FORCED VIBRATION &

DAMPING
Damping
a process whereby energy is taken from the
vibrating system and is being absorbed by
the surroundings.
Examples of damping forces:
internal forces of a spring,
viscous force in a fluid,
electromagnetic damping in galvanometers,
shock absorber in a car.

Free Vibration
Vibrate in the absence of damping and
external force
Characteristics:
the system oscillates with constant frequency and
amplitude
the system oscillates with its natural frequency
the total energy of the oscillator remains constant
Damped Vibration (1)
The oscillating system is opposed by
dissipative forces.
The system does positive work on the
surroundings.
Examples:
a mass oscillates under water
oscillation of a metal plate in the magnetic field
Damped Vibration (2)
Total energy of the oscillator decreases with
time
The rate of loss of energy depends on the
instantaneous velocity
Resistive force instantaneous velocity
i.e. F = -bv where b = damping
coefficient
Frequency of damped vibration < Frequency
of undamped vibration
Types of Damped Oscillations (1)
Slight damping (underdamping)
Characteristics:
- oscillations with reducing amplitudes
- amplitude decays exponentially with time
- period is slightly longer
- Figure
-
constant a .......
4
3
3
2
2
1
= = = =
a
a
a
a
a
a
Critical damping
No real oscillation
Time taken for the displacement to become
effective zero is a minimum
Figure
Types of Damped Oscillations (2)
Heavy damping (Overdamping)
Resistive forces exceed those of critical
damping
The system returns very slowly to the
equilibrium position
Figure
Computer simulation
Types of Damped Oscillations (3)
the deflection of the pointer is critically
damped
Example: moving coil galvanometer
(1)
Damping is due to
induced currents
flowing in the metal
frame
The opposing
couple setting up
causes the coil to
come to rest quickly

Example: moving coil galvanometer
(2)
Forced Oscillation
The system is made to oscillate by periodic
impulses from an external driving agent
Experimental setup:
Characteristics of Forced Oscillation
(1)
Same frequency as the driver system
Constant amplitude
Transient oscillations at the beginning which
eventually settle down to vibrate with a
constant amplitude (steady state)
In steady state, the system vibrates at the
frequency of the driving force
Characteristics of Forced Oscillation
(2)
Energy
Amplitude of vibration is fixed for a specific
driving frequency
Driving force does work on the system at the
same rate as the system loses energy by doing
work against dissipative forces
Power of the driver is controlled by damping

Amplitude
Amplitude of vibration depends on
the relative values of the natural frequency
of free oscillation
the frequency of the driving force
the extent to which the system is damped
Figure
Effects of Damping
Driving frequency for maximum amplitude
becomes slightly less than the natural
frequency
Reduces the response of the forced system
Figure
Phase (1)
The forced vibration takes on the frequency of
the driving force with its phase lagging behind
If F = F
0
cos et, then
x = A cos (et - |)
where | is the phase lag of x behind F

Phase (2)
Figure
1. As f 0, | 0
2. As f , | t
3. As f f
0
, | t/2
Explanation
When x = 0, it has no tendency to move.
maximum force should be applied to the
oscillator
When oscillator moves away from the centre, the
driving force should be reduced gradually so that
the oscillator can decelerate under its own
restoring force
At the maximum displacement, the driving force
becomes zero so that the oscillator is not pushed
any further
Thereafter, F reverses in direction so that the
oscillator is pushed back to the centre
Phase (3)
On reaching the centre, F is a maximum in
the opposite direction
Hence, if F is applied 1/4 cycle earlier than
x, energy is supplied to the oscillator at the
correct moment. The oscillator then
responds with maximum amplitude.
Phase (4)
Bartons Pendulum (1)
The paper cones
vibrate with nearly
the same frequency
which is the same as
that of the driving
bob
Cones vibrate with
different amplitudes
Cone 3 shows the greatest amplitude of swing
because its natural frequency is the same as that of
the driving bob
Cone 3 is almost 1/4 of cycle behind D. (Phase
difference = t/2 )
Cone 1 is nearly in phase with D. (Phase difference =
0)
Cone 6 is roughly 1/2 of a cycle behind D. (Phase
difference = t)
Bartons Pendulum (2)
Previous page
Hacksaw Blade Oscillator (1)
Damped vibration
The card is positioned in such a way as to
produce maximum damping
The blade is then bent to one side. The
initial position of the pointer is read from
the attached scale
The blade is then released and the amplitude
of the successive oscillation is noted
Repeat the experiment several times
Results
Hacksaw Blade Oscillator (2)
Forced Vibration (1)
Adjust the position of the load on the driving
pendulum so that it oscillates exactly at a
frequency of 1 Hz
Couple the oscillator to the driving pendulum
by the given elastic cord
Set the driving pendulum going and note the
response of the blade
In steady state, measure the amplitude of
forced vibration
Measure the time taken for the blade to
perform 10 free oscillations
Adjust the position of the tuning mass to
change the natural frequency of free vibration
and repeat the experiment
Forced Vibration (2)
Plot a graph of the amplitude of vibration at
different natural frequencies of the oscillator
Change the magnitude of damping by rotating
the card through different angles
Plot a series of resonance curves

Forced Vibration (3)
Resonance (1)
Resonance occurs when an oscillator is acted
upon by a second driving oscillator whose
frequency equals the natural frequency of the
system
The amplitude of reaches a maximum
The energy of the system becomes a
maximum
The phase of the displacement of the driver
leads that of the oscillator by 90
Resonance (2)
Examples
Mechanics:
Oscillations of a childs swing
Destruction of the Tacoma Bridge
Sound:
An opera singer shatters a wine glass
Resonance tube
Kundts tube
Electricity
Radio tuning
Light
Maximum absorption of infrared waves by a NaCl
crystal
Resonance (3)
Resonant System
There is only one value of the driving
frequency for resonance, e.g. spring-mass
system
There are several driving frequencies which
give resonance, e.g. resonance tube
Resonance: undesirable
The body of an aircraft should not resonate
with the propeller
The springs supporting the body of a car
should not resonate with the engine
Demonstration of Resonance (1)
Resonance tube
Place a vibrating tuning fork above the mouth of
the measuring cylinder
Vary the length of the air column by pouring
water into the cylinder until a loud sound is heard
The resonant frequency of the air column is then
equal to the frequency of the tuning fork


Sonometer
Press the stem of a vibrating tuning fork against
the bridge of a sonometer wire
Adjust the length of the wire until a strong
vibration is set up in it
The vibration is great enough to throw off paper
riders mounted along its length
Demonstration of Resonance (2)

Oscillation of a metal plate in the magnetic
field
Slight Damping
Critical Damping
Heavy Damping
Amplitude
Phase
Bartons Pendulum
Damped Vibration
Resonance Curves
Swing
Tacoma Bridge
Video
Resonance Tube
A glass tube has a
variable water level and
a speaker at its upper
end
Kundts Tube
Sonometer