Curtin University of Technology

School of Mechanical Engineering

Machine Dynamics 231

Experimental Methods for Determination of Moments of Inertia

Moments of inertia of bodies can be readily determined from simple experiments involving
oscillations with natural frequency. This technique is particularly useful for bodies whose
shapes are too complex for convenient analytical determination.

OBJECT
Familiarisation with experimental techniques and methods of calculating results for the
compound pendulum method and the trifilar suspension method. Specifically, in relation to
the connecting rod supplied, to determine:
i) the location of the centre of mass, dimension b,
ii) the moment of inertia Ic about the principal axis through the centre of mass C and
perpendicular to the 'plane' of the connecting rod.

TEST SPECIMEN
The same connecting rod must be used in both the
A compound pendulum and the trifilar suspension
experiments.

Obtain the following measurements:

a
Mass of the connecting rod m =__________kg
Centre of
L Length of the connecting rod L =__________ m
Mass C

A. COMPOUND PENDULUM METHOD

k c2 + a 2
Oscillating about A TA = 2π (1)
β
ga cos
2
k +b
2 2
Oscillating about B TB = 2π c
(2)
β
gb cos
2
Mechanics 234 - Experimental Methods for Determination of Moments of Inertia 2

where kc is the radius of gyration and β is the amplitude.

L
Also a + b = L so that b = (3)
a
1+
b

Now g = 9.81 m/s2 and let β = 5°. Then

β
g cos
2 = 9.81 cos 2.5 = 0.2483 (4)
4π 2
4π 2

From (1) and (2) and substituting (4)

k c2 + a2 = 0.2483 a TA2 (5)

k c2 + b2 = 0.2483 b TB2 (6)

Subtracting (6) from (5) and factorising the left hand side

a2 – b2 = L ( a − b ) = 0.2483 (aTA2 – b TB2)

a
Dividing through by b and solving for
b
2
a L − 0.2483TB
= (7)
b L − 0.2483TA 2

Then substituting (7) into (3)

L
b= 2
(8)
L − 0.2483TB
1+ 2
L − 0.2483TA

Finally taking kc2 from (6) we have

Ic = m k c2 = m (0.2483 b TB2 – b2) (9)

where b is calculated from (8).

Mechanics 234 - Experimental Methods for Determination of Moments of Inertia 3

PROCEDURE

Measure the time t for 50 complete oscillations, about a horizontal knife edge, for the test
specimen supplied. The amplitude of oscillations should be about 5°. Repeat this procedure
three times about the end A and three times about the end B. Hence calculate the period of
natural oscillations for end A and end B.

tA1 = s
t A1 + t A2 + t A3
tA2 = s TA = = _________s
150
tA3 = s

tB1 = s
t B1 + t B 2 + t B3
tB2 = s TB = = _________s
150
tB3 = s

Now, from (8)

b = _________m

and from (9)

Ic _____________ ± ______________ kg m2

Note: this final value of Ic must be rounded off to a reasonable number of significant figures
and the estimated tolerance, as calculated prepared in your pre-lab, inserted.
 Mechanics 234 - Experimental Methods for Determination of Moments of Inertia 4

B. TRIFILAR SUSPENSION METHOD

Obtain the following 6 sets of measurements:

1.
h = __________m
q1 q3
2. d = __________m
r
3. i) q1 =__________m

ii) q2 = _________m

iii) q3 = _________m

4. Mass of the empty platform mp = ___________kg

q2
5. Take three readings of the time taken for 40 complete
oscillations of the empty platform. Amplitude of
oscillations should be small, say about 5°.

tp1 =__________s

tp2 =__________s

tp3 = __________s
h
d

Period of empty platform

t p1 + t p 2 + t p 3
Tp = = _____________s
120

Carefully align the centre of mass of the connecting rod with the vertical centre line of the
platform. This may be done by balancing the connecting rod on the pointed centre screw
provided in the platform. The screw should then be wound down slowly until the connecting
rod rests on the platform.
6. Take three readings of the time taken for 40 complete oscillations of the platform carrying
the additional mass m. The amplitude of oscillations should again be small, say 5°.

tpm1 =_________s

tpm2 =_________s

tpm3 =_________s

Period of the loaded platform t pm1 + t pm2 + t pm3

Tpm = = _____________s
120
Mechanics 234 - Experimental Methods for Determination of Moments of Inertia 5

It can be shown that the differential equation of the empty platform is

 m p gr 2 3πGd 4 
&&
θ+ + θ = 0 (10)
 hI p 32hI p 

The expression in [ ] denotes ω 2N . When mass m is added to the platform mp must be

replaced by mp + m and Ip by Ipm. Then, since I = Ipm – Ip, it is easy to show that

I=
gr 2
4π 2 h
[ (
T 2
pm m p + m −)T 2
p m p]+
3Gd 4 2
128πh
(
Tpm − Tp2 ) (11)

CALCULATIONS

r 2
=
( q1 + q2 + q3 )
2

= _________ m2
27

Assumed value for the modulus G = ____________x 109 Pa

of rigidity of the steel suspension wires
g = 9.794 ± 0.001 m/s2

Calculate I from equation (11): I = ___________ ± _____________ kgm2

Note: The final value of I must be rounded off to a reasonable number of significant figures
and the estimated tolerance, as calculated prepared in your pre-lab, inserted.

REQUIREMENTS

Write a brief and concise discussion which comments on the following:

• Principal sources of error in each method.

• Relative merits of each method.
• Suggest some practical situations where each method could be useful.