6kg-m COUPLE POLYGON - SCALE: 1cm = 2kg-m

Unbalanced couple = 3.89 cm

46,6

= 3.89 x 2 = 7.78 kg-m2

38,91
50 r2
2
12.09 = 7.78 x w N-m 2
37.8 = 7,78 ( 2x3.14x50/60)
66°

= 213.08 N-m
4.66 cm =50 r2
Therefore r2 = 4.66 x 6 /50 2.75 Rocking couple at 50 rpm = 213.08 N-m
= 0.55 m
16.2
0
50 kg mass should be placed at 66 and 2.59
at a radius of 0.55 m

PROBLEM – 3. A shaft supported in bearings that are 1.6 m apart projects 400 mm beyond
bearings at each end. It carries three pulleys one at each end and one at the centre of its length. The
masses of the end pulleys are 40 kg and 22 kg and their centres of mass are 12 mm and 18 mm
respectively from the shaft axis. The mass of the centre pulley is 38 kg and its centre of mass is 15
mm from the shaft axis. The pulleys are arranged in a manner that they give static balance. Determine
(i) Relative angular positions of pulleys
(ii) Dynamic forces developed on the bearings at 210 rpm.
Ref. Plane

1 LHB 2 RHB 3

0.4 m 1.6 m 0.4 m

Mass 'm' Radius 'r' m-r Dist. from ref. m-r-a

Planes (kg) (kg-m) plane 'a' (m)
2
(kg-m )
(m)
Pulley-1 40 0.012 0.48 - 0.4 - 0.192
LHB RL 0 0

Pulley-2 38 0.015 0.57 0.8 0.456

RHB RR 1.6 1.6 R R

Pulley-3 22 0.018 0.396 2 0.792
 Static Force Polygon: SCALE: 1cm = 0.12 kg-m 2 o
137

o
261 1
o
261
0.396 0.57
o
137
3

0.48

Couple Polygon: SCALE: 1cm = 0.1 kg-m

2
Dynamic Force Polygon: SCALE: 1cm = 0.12 kg-m

0.456 R R= 0.503
0.57
- 0.192

0.792 0.396 RL
1.6 R R 0.48

46 41,9
80,
1.6 R R= 8.046 cm R L= 4.19 cm
RR = (8.046 x 0.1)/1.6 R L= 4.19 x 0.12 = 0.503 kg-m
= 0.503 x w 2
R R= 0.503 kg-m
Dynamic force on LHB at 210 rpm
Dynamic force at 210 rpm = 0.503 x w
2
2
R L = 0.503 x 21.98 = 240.3 N

w = 2 p N/60 = 2 p x 210/ 60 = 21.98 rad/sec

Dynamic force on RHB at 210 rpm

2 2
RR = 0.503 x 21.98 = 240.3 N

*****
PROBLEM – 4. A shaft carries four masses A,B,C and D of magnitude 200 kg, 300 kg, 400 kg
and 200 kg respectively and revolving at radii 80 mm, 70 mm, 60 mm and 80 mm in planes measured
from A at 300 mm, 400 mm and 700 mm. The angles between the cranks measured anticlockwise are
A to B 45°, B to C 70° and C to D 120°. The balancing masses are to be placed in planes X and Y.
The distance between the planes A and X is 100 mm, between X and Y is 400 mm and between Y
and D is 200 mm. If the balancing masses revolve at a radius of 100 mm, find their magnitudes and
angular positions.

SOLUTION:
Planes Mass 'm' Radius 'r' m-r Dist. 'a' from m-r-a
(kg) (m) (kg-m) ref. plane (m) (kg-m2)

A 200 0.08 16 -0.1 - 1.6

X mx 0.1 0.1mx 0 0
B 300 0.07 0.2 4.2
21
C 400 0.06 0.3 7.2
24
Y my 0.1 0.1my 0.4 0.04my
D 200 0.08 16 0.6 9.6
C
B
A X B C Y D
70°
0.08 0.1 0.07 0.06 0.1 0.08

45°
0.1 0.2 120° A

0.3
0.4
0.6

COUPLE POLYGON: FORCE POLYGON:

SCALE: 1 CM = 1 kg-m2 SCALE: 1 CM = 4 kg-m

0.04 my = 7.36 CM 0.1 mx = 8.81 CM

= 7.36*1 = 7.36 kg-m2 = 8.81* 4 = 35.24 kg-m
my = 7.36/0.04 mx = 35.24/0.1
my = 184 kg mx = 352.4 kg
o
q y = 347 q x = 213
o

16
7.2 24
9.6 o
qx= 213
0.1my = 18.4
o
qy = 347

0.04my 0.1mx
4.2
21
73,62
- 1.6 2
88,1
16