Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

DEPARTMENT OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

Course Outline, Winter 2016

AER 403: Mechanisms and Vibrations

Instructor:

Dr. Jeff Xi, Office: ENG 161, phone: (416) 979-5000 ext. 7091
Email: fengxi@ryerson.ca
Office hours: Wednesdays 1-3 pm or by appointment

Prerequisites:

AER 318 and MTH309

Compulsory Text:

Book 1: Mechanism Design, Analysis and Synthesis, Volume 1,

Fourth Edition,
Arthur G. Erdman, George N. Sandor, Sridhar Kota,
Prentice Hall
Book 2: Theory of Vibration with Applications, 5th Edition,
William T. Thomson, Marie Dillon Dahleh
Prentice Hall

Calendar
Description:

(www.ryerson.ca/calendar/2012-2013/pg3153.html) Displacement,
velocity, and acceleration analysis of simple link and rotating systems
using vector polygons and complex-polar numbers. Inertia forces and
moments acting on simple link systems. Single and multi-degree of
freedom systems, continuous systems. Forced and free excitation with
system damping. Vibration absorbers and static and dynamic balancing of
rotating shafts.

Learning
Objectives:

At the end of this course, the successful student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate competence in the engineering science of motion and

2.
3.
4.
5.

force analysis applied to mechanisms and vibrations (1)

Apply appropriate knowledge to analyze and formulate a solution to
mechanism and vibration problems (2)
Gather information and conduct analysis to address mechanism and
vibration problems (3)
Provide solutions to the design of mechanisms and vibration systems
(4)
Show knowledge of equipment to conduct experiments for mechanism
and vibration applications and can interpret results with regard to
given assumptions and constraints (5)

6. Work individually and as part of a small team to analyze and solve

mechanism and vibration problems (6)
7. Produce effective written communication using a coherent, logical and
professional style with an appropriate format (7)
8. Recognize the impact that mechanism and vibration methods can have
on human health and safety, on the environment, and on economic
wellbeing (9)
9. Incorporate economic consideration in selection of mechanism and
vibration methods (11)
Note: Numbers in parentheses refer to the graduate attributes required by the
Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. For more information, see:
http://www.feas.ryerson.ca/quality_assurance/accreditation.pdf

Course
Organization:

3 hours of lecture per week for 13 weeks in 1 section

4 labs
4 Lab sections of maximum 20 students
2 Teaching Assistants, 2 sections per TA

Course
Evaluation:

Mid Term
Labs
Project
Final Exam
TOTAL

Examinations:

Mid Term Test after 6th week, 1 hour, open book

Final Exam, during exam period, 3 hours, open book

20%
10%
20%
50%
100%

Course Content:
Weeks Chapters Hours Topic, description
1
Book1:
3 Introduction to Mechanisms: Mechanism overview, terminology,
1
definition, kinematic pairs, kinematic diagrams
2
Book1:
3 Mobility Analysis: Degrees-of-freedom, mobility criteria, movability
1,2
and redundancy, simple open loop and closed loop mechanisms
3
Book1: 3
3 Displacement Analysis: Graphical method, analytical method (loop
equations)
4
Book1: 3
3 Velocity Analysis: Graphical method
5
Book1: 3
3 Velocity Analysis: Analytical method, instant center
6
Book1:4
3 Acceleration Analysis: Analytical/graphic method, Coriolis
acceleration
7
Book1: 5
2 Basic Machine Elements: Gears, cams, and other machine elements
1 Mid Term Exam
8
Book2:
3 Introduction to Vibration: Harmonic and periodic motion, free
1,2
vibration, natural frequency, measurement instrument (single degreeof-freedom)
9
Book2: 3
3 Forced Vibration: Forced harmonic vibration, rotating unbalance,
balancing

10
11
12

Book2: 3
Book2: 4
Book2: 5

13

3
3
3
2
1

Forced Vibration: Support motion and vibration isolation

Transient Vibration: Impulse excitation, shock and shock isolation
Systems with multiple degrees-of-freedom: Vibration modes and
modal analysis
Mechanism and Vibration Design
Project competition

Laboratories: (a detailed schedule is available on the course Blackboard website)

Weeks
4
5
8
10

Title
Mechanism lab 1: Modeling of a four-bar linkage with position
analysis
Mechanism lab 2: Modeling of a crank-slider with position and
velocity analysis
Vibration lab 1: Vibration measurement
Vibration lab 2: Vibration balancing

Room
KHW71B
KHW71B
ENG132
ENG132

Project: (Take home design and make a walking robot or a landing gear using supplied
motors/actuators and self-supplied materials)
Weeks
7
11
13

Title
Project description
Project review
Project competition

Room
In class
In class
In class

Important Notes:
1. All of the required course-specific written reports will be assessed not only on their technical/academic
merit, but also on the communication skills exhibited through these reports.
2. All assignment and lab/tutorial reports must have the standard cover page which can be completed and
printed from the Department website at www.ryerson.ca/aerospace/undergraduate/ . The cover page
must be signed by the student(s) prior to submission of the work. Submissions without the cover pages
will not be accepted.
3. Should a student miss a mid-term test or equivalent (e.g. studio or presentation), with appropriate
documentation, a make-up will be scheduled as soon as possible in the same semester. Make-ups should
cover the same material as the original assessment but need not be of an identical format. Only if it is
not possible to schedule such a make-up may the weight of the missed work be placed on the final
exam, or another single assessment. This may not cause that exam or assessment to be worth more than
70% of the students final grade. If a student misses a scheduled make-up test or exam, the grade may
be distributed over other course assessments even if that makes the grade on the final exam worth more
than 70% of the final grade in the course.
4. Students who miss a final exam for a verifiable reason and who cannot be given a make-up exam prior
to the submission of final course grades, must be given a grade of INC (as outlined in the Grading
Promotion and Academic Standing Policy) and a make-up exam (normally within 2 weeks of the
beginning of the next semester) that carries the same weight and measures the same knowledge, must be
scheduled.

5. Medical or Compassionate documents for the missing of an exam must be submitted within 3 working
days of the exam. Students are responsible for notifying the instructor that they will be missing an exam
as soon as possible.
6. Requests for accommodation of specific religious or spiritual observance must be presented to the
instructor no later than two weeks prior to the conflict in question (in the case of final examinations
within two weeks of the release of the examination schedule). In extenuating circumstances this
deadline may be extended. If the dates are not known well in advance because they are linked to other
conditions, requests should be submitted as soon as possible in advance of the required observance.
Given that timely requests will prevent difficulties with arranging constructive accommodations,
students are strongly encouraged to notify the instructor of an observance accommodation issue within
the first two weeks of classes.
7. The results of the first test or mid-term exam will be returned to students before the deadline to drop an
undergraduate course in good Academic Standing.
8. Students are required to adhere to all relevant University policies including:
Undergraduate Grading, Promotion and Acad. Standing, http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol46.pdf
Student Code of Academic Conduct, http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol60.pdf
Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct, http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol61.pdf
Undergraduate Academic Consideration and Appeals, http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol134.pdf
Examination Policy, http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol135.pdf
Accom.of Student Relig., Abor. and Spir. Observance, http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol150.pdf
Est.of Stud. Email Accts for Official Univ. Commun., http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol157.pdf
9. Students are required to obtain and maintain a Ryerson Matrix e-mail account for timely
communications between the instructor and the students.
10. Any changes in the course outline, test dates, marking or evaluation will be discussed in class prior to
being implemented.

Prepared by: _________________________________

Jeff Xi

Date: Jan. 10, 2016____________

Reviewed by: _________________________________ Date: _Jan. 10, 2016_______

J. Alighanbari