MDPN471

Mechanical Vibrations
CHAPTER
10
Vibration Measurement
and Applications
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.1 Introduction
Type of vibration measuring instrument used will depend on:

Expected range of frequencies and amplitudes
Size of machine/structure involved
Conditions of operation of the machine/structure
Type of data processing used
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.2 Transducers
A device that transforms values of physical variables into
electrical signals

Following slides show some common transducers for
measuring vibration
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.2.1 Variable Resistance Transducers
Mechanical motion changes electrical resistance, which cause
a change in voltage or current

Strain gage is a fine wire bonded to surface where strain is to
be measured.
Vibration Measurement and Applications
Surface and wire both undergo same strain. Resulting
change in wire resistance:


where
K = Gage factor of the wire
R = Initial resistance
R = Change in resistance
L = Initial length of wire
L = Change in length of wire
v = Poissons ratio of the wire
r = Resistivity of the wire
r = Change in resistivity of the wire 0 for Advance
v
L
L
r
r
v
L L
R R
K 2 1 2 1
/
/
+ ~
A
A
+ + =
A
A
=
10.2.1 Variable Resistance Transducers
Vibration Measurement and Applications
Strain

The following figure shows a vibration pickup:
RK
R
L
L A
=
A
= c
10.2.1 Variable Resistance Transducers
Vibration Measurement and Applications
R can be measured using a Wheatstone bridge as shown:
( )( )
V
R R R R
R R R R
E
(

+ +

=
4 3 2 1
4 2 3 1
10.2.1 Variable Resistance Transducers
Vibration Measurement and Applications
Certain materials generate electrical charge when subjected to
deformation or stress.



Charge generated due to force:
where
k is the piezoelectric constant
A is the area on which F
x
acts,
p
x
is the pressure due to F
x
.
x x x
kAp kF Q = =
10.2.2 Piezoelectric Transducers
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.2.2 Piezoelectric Transducers
E=vtp
x

v is voltage sensitivity
t is thickness of crystal
p
x
: pressure

A piezoelectric accelerometer
is shown.
Output voltage proportional
to acceleration
Vibration Measurement and Applications
Example 10.1
A quartz crystal having a thickness of 2.5mm is subjected to a
pressure of 345 Pa. Find the output voltage if the voltage
sensitivity is 0.055 V-m/N

Solution

E = vtp
x
=(0.055)(0.00254)(344738) = 47.4015V

Vibration Measurement and Applications
9.3 Vibration Pickups
Most common pickups are
seismic instruments as shown
Bottom ends of spring and
dashpot have same motion as the
cage
Vibration will excite the
suspended mass
Displacement of mass relative to
cage: z = x y
Vibration Measurement and Applications
9.3 Vibration Pickups
Y(t) = Ysint

Steady-state solution:
( ) ( ) | e = t Z t z sin
( )
( )
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
, tan , ,
1 2
1 2
n n
r Y r c
Z r
r m
r r
, e
,
e e
,

| |
= = = =
|

\ .
+
Vibration Measurement and Applications
9.3 Vibration Pickups
Z/Y 1 when /
n
3



( ) ( )
( ) ( )
1
2 1
r
if sin
2
2
2
2
~
+
~
r r
t Y t z
,
| e
Vibration Measurement and Applications
Example 10.2
A vibrometer having a natural frequency of 4 rad/s and = 0.2 is attached
to a structure that performs a harmonic motion. If the difference between
the maximum and the minimum recorded values is 8 mm, find the
amplitude of motion of the vibrating structure when its frequency is 40
rad/s.
Amplitude of recorded motion:





Amplitude of vibration of structure:
Y = Z/1.0093 = 3.9631 mm
( )
( ) ( )( ) | |
mm 4 0093 . 1
10 2 . 0 2 10 1
10

2
2
2
2
= =
+
= Y
Y
Z
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.3.2 Accelerometer
Measures acceleration of a vibrating body.
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( ) ( )
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2 2
sin
1 2
1
If 1,
1 2
sin
n
n
Y t
z t
r r
r r
z t Y t
e e
e
,
,
e e e

=
+
~
+
~
( ) ( ) | e = t Z t z sin
( )
( )
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
, tan
1
1 2
r Y r
Z
r
r r
,

,

| |
= =
|

\ .
+
Input acceleration of the base
Measure this
Design
this
Vibration Measurement and Applications
Accelerometers are preferred due their small size.

