KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

COLLEDGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

HEAT EXCHANGER EXPERIMENT

M.E. 396 (MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LAB

GROUP D MEMBERS

NAMES INDEX NUMBER

SIGNATURE
1.MATHIAS NYAKA 9799413
2.ADDAI SAMUEL 9788513
3.EFFAH-AGYAPONG RICHARD JR 9795913
4,AGBEBO PRINCE 9790013
5.ASSAN MOSES 9793213
6.DANIEL LARSEN 9798313
7.KANKAM MICHAEL 9797713
8.SUMAILA ABUBAKAR 9801513
9.ANTOBRE-SEINUAH MIRACLE YAW 9792013
10.BARAK BONDZI 9794513
OBJECTIVES:-
To determine the elastic constants of the spring material, by measuring the translational and torsional
vibration/oscillations of a loaded spring.

INTRODUCTION
A spring is a flexible mechanical components found in many mechanical systems. Developments in
material, design procedures and manufacturing processes permit springs to be made with longer fatigue
life, reduced complexity, and higher production rate. Since they are used extensively in engineering
application, there is the need for engineers to be able to determine the elastic constants or stiffness of
springs.
The elastic constant of a linear spring is simply defined as the ratio of the force used in stretching the
spring to the displacement. Some springs include: helical coil spring, leaf spring, flat spiral spring and so
on. This experiment looks at a helical coil spring.

Diagram

Helical spring
Retort Stand

Maxwell needle

THEORY

D = mean diameter of coil

d= wire diameter
n = number of coils

Under axial load, W

Since the helix angle is small the action on any cross-section is approximately a pure torque = W. D/2,
and the bending and shear effects may be neglected. The wire is therefore being twisted like a shaft, and
if  is the total angle of twist along the wire, and x the deflection of W along the axis of the coils,
x= (D/2) 
L = Dn
D
W
 2  2  G 2 x / D
d / 32 d
4
Dn

8WD
Or  /d
d 4
 Gx / D 2 n..................1

The....spring ...stiffness
Gd 4
s  3 ..................a 
8D n
Under axial torque, T, we will have a pure bending moment of magnitude T at all cross-sections. The
total strain energy is therefore
T 2l T 2Dn
U 
2 EI 2 Exd 4 / 64

32T 2 Dn
U  2
Ed 4
But if T causes a rotation of one end of the spring through an angle  about the axis, relate to the other
end.

U= (1/2) T …………………………………….(3)
From equations (2) and (3):
Tl

EI

64TDn 64 Dn
 T 
Ed 4 Ed 4
Ed 4
or T /  
64 Dn
Now T /   c, the torsional stiffness
Ed 4
c   4 
64 Dn
 s
x x0
m
s s
 2   
m m
m
hence , the period , T  2
s

m
T 2  4 2  ............b 
 s 
For the torsional oscillatio ns
Re storing torque  c
 I  c
c
   0
I
c
2 
I
I
The period , T  2
c
I 
T 2  4 2  ...........(c )
c

Where I is the moment of inertia of the attached, I = mx2/3

where m is the attached mass and x is the perpendicular distance of the attached mass from the center of
mass of the rod.

But torsional stiffness c :

4
Ed
c  ...........( d )
64 Dn

APPARATUS
 2 music wires(springs)
 Maxwell’s needle:
 Stop watch: used to measure time
 Micrometer screw gauge: used to measure diameter of the music wire
  Vernier caliper : used to measure big diameter of coils
 Beam balance : used to measure mass of metals weights
 Metre rule : used to measure length of needle
 Metal weights

PROCEDURE
By using the rod and the sliding masses and some masses available, purely vertical vibrations were
obtained. Each time, the bar was slightly displaced downwards and released. The time for twenty (20)
oscillations was obtained using a stopwatch. The experiment was repeated for other masses and each
time, the time was determined and recorded. During the experiment, the bench was freed of all vibration
from the group members. This was to ensure good results.
Now, by varying the positions of the sliding masses along the rod, torsional oscillations were
produce. For each distance, the time for twenty (20) oscillations was determined and recorded. The
angular displacement of the rod was very acute.
The diameter (d) of the springs was determined using a micrometer screw gauge. The mean
diameter of the coil (D) was also determined using a vernier caliper. The mass of the needle and that of
the attached masses was also determined with a beam balance and recorded

RESULTS

Mass of block and needle mb = 1.2 Kg

Properties Spring 1 Spring 2

Wire diameter, d 1.95mm 1.

