King Abdulaziz University

Engineering College
Department of Production and Mechanical System Design

MENG 470

Mechanical Vibrations

First Exam Solution

Closed-book Exam
Monday: 8/2/1425 H
Time Allowed: 90 mins

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

TOTAL

15

15

Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

There are totally 3 problems in this exam.

This is a closed book and closed notes Opportunity to Shine
Show all work for partial credit.
Assemble your work for each problem in logical order.
Justify your conclusion. I cannot read minds.


Mechanical Vibrations
MENG 470
First Exam
1.

Closed Book Exam

Time: 1 Hour
Monday: 8/2/1425 H

The single degree-of-freedom harmonic oscillator shown below in Figure 1 has a

logarithmic decrement and static deflection equal to 1.435 and 0.765m ,
respectively. The spring stiffness is k = 525 N m .

(a)

Show the characteristic roots of the system in the complex plane.

(b)

Indicate the free response type (i.e., undamped, underdamped, critically

damped, or overdamped).

(c)

If the oscillator is subjected to a (vertical) harmonic force with magnitude

f o and frequency 0.477 Hz , determine the range of f o such that the
steady-state amplitude of vibration is less than 0.798cm .

x
m
k

Figure 1
Sol.:
(a)

n =
where

st

9.81
= 3.581 rad/sec
0.765

(2 ) +
2

1.435
(2 ) 2 + 1.4352

= 0.223

= 2 f = 2 (0.477) = 2.997 rad/sec

The characteristics roots are:

D1,2 = n n

1 = (0.223)(3.581) (3.581) (0.223)2 1 = 0.797 i 3.49

2

imag
3.49

D1

-0.797

D2

real

-3.49

(b) Since the dumping ratio = 0.22 (i.e. 0 < < 1), then the system is underdamped.
(c) f = 0.477 Hz , X max = 0.00798 m,

n = 3.581 rad/sec,

k = 525 N/m,

and

= 0.22

525
= 40.94 kg
3.5812

m =

( f 0 )max

= X

( f 0 )max

= 0.00798 (525 40.94(2.997 2 )) 2 + ( (65.39)(2.997) ) = 2 N

n
c = 2n m = 2(0.223)(3.581)(40.94) = 65.39 rad.kg/sec
= 0.477(2 ) = 2.997 rad/sec

OR:

r=

( f 0 )max

(k m 2 ) + (c ) 2

2.997
=
= 0.837
n 3.581

= kX

(1 r 2 ) + (2 r ) 2 = 525(0.00798) (1 (0.837) 2 ) + (2(0.223)(0.837)) 2 = 2 N

The range of f 0 is as following: 2 N < f 0 < 2 N

2.

Consider the system shown below, which consists of a uniform rigid bar OA that
is welded to a uniform disk. The composite system is pinned to ground at point
0. Using the parameters indicated in the Figure 2, determine a) the equation of
motion for the system in terms of the angular coordinate (t ) and b) the critical
damping constant.

Welded

c1

c2

r
SEP

m2
m1
k
3r

Figure 2
Sol.:

Fc1 = c1r

Fc 2 = 3c2 r

Fk = kr

1
1
m1r 2 +
m2 (3r ) 2
2
3
M 0 = J 0 
J0 =

1
kr 2 + c2 (3r ) 2  + c1r 2 = ( m1r 2 + 3m2 r 2 )
2
1
( m1 + 3m2 ) r 2 + ( c1 + 9 c2 ) r 2  + kr 2 = 0
2
1
( m1 + 3m2 )  + ( c1 + 9 c2 )  + k = 0
2
1
meq = m1 + 3m2
2
ceq = c1 + 9 c2
k eq = k
m

ccr = 2 meq k eq = 2 1 + 3m2 k

2

3.

Also late for a dinner party, Ahmed is driving his MAZDA on old Makkah

road. Since Ahmed is a poor composer, he cannot afford to replace the bad shocks on
his vehicle. They have lost most of their damping properties and behave essentially like
springs.
Amanat Jeddah has halted old Makkah road maintenance for some reason. As a
result, the road becomes very bumpy now. If the road surface can be approximately
described by y (t ) = y0 sin(t ) ,
(a) What is the most unfavorable speed for which Ahmed can travel?
(b) If Ahmed replaces the shocks on his MAZDA, is the most unfavorable
speed less than, equal to, or greater than the most unfavorable speed found
in part (a). Why?
Sol.:
a) Since the car have lost most of its damping properties:
<<< 1

c0

v
x( t )

Road elevation:

y (t ) = Y

sin(t ) , = (v , l )

Data: m, k, l, v, Y

mx + kx = ky = kY sin(t )
5

Steady State Response: x ss = X sin(t )

X
1
=
Y
1 r 2

a) v =

l
,
2

Thus v unfavorable =

l
2

=
=n

l n
2

b) From Figure 3.15 page 240 (Rao) and knowing that n is fixed for different value of

.
Then, the speed after replacing the shocks is less than before, because if increases the
peak value is shifted to the left.