THE BRITISH UNIVERSITY IN EGYPT

Lab Manual 1
13MECH80H:Vibrations and Control
Engineering

Module Leader

Prof. Dr. Osama Montasser

Teaching Assistants
Sherif Samy
Khalid Shalan
2013/2014

Preface
An experiment is conducted on free and forced oscillations of a rigid beam. The concepts
introduced throughout the module MENG09I02 (Vibration and Control Engineering) are to be
observed. Thorough analytic analysis of the system is to be done. Results of the analytic and
theoretical analysis are compared.

System Description
The universal vibration training system
GUNT TM150 (GUNT Geratebau GmbH) is
set up with the rigid beam oscillation
module. A rigid beam with one end fixed at
a locating bearing is suspended by a helical
spring at the other end. The beam is
assumed rigid completely. The beam is
allowed to vibrate in the form of angular
oscillation around its support joint (the
locating bearing).
The vibration can be free by plucking the
beam and leaving it to oscillate freely.
Forced vibration is introduced through an
exciter unit which consists of a variable
speed motor with eccentric rotor causing
unbalance.
The beam has no dampers attached but will
suffer some damping due to friction. At all
modes, the amplitude on the beam
oscillations is limited by a limiter set to
allow only linear amplitudes of 25 mm at its
fixation point.
The forced vibration can be controlled by a
control module that controls the frequency
of the unbalanced motor. The beams
Figure 1. Gunt TM150 System, Picture adapted Gunt TM150
oscillation is measured in terms of linear
Experiment Instructions Catalogue.
displacement of a point on the beam using
a capacitive proximity sensor attached to a data acquisition unit connected to a desktop
personal computer (PC). The excitation force can be measured by a sensor attached to the
eccentric rotor.

System given parameters

Parameter
Spring Lever arm length
Motor Lever arm length
Sensor distance
Spring constant
Damper constant
Degree of damping
Frequency
Force

Acceleration due to gravity

Mass moment of inertia
(MMl) about the suspension
point
Beam Length
Beam width
Beam height (depth)

Mass
Mass of unbalanced rotor
Total Exciter unit mass (with
unbalance)
Moment
Distance between centre of
gravity and point of
suspension
Time
Periodic Time
Deflection amplitude
Eccentricity
Angle, amplitude
Natural angular frequency
Exciter angular frequency
Phase shift
Sensor Measurement range
Sensor Output voltage range
(linear)

Symbol

a
c
B
C
D
D
F
F
G
Jo
L
W
H
M
mu
M

Value
700 mm
450 mm
75 mm
0.75 N/mm

0-50 Hz
9.81 m/s2

730 mm
25 mm
12 mm
1680 gm
100 gm
772 gm

M
rso
T
T
Y

yb

5-10 mm
0-10 volts

Figure 2. Setup of GUNT TM150

Picture adapted from GUNT TM150 Instruction Manual

Formulae and Equation

Experiment Outputs
Free Vibrations
Analytical Study Before Experiment
1. Derive an abstract mathematical model for the system.
3

2. Verify the dimensions of system setup.

3. Calculate the spring stiffness.
4. Determine analytically the Natural Frequency of the System.
Experimental Study
1. Run a free vibration test plucking the rod.
2. Record the oscillation.
3. Determine the damped frequency of the system.
4. Determine the damping coefficient and damping ratio of the system.
5. Derive the natural frequency of the system from the results.

Forced Vibrations
Analytical study Before Experiment
1. Plot the frequency response for the operational range of the machine.
Analytical study After Experiment
1. Using estimated damping ratio: Predict analytically the peak amplitude of the system
in both dimensional and dimensionless form and the corresponding frequency.
2. Plot the frequency response for the operational range of the machine.
Experimental Study
1. Switch on the motor at speeds varying from 0-500 rpm at proper intervals that should
be small intervals when higher amplitudes are observed.
2. Plot the relation between the motors speed (Excitation frequency) and the peak
amplitude resulting at each speed.
3. Record the resulting phase difference.
4. Calculate the rotor unbalance.

Conclusions
1. Compare the results obtained practically with the results obtained analytically. In
addition, comment on the resulting deviations.
2. Comment on the results obtained and draw your conclusions.

Keywords
Vibration , Hinged beam oscillation , Helical springs , free vibrations , forced vibrations, rotor
unbalance , proximity sensors , locating bearing , data acquisition , GUNT TM150 ,
Resonance.

References
GUNT Geratebau GmbH. (n.d.). TM150 Instruction Manual. Hamburg, Germany.