MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY MARA ( TERENGGANU)

BUKIT BESI CAMPUS

FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MEC291: DYNAMICS AND MATERIALS LAB

MECHANISM AND MACHINE ELEMENTS

MEC 291: MECHANICS

AND MATERIALS

LABORATORY MANUAL
First Edition

Prepared by :

Haizuan Bin Abd. Rahman

Abdul Rahim Bin Bahari

Norhafizan Bin Nezere

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

EXPERIMENT 7

CRANK AND SLIDER MECHANISM

1.0 Objective

To obtain the maximum displacement, velocity and acceleration of a crank slider

mechanism.

2.0 Introduction

In this laboratory we will investigate the kinematics of some simple mechanisms used to
convert rotary motion into oscillating linear motion and vice-versa. This bench top unit
demonstrates the conversion of smooth rotary motion into reciprocating motion. The input
angle is set on a ball bearing mounted crank disc and read off on an angle measuring scale
integrated into the base plate. Crank radius and connecting rod length can both be adjusted,
each have three positions. The simple insertion of a bolt enables the swiveling cylinder to be
locked, thus a crank drive with either a fixed or oscillating cylinder can be demonstrated.

3.0 Apparatus

Crank and Connecting rod apparatus.

Connecting Rod

Piston

Crank

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

Figure 1 : Crank and Connecting rod apparatus.

4.0 Theory

There are three types of planar rigid body motion.

Translation:

Translation occurs if every line segment on the body remains parallel to its original direction
during the motion. When all points move along straight lines, the motion is called rectilinear
translation. When the paths of motion are curved lines, the motion is called curvilinear
translation.

Rotation about a fixed axis.

In this case, all the particles of the body, except those on the axis of rotation, move along
circular paths in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

General plane motion.

In this case, the body undergoes both translation and rotation. Translation occurs within a
plane and rotation occurs about an axis perpendicular to this plane.

From theory,

The piston displacement is given by;

X= r ( 1 - cos θ ) + I ( sin2 θ) / ( 2N2 )

Where r is the crank radius

I is the length of the link

N is the ratio of the link to the crank radius

The piston velocity is given by;

V = ω r [(sin θ + (sin 2θ)/2N)]

The piston acceleration is as follows;

F = ω2 r [(cos θ + (cos 2θ)/2N)]

5.0 Procedure

i. Decide on the crank radius and the connecting rod length.

ii. Rotate the crank to check the working of the whole assembly.
iii. Before taking reading, turn the crank slowly and watch the movement of the piston.
The piston will slide in one direction, then reverse.
iv. Locate the position where the piston starts to reverse.
v. Use this position as the start point.

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

vi. Use one end of the piston as the marker to measure the piston movement.
vii. For accurate result, take small increment of the piston readings.
viii. Rotate the crank and record the corresponding piston movement.
ix. Take reading for every 5 degrees of the crank rotation.
x. Record the readings in table provided.

6.0 Result

Crank Piston Crank Piston Crank Piston Crank Piston

Rdg Movement Rdg Movement Rdg Movement Rdg Movement
θ (mm) θ (mm) θ (mm) θ (mm)
0 95 185 275
5 100 190 280
10 105 195 285
15 110 200 290
20 115 205 295
25 120 210 300
30 125 215 305
35 130 220 310
40 135 225 315
45 140 230 320
50 145 235 325
55 150 240 330
60 155 245 335
65 160 250 340
70 165 255 345
75 170 260 350
80 175 265 355
85 180 270 360
90

Table 1: Experimental Data

Crank radius = mm

Length of connecting rod = mm

Draw the Crank and Connecting rod assembly to scale.

 From the data in the Table above, plot the displacement diagram using Excel
Spreadsheet.
 Using the ‘Add Trend’ option, plot the trend curve and obtain the equation for the
Experimental data.
 Differentiate the trend displacement equation obtained from the trend velocity and
trend acceleration equation.

Describe the type of displacement the piston undergoes as the crank rotates.

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

Find the maximum displacement, velocity and acceleration.

Why it is important to know the maximum acceleration.

7.0 Discussion

i) Explain how a crank and slider system works.

ii) Compare and discuss the result from the theoretical and experimental tables.
iii) Give your comment or suggest any cause of errors.
iv) List some of the practical applications of a crank and slider mechanism.

8.0 Conclusion

Write your conclusion about the experiments.

9.0 References

List all the references that you have made during the course of your finding.

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

EXPERIMENT 8

FLYWHEEL APPARATUS

1.0 Objective
To determine the mass moment of inertia of the flywheel (assuming frictionless bearing).
2.0 Introduction

By using this apparatus, basic experiments on uniformly accelerated angular motion can be
performed. A flywheel mounted in ball bearings is placed in motion by a weight attached to a pulley.
The inertia of the flywheel can be determined from the fall time of the weight.

3.0 Apparatus

Flywheel apparatus, stop watch, set of weights.

Flywheel

Figure 1: Flywheel Apparatus

4.0 Theory

Equation and Symbols

Item Linear Motion Angular Motion

1 m mass I mass moment of inertia

2 P force T torque

3 s Distance transverse θ angular displacement

4 v velocity ω angular velocity

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

5 a acceleration α angular acceleration

6 m*a force equation I* α torque equation

7 m*v momentum I* ω angular momentum

8 P*s work done T* θ work done

9 a=r*α r radius of flywheel

v=r*ω θ = ω0 t + ½ α t2

s = s0 t + ½ a t 2 ω = ω0 + α t

v = v0 + a t

Energy Equation

mgh = [(mv2)/2] + [(Iω2)/2]

[(Iω2)/2] = [mgh] - [(mv2)/2]

v = r * ω …………………………..(radius of torque pulley)

[(Iω2)/2] = [mgh] - [(m r2 ω2)/2]

I = [(2mgh) / ω2] – [m r2] ………… (1)

ω = ω0 + α t

ω0 = 0 ….. at the start of the experiment

ω=αt

α = ω/t Units of measurements

s = h = ½ a t2 1 m = mass in kg

a = 2h/t2 2 I = mass moment of inertia in kg-m2

3 ω = angular velocity rad/sec
a=r*α 4 t = time in sec
5 h = linear distance in m
r * α = 2h/t2
6 T = torque in N-m
r * (ω/t) = 2h/t 2

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

ω = (2*h)/(r*t)

substitute in equation 1

I = m r2 { [(gt2)/(2h)] -1}

5.0 Procedure

i) Attach the ring and the small disk to the flywheel.

ii) Measure the circumference of the torque pulley.
iii) Wound a cord around the torque pulley.
iv) Take a load hanger of known weight and hang it at the free end of the cord.
v) Place a load of 3N on the load hanger and hold the load in position.
vi) Set the stopwatch to zero.
vii) Release the load while simultaneously pressing the stopwatch button.
viii) After 1 revolution (or as user decide), stop the flywheel and the stopwatch
simultaneously.
ix) Record the time taken for the load to travel through 1 revolution (or as user
decide).
x) Repeat step 5 to 9 for another 4 different sets of load which are 4N, 5N, 6N
and 7N.
xi) Record the measurements in Table 1.
xii) Remove the small disk from the flywheel to obtain a new mass moment of
inertia.
xiii) Repeat the experiment with the new mass moment of inertia.

6.0 Result
Mass of the flywheel, Mf = 15.04 kg

Radius of Flywheel, rf = 125 mm

Thickness of flywheel, tf = 40 mm

Mass of the ring, Mr = 3.7 kg

Outer diameter, rro = 250 mm

Inner diameter , rri = 180 mm

Mass of the small disc, Md = 3.6 kg

Outer diameter, rdo = 180 mm

Inner diameter , rdi = 40 mm

Radius of torque pulley, r = 20 mm

Radius of torque pulley, r = 0.02 m

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

Weight of hanger = 0.3 N

(since the pulley is small, assume tension in the cord equals the load on the hanger)

Table 1

Average Average
Load Time Time Load Time Time

W, (N) t, (sec) t, (sec) W, (N) sec sec

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

Table 2

Distance
Mass on torque travelled Average Time

hanger, m =
W/g by Torque Load

kg h, (m) t, (sec)

Table 3

mr2 gt2/2h (gt2/2h) - 1 I

kg-m2 kg-m2

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

Calculate the theoretical mass moment of inertia of the flywheel

Theoretical mass moment of inertia = 0.5 Mf rf2

7.0 Discussion

i) Draw the free body diagram and kinetic diagram for the flywheel and weight.

ii) Compare and discuss the result of the mass moment of inertia of the flywheel
apparatus using theoretical equation and compared to the measurement in the
experiments.

iii) Give your comment or suggest any cause of errors.

