HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES

(MECHANICAL ENGINEERING)

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE 3 (B58EC1)

DYNAMICS LABORATORY: TRIFILAR SUSPENSION

Objective:

To calculate the polar moment of inertia of an assembly and using the result to predict
the periodic time of a trifilar suspension of the assembly.

Theory:

The moment of inertia of a solid object is obtained by integrating the second moment of
mass about a particular axis. The general formula for inertia is:

I g = mk 2
where Ig = inertia in kg.m2 about the mass centre
m = mass in kg
k = radius of gyration about mass centre in m.

In order to calculate the inertia of an assembly, the local inertia Ig needs to be increased
by an amount mh2.

where m = local mass in kg

h = the distance between parallel axis passing through the local mass centre
and the mass centre for the overall assembly.

The Parallel Axis Theory has to be applied to every component of the assembly. Thus

(
I = ∑ I g + mh 2 )
The polar moments of inertia for some standard solids are:

mr 2
Cylindrical solid I Cylinder = ( r : radius of cylinder)
2
Circular tube I tube =
m 2
2
(
ro + ri 2 ) ( ri and ro : inside and outside radius)

Square hollow section I sq =

6
( ao + ai2 )
m 2
( ai and ao : inside and outside length)

An assembly of three solid masses on a circular platform is suspended from three chains
to form a trifilar suspension. For small oscillations about a vertical axis, the periodic
time is related to the Moment of Inertia.

Page 1/4
 1

3
θ
θ
φ L φ
φ O

1 2 3 θ

Ø600 2

Figure 1. Trifilar suspension

From Figure 1, the equation of motion is:

d 2θ mgR 2
I + θ =0 (1)
dt 2 L

Comparing this to the standard equation (2nd order differential equation) for Simple
Harmonic Motion (SHM),

d2y
+ ω2 y = 0 (2)
dx 2
the frequency ω in radians/sec and the period T in seconds can be calculated by:

mgR 2
ω= (3)
LI
LI
and T = 2π (4)
mgR 2

Assuming the general solution for the equation (1) is θ = θ sin (ωt ) , solve the
differential equation (1) to obtain equation (3) and use frequency ω = 2πf to obtain
equation (4). Show the derivation in your report.

Experiment:

A circular plywood platform, as shown in Figure 2, has three solid masses located as
shown with reference to the centre of the platform. Using a spreadsheet or otherwise
devise a tabular method for calculating the polar moment of inertia of the platform alone
and the assembly.

Measure the length of the chains supporting the platform.

In your case, use apparatus A or the alternative B, and the three radii to be used are:

R1 = ___________ mm for hollow square section;

Page 2/4
R2 = ___________ mm for cylinder;

R3 = ___________ mm for the circular tube.

R3
t R1
R2

Figure 2. Assembly details

Using the result of your calculation of inertia to predict the periodic time of the SHM
for both the platform and the assembly.

Assemble the masses on the platform as specified above and obtain an experimental
value for the period. Repeat the experiment for the platform alone.

Compare calculated values and experimental data, and explain the discrepancies.
Discuss and quantify sources of errors.

Discussions:
Compare the experimental time and calculated time t from equation 4. Determine the
%error and identify and explain the sources of error.

I
Plot a graph of time vs for experimental and calculate data. Comment on the
m
linearity of the graphs.

Apparatus Data:

Set A Set B
Mass (kg) Dimensions (mm) Mass (kg) Dimensions (mm)
Circular platform 2.0 Ø 600 2.7 Ø 600
Cylinder 6.82 Ø126 5.6 Ø129
Tube 2.196 78 I/D, 1.29 87 I/D,
98 O/D 102 O/D
Square Section 2.503 A=100 2.37 A=100
t=6 t=6.5

Page 3/4
Density of mild steel, ρ steel = 7,800kg / m 3 .

Report format:

The report for the labs must have the following sections:

Introduction – give a background to the subject and experiment

Aim/Objective – describe the aim or objective of the experiment

Theory – detailed description of the theory and engineering principles. All equations
used in the calculations must be shown.

Apparatus – a description and diagrams of the apparatus, diagrams must be fully

labelled. All variables used in the theory section must be identified.

Procedures – a detailed record of the execution of the experiment, that a person could
repeat the experiment by reading it.

Results – Tabulation of raw readings and the calculated ones. A sample calculation
must be shown. Calculated and experimental values must be shown and %errors
between them derived.

Discussion – discuss on the results obtained. Compare between experimental and

calculated results and discuss on the errors. Identify the sources of error and explain
with calculations or theory involved. Listing errors without justification is not sufficient
and this will not gain any marks.

Conclusion – conclude if the aim or objective is achieved.

References – Books or publications to support theory and discussion. Lecture notes

cannot be used as reference. Identify where the materials are used in your report.

Appendix (Optional) – any other information to support the report.

Attendance to lab session is compulsory.

Any report does not have all the above sections will be rejected and returned, and
it will be considered as non-submission. Marks will be deducted for late
submission.

Page 4/4