Number of coils, n 20 18

Mean coil diameter 36.55mm 50.275mm

Table for vertical oscillations with spring 1

Mass, m Time for 20 oscillations (s) Period, T T2(s2)

(Kg) =t/20 (s)
t1 t2 mean (t/s)
0.6 13.1 13.5 13.3 0.67 0.45
0.98 15 15.5 15.25 0.76 0.58
1.45 18.41 19.1 18.76 0.94 0.88
Table for vertical oscillations with spring 2

Mass, m Time for 20 oscillations (s) Period, T2(s2)

(Kg) T =t/20
t1 t2 mean (t/s)
(s)
0.6 17.65 18.2 17.93 0.90 0.81
0.98 21.9 22.1 22 1.1 1.21
1.45 25.2 26.3 25.75 1.29 1.66

Table for torsion oscillation using spring 1

x(m) X2 (m2) I(kgm2) Time of 10 oscillations, t(s ) T (s) T2 (s2)

=t/20
t1 t2 mean t(s)

0.015 0.0002 0.00022 48 49 48.50 2.43 5.90 Tabl

e for
0.035 0.0012 0.00132 49.8 50.65 50.26 2.51 6.30 torsi
on
0.092 0.0085 0.00935 59.5 58.5 59 2.95 8.70 oscill
ation
0.132 0.0174 0.01914 71 69.5 70.25 3.51 12.32 using
sprin
0.19 0.0361 0.03971 88.5 89..25 88.88 4.44 19.71 g2

x(m) X2 (m2) I (Kgm2) Time of 10 oscillations, t(s ) T (s) T2 (s2)

=t/10
t1 t2 mean t(s)

AN
0.015 0.0002 0.00022 50.50 51.12 51.14 2.557 6.54
AL
YSI
0.035 0.0012 0.00132 53.80 54.25 54.275 2.714 7.364
S
Res
0.092 0.0085 0.00935 66.00 59.42 59.22 2.961 8.77 pect
ive
0.132 0.0174 0.01914 79.40 64.42 64.455 3.22 10.386 gra
phs
0.19 0.0361 0.03971 81.6 68.48 68.495 3.423 11.729 and
calc
0.12 0.0144 0.01584 74.49 74.33 74.41 3.72 13.84 ulat
ions
0.14 0.0196 0.02156 80.04 80.36 80.2 4.01 16.08
Figure 1 a graph of period squared, T2 against mass, m when using spring 1
Gradient of the slope, g1= 0.5059

Figure 2 a graph of period squared, T2 against mass, m when using spring 2

Gradient, g2= 0.98
Figure 3 a graph of moment of inertia, I against period squared, T2 when using spring 1

Figure 3 a graph of moment of inertia, I, against period squared T2 when using spring 1

Substituting S…….(a) into ……(b)

 T
2
 D 3n 
  32 2

 Gd 4 

m  
T2
with  gradient of slopes , g1 and g 2
m

For music wire (spring) 1 with g1 = 0.667, D=0.037m, d=0.0017m and n=20 coils

The modulus of rigidity for music wire (spring )1, G1 is 57.3 GPa.

For music wire (spring) 2 with g2 = 0.93, D=0.037m, d=0.001875m and n=18 coils
The modulus of rigidity for music wire(spring )2, G2 is 61.8 GPa.

Substituting C ….(d) into ……(c)

256 2 Dn
2
T
 ...........(c)
I Ed 4
T2
with  gradient of slopes , g 3 and g 4
c

For music wire (spring) 1 with g3 = 0.00177-1, D=0.037m, d=0.0017m, n= 20.

The modulus of elasticity for music wire (spring)1 is 352.8GPa

For music wire(spring)1 with g3 = 0.00172-1, D=0.050m, d=0.001875m, n= 18.

The modulus of elasticity for music wire (spring)1 is 351.6GPa

PRECAUTIONS
1. The setup was not disturbed
2. Parallax error was avoided

CONCLUSION
 According to the results, the modulus of elasticity, E of the music wire(springs) 1 and 2 are 57.3
GPa and 61.8 GPa
 According to the results, the modulus of rigidity, G of the music wire(springs) 1 and 2 are
352.8 GPa and 351.6 GPa

COMMENTS
Comparing the obtained elastic constants with the standard values, E=200GPa and G=81.7GPa, there
was a vast difference due to the tempered state of the music wire (spring).

RECOMMENDATIONS
1.The music wire (spring) must be changed because of the high in built fatigue.
2.The balance for measuring the masses should be replaced with a new one