15/10/2019 How to Diagnose and Prevent Resonance

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How to Diagnose and Prevent Resonance

June 7th, 2016

By: Grant Slinger - Mechanical Engineer II

As vibration consultants at Pioneer Engineering we are frequently called out to investigate

machinery that exhibits excessive vibration. Often it is assumed that simply balancing the rotor will
make the vibration problem go away. However, upon further investigation it is not uncommon to
nd that a structural resonance is the root cause of excessive vibration, and balancing is not a
viable or long term solution to the problem. This is particularly common in variable speed
equipment or equipment that has recently undergone a running speed change. But what is
resonance and how do you properly diagnose and correct the problem?

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What is Resonance?

There are two types of vibration that need to be considered when investigating a potential
resonance problem; forced vibration and free vibration. Forced vibration occurs when an object is
forced to vibrate at a particular frequency by an oscillating input or force (such as an unbalance
force). Free vibration occurs when an object is given an initial displacement and then allowed to
“ring down” with no external force acting to keep it in motion. The frequency that this free vibration
naturally wants to occurs at is known as the natural frequency. If an object is being forced to
vibrate at its natural frequency, resonance will occur. This is what causes large amplitudes of
vibration when a machine’s running speed is at or near a natural frequency even if the force inputs
are low.

How to Identify Resonance

Several different eld tests can be performed to verify that resonance is in fact the cause of
excessive vibration in a system. Two of the most common tests are a modal impact test and a
startup or coastdown data collection.

Startup and Coastdown Analysis

Vibration data collected during a machine startup or shutdown provides a wealth of information
that is not available from steady-state data. Most importantly, it provides the ability to compare
vibration amplitude and phase throughout the entire operating speed range. Different sources of
vibration behave differently with changing speed. For instance, unbalance typically causes vibration
amplitudes that increases exponentially with increasing speed. Misalignment typically causes
vibration that increases linearly with increasing speed. Resonance however, is characterized by a
large increase in vibration at the resonant frequency but generally lower amplitudes at all other
speeds. The cascade plot below shows an example of typical vibration exhibited during startup of a
machine with a structural natural frequency in its operating speed range. 

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Modal Impact Test

Often known as an impact test or a modal analysis, this is a method that allows us to
experimentally determine the natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping of a test structure. If
any one of the calculated natural frequencies are within or near the operating speed range of a

machine, there is the potential for a resonant condition to occur. Typically eld modal testing is
performed with a calibrated modal impact hammer. The hammer contains a load cell in the tip
which provides a direct measurement of the impact force of applied to the system. Accelerometers
are placed throughout the test structure to measure the response, or ringdown, of the system to
the hammer’s impact. A spectrum of this ringdown can be used to determine the natural
frequencies of the system. This test is typically performed with the machine turned off, however
advanced signal processing can also be used to average out running condition vibration and
identify only the free vibration. 

How to Avoid Resonance

As we’ve seen, resonance occurs when the natural frequency of a system coincides with any
expected forced vibration frequencies (such as unbalance) which can lead to severe levels of
vibration.  If it is determined that resonance is in fact the cause of excessive vibration, what can be
done to stop or minimize the effect of a resonant condition?

The natural frequency of a system is dependent upon two main factors; stiffness, and mass. If the
natural frequency is w, w = sqrt(k/m).

Where k is the stiffness and m  is the mass. Therefore, in order to change the natural frequency, we
need to change either k  or m or both. Typically, the objective is to increase the natural frequency
such that it is above any expected vibration frequencies. If the natural frequency is above or

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signi cantly far away from any expected vibration frequencies the resonance will likely no be
excited. This theory forms the basis for any structural redesigns implemented to avoid resonance.

In practice, the following rules can be used to shift a natural frequency and minimize the vibration
response of a system;

1. Adding stiffness increases the natural frequency

2. Adding mass decreases the natural frequency
3. Increasing damping reduces the peak response but widens the response range
4. Decreasing damping increases the peak response but narrows the response range
5. Reducing forcing amplitudes reduces response at resonance

If changing the natural frequency is determined to be the best solution, it is important to fully
characterize the system before attempting any structural redesigns. Recently we performed a
startup vibration analysis on a small building adjacent to a 200 MW natural gas power turbine. On
startup it was noted that there was a large increase in vibration in the building when the turbine
went through the 700 rpm range. A modal impact test of the building showed a natural frequency at
the same 700 cpm frequency, con rming the presence of a resonant condition. One could easily
assume just adding stiffness to the support structure of the building would reduce vibration
amplitudes. However, it was known that the rst shaft critical of the rotor was around 1500 cpm. If
stiffness were blindly added to the structure it could easily shift the natural frequency into the 1500
cpm range thus making the vibration signi cantly worse. In this instance it may actually be better
to add mass to the system and shift the natural frequency down to a frequency where the forces
are lower.

At Pioneer Engineering we recommend using a validated nite element analysis (FEA) model of a
structure to determine the optimal design changes in order to x and avoid resonant conditions.
This allows us to test various different potential design changes in a computer simulation rst
before recommending any structural changes. Watch Pioneer’s feed for the next article entitled
“Importance of validating FEA models” for more information about how Pioneer Engineering
validates and tests structural redesigns to guarantee resonance is avoided. 

Pioneer Engineering has extensive experience with performing modal analysis to diagnose
resonance issues as well as doing theoretical computer FEA models to recommend validated
structural redesigns. For more information on how modal analysis and FEA can be implemented at
your facility, please contact us at 970-266-9005 or here. 

Our Locations

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Fort Collins, CO 80524

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T: 970.266.9005
F: 970.282.6999

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