TITLE

Free vibration experiment – natural frequency of spring mass system without damping

1.0 ABSTRACT

The experiment was conducted to determine the spring constant and natural frequency
through free vibration experiment. The obtained value was compared to the theoretical value
to determine whether there were huge error margin or not while conducting this experiment.
The spring constant can be determined when the spring elongates proportionally with the mass
added to the spring. The natural frequency of the spring calculated depended on the time taken
for the spring to make 5 oscillations. From this information, we can obtain the natural frequency
thus compare it to the theoretical value obtained from the formula. By completion of this
experiment we are able to determine the spring constant value and natural frequency value.

Referring from the resultant graph, we can see that the obtained graph line is straight.
This shows that both variables on the graph are linearly related with each other. From the
experiment, which to determine the spring constant (k), the experimental value and theoretical
value is almost same. It been shown that the experimental value is 2.091 N/mm theoretical is
1.71 N/mm with percentage error of 18.21%. The data collected has told us that the value of
extension will be rise if the amount of the load is increase. In findings the frequency, we have
got the answer with some difference between the theoretical and experimental value. The
relation between frequencies with mass can be seen because weight of the mass can change the
value of frequency. The large amount of load given to the spring will deduct the value of
frequencies in vibration. During data collection, we encountered some errors. This is maybe
due to random error. As a conclusion, we managed to obtain the spring constant, (k) value for
the spring tested. We also managed to find the spring oscillation’s natural frequency, (f). By
obtaining the graphs, we also succeeded in finding the relationship between the displacement,
(x) and the generated force of spring, (F). Through the graph, we also managed to figure out
the relations between the mass load of the spring, m and the oscillation periodic time, (T). By
reaching the experiment’s entire objective, the experiment is a success.
2.0 INTRODUCTION

Vibration refers to mechanical oscillations about an equilibrium point. The oscillations

may be periodic such as the motion of a pendulum or random such as the movement of a tire
on a gravel road. Vibration is occasionally "desirable". For example, the motion of a tuning
fork, the reed in a woodwind instrument or harmonica, or the cone of a loudspeaker is desirable
vibration, necessary for the correct functioning of the various devices. More often, vibration is
undesirable, wasting energy and creating unwanted sound – noise. For example, the vibration
motions of engines, electric motors, or any mechanical device in operation are typically
unwanted. Such vibrations can be caused by imbalances in the rotating parts, uneven friction,
the meshing of gear teeth, etc. Careful designs usually minimize unwanted vibrations.

The study of sound and vibration are closely related to sound, or "pressure waves", are
generated by vibrating structures (e.g. vocal cords); these pressure waves can also induce the
vibration of structures (e.g. ear drum). Hence, when trying to reduce noise it is often a problem
in trying to reduce vibration.

They are two types of vibration that is free vibration occur when a mechanical system
is set off with an initial input and then allowed to vibrate freely. Examples of this type of
vibration are pulling a child back on a swing and then letting go or hitting a tuning fork and
letting it ring. The mechanical system will then vibrate at one or more of its "natural frequency"
and damp down to zero.

Free vibrations are oscillations where the total energy stays the same over time. This
means that the amplitude of the vibration stays the same. This is a theoretical idea because in
real systems the energy is dissipated to the surroundings over time and the amplitude decays
away to zero, this dissipation of energy is called damping while forced vibrations occur when
the object is forced to vibrate at a particular frequency by a periodic input of force. Objects
which are free to vibrate will have one or more natural frequency at which they vibrate, If an
object is being forced to vibrate at its natural frequency, resonance will occur and you will
observe large amplitude vibrations. The resonant frequency is fo
3.0 OBJECTIVE

1. To determine the spring constant (k).

2. To determine the natural frequency (f)
4.0 THEORY

Free vibration takes place when a system oscillates under the action of forces inherent
in the system itself due to initial disturbance, and when the externally applied forces are absent.
The system will oscillate about one of its static-equilibrium positions. Basically, there are two
types of systems. They are the discrete and continuous systems. In the case of discrete systems,
the physical properties are discrete quantities and the system behaviour is described by ordinary
differential equations. The system has finite number of degrees-of-freedom whereas in the case
of continuous system the physical properties are function of spatial co-ordinates and the system
behaviour is described by partial differential equations and has infinite number of degrees-of-
freedom. In other words, a system can be considered as discrete in which the whole mass of
the system is lumped at some points and in case of continuous system the mass is distributed
over the entire length of the system. An n-degrees-of-freedom system is governed by n coupled
differential equations and has n natural frequencies. So, the discrete system has finite number
of natural frequencies and the continuous system has infinite number of natural frequencies.
The system under free vibration will vibrate at one or more of its natural frequencies, which
are properties of the dynamical system, established by its mass and stiffness distribution.

- Frequency

The number of oscillations completed per unit time is known as Frequency of the
system.

- Natural frequency

The frequency of free vibration of a system is called Natural Frequency of that

particular system.

- Damping

The resistance to the motion of a vibrating body is called Damping. In actual practice
there is always some damping (e.g., the internal molecular friction, viscous damping, aero
dynamical damping, etc.) present in the system which causes the gradual dissipation of
vibration energy and results in gradual decay of amplitude of the free vibration. Damping has
very little effect on natural frequency of the system, and hence, the calculations for natural
frequencies are generally made on the basis of no damping. Damping is of great importance
in limiting the amplitude of oscillation at resonance.
 - Degrees of freedom

The minimum number of independent coordinates needed to describe the motion of a

system completely, is called the degree-of-freedom of the system. If only one coordinate is
required, then the system is called as single degree-of-freedom system.

To start the investigation of the mass–spring–damper we will assume the damping is

negligible and that there is no external force applied to the mass (i.e. free vibration). The
force applied to the mass by the spring is proportional to the amount the spring is stretched
"x" (we will assume the spring is already compressed due to the weight of the mass). The
proportionality constant, k, is the stiffness of the spring and has units of force/distance (e.g.
lbs/in or N/m). The negative sign indicates that the force is always opposing the motion of the
mass attached to it:

Figure 1

The force generated by the mass is proportional to the acceleration of the mass as given
by Newton’s second law of motion :

The sum of the forces on the mass then generates this ordinary differential equation:
This solution says that it will oscillate with simple harmonic motion that has
amplitude of A and a frequency of fn. The number fn is one of the most important quantities in
vibration analysis and is called the undamped natural frequency. For the simple mass–spring
system, fn is defined as: