UNIVERSITY OF TABUK

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Lab
DEPARTMENT Manual
Practical Experiment Instructions
Sheets
Exp. Title Study of Free Oscillations EXP. NO. 1
Mechanical Fall, 2017
Vibration Lab. Date: / /2017

Name: _________ I.D.#:________ Section#:_828 Group #: __

Objective:

To study the behavior of a damper on a mass-spring system.

Requirements:
1. Free vibrations test unit
2. Springs
3. Mass
4. Damper
Theory:

Taking a body "m" suspended to a spring with a rigidity "k" and a zero inertia, coupled with a damper
whose resistance force to the motion can be regarded as proportional to the velocity of the 2 parts of the
damper.
Move the mass "m" of its equilibrium point, then let go of it.
At a time "t" the mass will be at a distance "x from its equilibrium point; strength, the force equal to –kx,
exerted by the spring, will tend to return the mass to its equilibrium point. The force exerted by the damper,
𝑑𝑥
will tend to oppose the movement and will be equal to −𝑐 𝑑𝑡 with c : damping coefficient (figure 1)

Figure 1

1
The figure 2 shows a photograph of the damping free apparatus.

Sensor 1

Spring

Sensor 1

Mass

Damping

Figure 2.
Equation of motion:

We can simplify the equation with the following relation:

2 𝑑𝑥 𝑑2 𝑥 𝑘 𝑑2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑚 𝑑𝑑𝑡2𝑥=-kx−𝑐 ↔ +𝑚𝑥 = 0 ↔ +𝑐 + 𝜔𝑛2 𝑥 = 0
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡
𝑘
Where 𝜔𝑛 is the own pulsation of the harmonic oscillator equal 𝑡𝑜 𝜔𝑛2 = 𝑚
We can simplify the equation with the following relation:
When 𝜉 > 1, we say that the system is overdamped:
𝐴 𝜉 2 𝜉 2
𝑥 = 2 𝑒 −𝜉𝜔𝑛𝑡 {[1 + 2 ] 𝑒 𝜔𝑛√𝜉 −1 + [1 − 2−1 ] 𝑒 −𝜔𝑛√𝜉 −1 }
𝜉 −1 𝜉
When 𝜉 = 1, we say that the system is critical and:
𝑥 = 𝐴 (1 + 𝜔𝑛 𝑡)𝑒 −𝜔𝑛𝑡

When 𝜉 < 1 the system is underdamped and:

𝐴
𝑥= 𝑒 −𝜉𝜔𝑛 cos(𝜔𝑑 𝑡 − 𝜙)
√1 − 𝜉 2

𝜉
With 𝜔𝑛 = 𝜔2 √1 − 𝜉 2 = damped natural circular frequency and ϕ arc tangent
√1−𝜉 2
Damping factor c:
Consider the system when 𝜉 < 1 and the following recordings
If x1 and x2 exist, we get:
1 𝑥
𝜉 = 𝛿√4𝜋2 +𝛿2 Where 𝛿 = 𝑙𝑛 {𝑥1 } and 𝑐 = 𝜉 2 𝜔𝑛 𝑚
2

2
Experimental procedure:

- Follow the directions given by the technical manual regarding the installation and preparation of the bench.
- Place the spring chosen to make the measurements.
- Adjust the original position of the carriage with the knurled nuts supporting the spring.
- Immobilize in the desired position the carriage with the bolt and the index plate.
- Put in place in the damper pot and amount of oil or water below the maximum level marked on the pot.
- Adjust the orientation of the 2 discs of the damper to get the desired damping coefficient .
- Start recording with PicoLog software and then release in stride the carriage by taking care to lock the locking
bolts as soon as it was drawn.
- Repeat the experience by adding the masses.
- It is recommended to add the masses with value of 1 kg at a time, and the experience can be repeated with the
other springs.
- Repeat the experiment by changing the relative orientation of the 2 discs of the damper (damper coefficient)
- Take care to adjust at each new addition of masses or each spring change the original position of the carriage.

Questions:

1- Highlight different areas of operation of the system:

o Underdamped
o A critical damping
o Overdamped
2- Determine the damping factor c