Aim

Experimental objectives are to determine and establish the natural frequency of the cantilevered beam as well as the damping ratio of the system and compare the results with the theoretically calculated values.

Introduction
The study of vibrations involves the dynamic system in which the system is subjected to external forces which caused any displacement from its equilibrium position. When a dynamic system is subjected to a steady-state harmonic excitation, it is forced to vibrate at the same frequency as that of the excitation. If the frequency of excitation coincides with one of the natural frequencies of the system, a condition of resonance is reached, and dangerously large oscillations may occur which may result in the mechanical failure of the system. Free vibration occurs when a mechanical system is set off with an initial input and then allowed to vibrate freely without any external force acting on the system. Forces vibration is when a time-varying disturbance is applied to the system. Should there be no energy lost or dissipated during the oscillation, the vibration is should be undamped vibration and damped vibration vice versa. Because of friction and other resistances vibrating systems are subjected to damping to some degree due to dissipation of energy. 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 Thus keeping in view all these devastating effects, the study of vibration is essential for a mechanical engineer to minimize the vibration effects over mechanical components by designing them properly. Natural frequency of any system is decided by some of the system parameters which if controlled, natural frequency can also be controlled so as to keep natural frequency far away from the operating range. These system parameters have simultaneous effect on natural frequency

Theory
k

For the Lang rage equation, the equation of motion for a vibrating cantilever beam is given by: ( ) + Where kinetic energy, T= Potential Energy V= Rayleigh dissipation function D = c(L )2 = For undamped vibration, c = 0 and D = 0 Substituting T,V and D into the equation gives: ( mL2 ) 0 + 0 + kL2 = 0
2 2

=0

( )2 =

mL2 2

= kL22

cL2 2

+ kL2 = 0

The system can be simplified with the following equivalent parameters: meq = keq =

Eq () is simplified and rearranged as follows: = = -n2

For undamped vibration, the theoretical natural angular frequency is : n = Then the theoretical natural frequency is as follows:

fn =

The actual natural angular frequency is determined as: na = Where T = Period of oscillation

Actual natural frequency is given as: fna = =

The theoretical damping ratio for underdamped vibration is defined: =

The fundamental natural angular frequency is given by: d = n The fundamental natural frequency is given as: fd = =

To find the actual damping ratio, the logarithmic decrement is first found as: = ln ( )

Where yn and yn+1 are amplitudes of successive oscillations. Actual damping ratio is then found as follows: =

Actual damped natural angular frequency is given as: = Actual damped frequency is : fda = = Td = Period of damped oscillation

Should the system is lightly damped, then 0 and d =n

Experimental Investigation Experimental Set-up

Figure : Experimental Set-up

Figure : Damper

Figure : Beam and Signal generator with thumbdrive included

Experimental Apparatus i. G.U.N.T. Geratebau GmbH TM 155 free and forced vibration apparatus. A helical spring is hung on the free end of the beam. The vibrations can be damped using the viscosity damper. Tektronic digital storage oscilloscope TDS1000B series. The vibrations recorded on the accelerometer can be displayed on this oscilloscope. CTC accelerometer model AC240-1A with magnetic base. The accelerometer to measure the vibrations in the cantilever beam. PRO power supply model PS01. To supply power to the accelerometer as well as the oscilloscope.

ii. iii. iv.

Experimental Procedure
i. The undamped free vibration experiment, of which one of the ends of the coil spring is attached to the adjustable spring holder while the other end of the beam is roughly at distance of 650mm from the pivot ii. The spring holder is then adjusted accordingly in which it is ensured of that the beam is aligned horizontally iii. An accelerometer is attached to the free end of the beam and then the wire of which is connected to the sensor input of the power supply iv. The output of the power supply is connected to the channel 1 input of the oscilloscope

v. The oscilloscope is turned on and the AUTOSET function enabled. With the AUTOSET function enabled the TRIGGER is set to Type: Edge, Source:CH 1, Slope:Rising, Mode:Normal and Coupling:AC.

vi. The time scale of the oscilloscope is then set to 250m/s division and the amplitude scale set to 50mV/division. vii. The trigger level is then set to 100mV and the SINGLE SEQ function is pressed viii. As soon as the Ready sign appears on the oscilloscope the beam was deflected by hand downwards and then released. ix. The vibration response of the oscilloscope is transferred and the data then stored into a thumbdrive x. As in for the case of the damped free vibration experiment, a damper is attached to the lower cross-piece of the experimental apparatus and the other end is attached to the beam at a distance of 150mm from the pivot. xi. The plunger rod of the damper is then aligned properly to the beam and the height of the damper is then adjusted such that the centre mark of the plunger rod is just visible xii. The needle valve of the damper is then set to half-way between fully open and fully-closed position xiii. Procedure is then repeated v to ix.