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ES2D5 Balancing Lab Report

1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

Figure 1 – The Experimental Setup [1]

The experimental setup is as shown in figure 1 above. The angular and axial positions can be
adjusted but the mass-radius products are fixed. Once the masses are set to the positions on
the excel table, the balance can be checked by rotating the shaft and pausing to see what
happens. For static balance, the inner frame is attached to the outer frame alone, without the
springs. For dynamic balance, the inner frame is attached to the springs and the motor turned
on. If the rigs runs with little amplitude of vibration, then dynamic balance is achieved.

2. BALANCING TABLE FOR THE SETTINGS FOR MASSES #1 AND #2 WITH THE SUM OF 4
LAST DIGITS OF OWN ID
Figure 2 below shows the set-up of the angular positions for the two masses 1 and 2: (90° +
sum of the last 4 digits of ID (90+ (4+8+0+4) = 106)), and the axial distance between the
masses: (20mm +(4+8+0+4) = 36). This has generated an imbalance with the first two masses.
This imbalance is fixed with the other two masses. Using the Excel file, a vector polygon is
drawn to determine the angular settings for the other two masses to achieve static balance
(as shown below in figure). Using trial and error, the angles are adjusted of the masses 3 and
4 to make the static balance polygon closed. Similarly, a vector polygon is drawn to determine
the angular settings for the other two masses to achieve dynamic balance. Again, using trial
and error, the position L is adjusted to close the dynamic balance polygon (as shown below in
figure 2).

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 Figure 2 – Vector Polygons Using Own ID Numbers

3. BALANCING TABLE FOR THE SETTINGS FOR MASSES #1 AND #2 AND VERIFIED
DURING THE LAB SESSION

Figure 3 – Vector Polygons Using Groups ID Numbers

To ensure adequate static balance, the shaft is rotated by hand very slowly and the period of
oscillation must be more than 5 seconds. Dynamic balance is evaluated by connecting the
motor with the belt and the inner frame is hung on springs. Dynamic balance is seen to be
achieved as the rig runs with a small amplitude of vibration.

4. AMPLITUDE OF THE VIBRATION OF THE BALANCED FRAME

The value of the amplitude is estimated by holding a ruler close to the frame, taking a video
and analysing it. For the side of the cradle closest to the drive belt, the minimum vibration is
much less than 0.5mm in the z-direction and maximum is just under 0.5mm in the x-direction.
For the other side of the cradle, the minimum vibration, in the z-direction, is 0.5mm and
maximum in the x-direction is 1mm. The amplitude is different at both ends due to less inertia
on the side of the rig with one spring. There is more mass (due to the placement of the drive
motor) which increases the inertia and therefore reduces the amplitude of the vibration.

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 Figures 4 through to 7 are a visual representation of the data collected in the lab.
Theoretically, the amplitude can be calculated using momentum conservation. The mass of
the cradle with weights is known (8.3kg) and mr values can be calculated from the positioning
of the weights on the axle. The velocity of the unbalanced mass can be calculated using wr.

Figure 4 – Acceleration Vs Time Graph Figure 5 – Acceleration Vs Time Graph When

for The Balanced Rig the Axial Position Creates an Imbalance

Figure 6 – Acceleration Vs Time Graph When Figure 7 – Acceleration Vs Time Graph

the Angular Position Creates an Imbalance When the Hand Creates Free Oscillations

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 5. FREQUENCY SPECTRA (VERTICAL, AXIS OF ROTATION AND LATERAL)

Figure 8 – Frequency Spectra for Figure 9 – Frequency Spectra Figure 10 – Frequency Spectra
Balanced Rig in X Direction for Balanced Rig in Y Direction for Balanced Rig in Z Direction

Figure 11 – Frequency Spectra in X Figure 12 – Frequency Spectra in Figure 13 – Frequency Spectra in

Direction When Weight Moved Y Direction When Weight Moved Z Direction When Weight Moved
20mm 20mm 20mm

Figure 14 – Frequency Spectra Figure 15 – Frequency Spectra Figure 16 – Frequency Spectra

in X Direction When Weight in Y Direction When Weight in Z Direction When Weight
Moved 20° Moved 20° Moved 20°

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Figure 17 – Frequency Spectra in Figure 18 – Frequency Spectra in Figure 19 – Frequency Spectra in
X Direction for Free Oscillations Y Direction for Free Oscillations Z Direction for Free Oscillations

Figures 8 through to 19 above depict the data collected in the lab when converted to the
frequency domain using the fast Fourier transform algorithm in Matlab. The x axis acts
horizontally perpendicular to the balancer axle, y axis parallel to the balancer axle and z axis
vertically perpendicular to the balancer axle.
Figures 8 through to 10 shows the frequency spectra for a balanced rig, figures 11 through to
13 shows the frequency spectra when weight is moved 20mm to create an imbalance, which
is fixed with the other two masses, figures 14 though to 16 shows the frequency spectra when
the weight is moved is 20°, again creating an imbalance and finally, figures 17 through to 19
show the frequency spectra when the motor is switched off and the cradle is randomly hit by
hand to perform free oscillations.
In the lab, 1 rotation of the driving gear is measured to be a 140° rotation of the axle gear.
Therefore, giving a gear ratio of 0.388. The driving frequency of motor is 1400rpm, which is
equal to 23.33Hz. This produces a driving frequency for the rig of 9.05Hz (23.33*0.388), seen
clearly in the leftmost excitation in figures 8 through to 16, at 9 Hz.
The rightmost excitation at 100 Hz depicts the 2 x line frequency. The motor alternates at the
line frequency, therefore all AC motors produce a 2 x line frequency vibration [2]. The line
frequency in this case is 50 Hz.
The natural frequency is found when the system is allowed to perform free oscillations, this
is when the motor is switched off and the cradle is randomly hit by hand. This is shown in
figures 17 though to 19 at approximately 5 Hz.

6. GENERAL COMMENTS ON HOW THE LAB WENT

Initially, when setting the angular positions for two of the masses #1 and #2, instead of using
+9 to create an imbalance, it was decided to use +39 as the imbalance was deemed to small
and was incredibly difficult to use trial and error to adjust the angles of the masses 3 and 4 to
make the dynamic balance polygon closed. Once the Fourier transform is performed on
Matlab, the graph appears extremely noisy. Whilst key excitations are still clearly visible, so
are a number of smaller ones. This is unexpected and retrospectively the spectrum
subtraction method could be used to remove noise from a spectrum. There is some
discrepancy between the theoretical values and the experimental values in the frequency
specta as well as the amplitude, this is due to deterioration of the motor over time. There
may an inaccuracy in the setup or in the instruments causing measurements to be faulty.

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 7. REFERENCES
[1] Denissenko, P (2021) ‘Dynamic Balancing Lab Sheet’
[2] Matsushita, O, Namura, K, Yoshida, T, Kaneko, R, and Okabe, A. (1989) ‘Torsional vibration
analysis of turbine-generator-blade coupled system’