8.0 Conclusion

Write your conclusion about the experiments.

9.0 References

List all the references that you have made during the course of your finding.

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

EXPERIMENT 9

Wheel and Axle Apparatus

1.1 Objective
To compare the mechanical advantage of a wheel and axle arrangement for different lifting
pulley diameter.

2.1 Introduction

The wheel and axle is a simple machine which consists of two or more circular objects
connected by a shaft. When the axle turns, the wheels connected to the axle are also turn. The
mechanical advantage can be investigated by the relationship between the force and distance
inputted and outputted by the wheel and axle. This is directly related to the radius of the
wheel and axle.

3.1 Apparatus

A simple arrangement of two pulleys connected to a shaft.

Set of weights: 0.1 N, 0.2N, 0.5N, 1N and 5N
Weight of hanger = 0.04N

Figure 1: Wheel and Axle Apparatus

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

4.1 Theory

The Figure 1 above shows the arrangement of a set of pulleys. They are anchored to the
frame by means of a shaft. The aluminium pulley with the largest diameter is the wheel
pulley. The remaining pulleys are used as lifting pulley. The wheel pulley has a diameter of
100 mm while the lifting pulleys have diameter 25 mm, 50 mm and 75 mm.

The mechanical advantage of this system can be determined by plotting the graph of load
lifted verses effort load

The mechanical advantage is given by:

Load raised or lowered

Mechanical advantage =
Effort Load

Comparison can be made between different diameters of lifting pulley.

5.0 Procedure

i) Choose a pulley for lifting.

ii) Measure the diameter of the wheel and the lifting pulley.
iii) Wound a cord around the wheel and the lifting pulley.
iv) Hang a hanger at the free end of each cord.
v) Place a load to be lifted on the hanger of the lifting pulley.
vi) Let the hanger rest on the table but keep the cord taut.
vii) Place load on the hanger of the wheel (effort load) and watch the lifting pulley. If
the lifting hanger is not lifted, remove the effort load from the wheel hanger.
Increase the effort load and place it again on the wheel hanger. Repeat until the
effort load is able to raise the lifting hanger. Record the smallest load that causes
the lifting hanger to rise. This is the effort load.
viii) Record the loads in the Table provided.

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

ix) Increase the load on the lifting hanger and repeat step 6 to 9 for at least 5 load
increments.
x) Remove all loads on both pulleys.
xi) Choose another lifting pulley and repeat the experiment.

6.0 Results

Diameter of effort pulley = 100 mm

Diameter of lift pulley = 25 mm
Ratio of effort to lift pulley =

Table 1: Load raised by the effort

Load on Lift Pulley +

Load on Wheel + Hanger Hanger

(N) (N)

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

Diameter of effort pulley = 100 mm

Diameter of lift pulley = 50 mm

Ratio of effort to lift pulley =

Table 2 Load raised by the effort

Load on Lift Pulley +

Load on Wheel + Hanger
Hanger

(N) (N)

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MEC 291: Mechanics and Material Lab

Diameter of effort pulley = 100 mm

Diameter of lift pulley = 75 mm

Ratio of effort to lift pulley =

Table 3 Load raised by the effort

Load on Lift Pulley +

Load on Wheel + Hanger
Hanger

(N) (N)

 Using the data in Table1, Table 2 and Table3, plot the graph of Load Lifted versus Effort
Load.
 Obtain the slope of each graph passing through zero intercept. This represents the
average mechanical advantage of the system.

7.1 Discussion

i) Explain how the wheel and axle system works.

ii) Compare and discuss the mechanical advantage between different lifting
pulley and diameter.
iii) Give comment or suggest any cause of errors
iv) Lists some of the practical applications related to mechanical advantage.

8.1 Conclusion

Write your conclusion about the experiments.

9.1 References

List all the references that you have made during the course of your finding.

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