CALCULATION GUIDE OF VIBRATION ISOLATORS & NOISE CONTROL

ELCEN Vibro-matic Co. available in a variety of styles and sizes in order to handle most vibration isolation problems. The product
guide on page one shows the different styles of mounts that ELCEN Vibro-matic Rubber offers. Most of these mounts are designed to
be used in either the compression or shear direction as indicated in Figure 1.

ELCEN Vibro-matic Co. are produced with either Natural Rubber, EPDM or Neoprene elastomers depending on the application.

 Natural Rubber has a maximum operating temperature of 150°F and is good for most industrial applications.
Natural Rubber is affected by immersion in oil.
 Neoprene has a maximum operating temperature of 180°F and is resistant to oil.

To select the proper ELCEN Vibro-matic for a specific application, it is necessary to know the following information:

 The maximum load that must be supported.

 The number of mounts supporting the load.
 The frequency of the disturbing vibration. (Note: If there is more than one frequency involved, the lowest frequency is the
determining one.)
 Any restrictions on the size or style of the mount based on space limitations or assembly considerations.
ELCEN will help you to select the proper based on the information that you provide.
You may also select your own mount based on the following calculations.
Step 1: Calculate the load on each mount. If the load is evenly distributed, divide the total load by the number of mounts.

Total Load
Load per Mount = =__________lbs.
Number of Mounts

Step 2: Calculate the lowest disturbing frequency (fd) based on the operating speed in cycles per second (Hz). Convert fd from
revolutions per minute (RPM) to cycles per second (Hz).

RPM
Disturbing Frequency(fd) = =__________Hz.
60 SEC./min.
Step 3: Calculate the natural frequency (fn) that the system needs for 80% isolation.

fd
Natural Frequency(fn) = =__________Hz.
2.45

Step 4: Calculate the required static deflection (ds) to obtain the desired natural frequency (fn).

9.8
Static Deflection(ds) = =__________inches
(fn)²

Step 5: Calculate the required spring rate (K) to obtain the desired natural frequency (fn).

Load per Mount

Spring Rate(K) = =__________inches
Static Deflection(ds)
Step 6: Select a mount that has a maximum load rating equal or greater than the calculated load per mount and a spring rate (K) less
than the calculated spring rate. Please note that overloading Vibro-matic Insulators is not recommended, since it may lead to
premature failure. However, excessive under loading will not deflect the mount enough to provide satisfactory isolation.

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 CALCULATION GUIDE OF VIBRATION ISOLATORS & NOISE CONTROL

Step 7: After you have selected the Vibro-matic Isolators you should calculate the transmissibility based on the actual spring rate for
the selected mount (see example below).
EXAMPLE CALCULATION

180 lbs
Load = = 45 lbs. per mount
mounts

2400 RPM
fd = = 40H
60 seconds/ minute

40 Hz
fn = = 16.3 HZ
2.45

9.8
ds = = 0.037inches
(16.3)²

45 lbs. per mount

K= = 0.037inches
0.037 inches
6. Select a mount with a maximum load rating of at least 45 lbs per mount and a spring rate of 1,216 lbs/in or less. The 50
durometer.
7. Calculate the actual isolation based on using the K47 Vibro-Isolators at these operating conditions.

Isolation =1 – T = 1 - .10 = .90 (90% Isolation)

TERMINOLOGY
Compression - Deflecting a mount in the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface (see Figure 1).
Damping - The reduction of vibrational amplitude through the conversion of vibrational energy into heat. Damping reduces the
amount of amplification at resonance.
Disturbing frequency (fd) - The frequency of vibration caused by a source such as a motor expressed as the number of oscillations
that occur per unit time (RPM or Hz).
Durometer - The hardness of an elastometer based on a numbering scale that indicates the resistance to indentation of an indicator
point.
Isolation efficiency - The percentage of vibration that is absorbed by the rubber mount that protects the equipment. It is equal to (1 -
Transmissibility). An isolation efficiency of 80% is generally considered satisfactory.
Load deflection curve - A plot of the applied load versus the distance that mount is deflected. Natural frequency (fn) -
The frequency at which a system will vibrate freely if deflected from a static equilibrium position.

Resonance - The condition existing when the disturbing frequency is the same as the natural frequency of the system. At this
condition the amount of vibration transmitted will be amplified instead of isolated.
Shear - Deflecting a mount in the direction parallel to the mounting surface (see Figure 1).
Static deflection (ds) - The deflection of a mount at a given static load.
Spring rate (k) - The ratio of the imposed static load to the resulting deflection of a particular rubber amount expressed in lbs per
inch. Transmissibility (T) - A measure of the amount of vibration transmitted through a mount. A transmissibility of 20% or less is
normally desired.

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