EME4076: Mechanical Vibrations

Mid-term test (1st trimester 2016/2017)

Answer all questions
Question 1
Figure Q1 shows a bullet of mass m 6 g is fired into a wood block of mass M 1 kg which is
at equilibrium at the instance shown. The block is suspended by an inextensible cord with a length
l 1.2 m . After firing, the bullet embedded block swings to position A which is making an angle

50 with vertical. Due to gravitational force, the bullet embedded block then swings backwards
from position A first about O and then about the peg P after the cord comes in contact with the
peg. Neglecting the energy lost during the impact and aerodynamic drag, determine
(a)

the time taken for the bullet embedded block measured from position A to swing one cycle,
[10 marks]

(b)

the maximum angle by using vibration method that the bullet embedded block will swing
to the other side after the cord hits the peg P, and
[10 marks]

(c)

the tension in the cord 0.25 second after the bullet embedded block swings backwards from
its position A.
[5 marks]

= 2

P
A

Figure Q1

Question 2
Figure Q2 shows the top view of a simplified washing machine model. A bundle of wet clothes
forms a rotating unbalance mass of mb in the machine.
(a)

As the rotating speed of the machine increases to full speed, measurements of the
displacement are made. It is noted that at resonance the amplitude of the displacement of
the machine is 10 mm. As the spin speed increases significantly above resonance, the
displacement is observed to be 1 mm. Determine the damping ratio of the system.
[10 marks]

(b)

The total mass of the machine including the wet clothes is 20 kg. The diameter of the
washer basket ( 2e ) is 50 cm. The mass of the wet clothes is 10 kg. The full speed of the
machine is 300 rpm. Determine the values of k and c to use if at full speed the maximum
force allowed to transmit to the side of the washing machine (considered as foundation) is
100 N.
[15 marks]

Figure Q2

Question 3
Figure Q3 shows a 360-g ball is connected to a paddle by means of an elastic cord AB of constant
k 70 N m . Knowing that the paddle is moved vertically according to the relation m sin f t
where m and f are amplitude and frequency of paddling, respectively.
(a)

If the paddle is paddling at an amplitude m 200 mm and a frequency of f f 0.5 Hz ,

determine the steady-state amplitude D of motion of the ball and check whether the cord is
slacking or not when the paddle and the ball are in phase and moving upward. (Hint: For
in-phase and moving upward, cord is slacking when D m st where st is the static
deflection of the system).
[9 marks]

(b)

If the paddle is paddling at an amplitude m 200 mm , determine the maximum allowable

frequency f if the cord is not slacking for upward and in-phase movement of the paddle
and the ball.
[8 marks]

(c)

If the paddle is paddling at the frequency of f f 0.5 Hz , determine the maximum

allowable amplitude m of excitation if the cord is not slacking for upward and in-phase
movement of the paddle and the ball. With this amplitude, calculate the force transmitted
to the paddle.
[8 marks]

Figure Q3

Question 4
(a)

Figure Q4(a) shows a mechanical vibration system. The system consists of a cylinder
which is connected to a pendulum through a rigid rod of mass
and is connected to a
cantilever beam through a spring with stiffness of . The cylinder has a mass of
and
mass moment of inertia about O of , and is subjected to a moment ( ). Whereas, the
Youngs modulus and cross-sectional area moment of inertia of the beam are E and I,
respectively. The pendulum is pinned at point s with the length
> . One end of the
pendulum is connected to the support by a spring with stiffness
and a damper with
damping coefficient of c, and the other end is attached with a spherical ball which is
connected to the support through a spring with stiffness . The mass moment of inertia of
the pendulum about point s is
whereas the mass of the ball with diameter of 2a is
.
Assume that the cylinder is rolled without slipping, the rod with mass
is slid on a
frictionless bearing and the knuckle slides freely on the pendulum. The system is at
equilibrium at the instance shown in the figure in which all the springs are not stretched.
Using Newtons second law to the appropriate free-body diagrams of the system, derive
the equation of motion of the system in terms of .
[16 marks]

Figure Q4(a)
(b)

Figure Q4(b) shows a pendulum with massless rod and end mass m is rigidly attached to a
disc. The disc has mass
and mass moment of inertia about its center of gravity is
connected to the support through a spring with stiffness k and a damper with damping
coefficient c. At the position shown in the figure, the disc is rotated by an amount of from
its equilibrium. Assume that the disc rolls without slipping. Find the equivalent mass
,
equivalent stiffness
and equivalent damping
of the system in the direction of .
[9 marks]

Figure Q4(b)