In reality:







If 0.65< < 0.7,

10.3.2 Accelerometer
( ) ( )
2
2
2
1 Measured value
True value
1 2 r r ,
=
+
( )
( )
2
2
2
1
1
1 2 r r ,
=
+
( ) ( )
6 . 0 0 for 04 . 1
2 1
1
96 . 0
2
2
2
s s s
+
s r
r r ,
Vibration Measurement and Applications
Example 10.3
An accelerometer has a suspended mass of 0.01 kg with a damped natural
frequency of vibration of 150 Hz. When mounted on an engine undergoing
an acceleration of 1 g at an operating speed of 6000 rpm, the acceleration is
recorded as 9.5 m/s
2
by the instrument. Find the damping constant and the
spring stiffness of the accelerometer.
( )
( )
2
2
2
1 Measured value 9.5
0.9684(E.1)
True value 9.81
1 2 r r ,
= = =
+
Vibration Measurement and Applications
Solution
( )
( )
( )
2
d
2 2
d
2 2 2
6000 2
Operating speed 628.32 rad/s
60
1 150 2 942.48 rad/s
628.32
Thus 0.6667
942.48
1 1
0.6667 1 or r 0.4444 1 (E.2)
n
n
r
r
t
e
e , e t
e e
e
, e ,
, ,
= =
= = =
= = = =

= =
Vibration Measurement and Applications
Substitute (E.2) into (E.1):
1.5801
4
2.2714
2
+ 0.7576 = 0
Solution gives
2
= 0.7253, 0.9547
Choosing = 0.7253 arbitrarily,
( )( )
( )( )( )
s/m - N 8571 . 19
7253 . 0 8889 . 1368 01 . 0 2 2
constant Damping
N/m 5628 . 18738 8889 . 1368 01 . 0
rad/s 8889 . 1368
7253 . 0 1
48 . 942
1
2
2
2 2
d
n
=
= =
= = =
=

=
, e
e
,
e
e
n
n
m c
m k
Solution
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.5 Vibration Exciters
Used to determine dynamic characteristics of machines and
structures and fatigue testing of materials

Can be mechanical, electromagnetic, electrodynamic or
hydraulic type.
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.5.1 Mechanical Exciters
Force applied as an inertia force:



Force applied as an elastic spring force:

Used for frequency <30 Hz and loads
<700N
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.5.1 Mechanical Exciters










Makes use of unbalance created by 2 masses rotating at same speed in
opposite directions
F(t) = 2mR
2
cost
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.8 Experimental Modal Analysis
When a system is excited, its response exhibits a sharp peak at
resonance
Phase of response changes by 180 as forcing frequency
crosses the natural frequency

Equipment needed:
Exciter to apply known input force
Transducer to convert physical motion into electrical signal
Signal conditioning amplifier
Analyzer with suitable software
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.8.2 Necessary Equipment
General arrangement for experimental modal analysis:
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.8.2 Necessary Equipment
Exciter
Can be an electromagnetic shaker or impact hammer
Shaker is attached to the structure through a stringer, to
control the direction of the force
Impact hammer is a hammer with built-in force transducer in
its head
Portable, inexpensive and much faster to use than a shaker
But often cannot impart sufficient energy and difficult to
control direction of applied force
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.8.2 Necessary Equipment
Transducer
Piezoelectric transducers most popular
Strain gauges can also be used

Signal conditioner
Outgoing impedance of transducers not suitable for direct input into
analyzers.
Charge or voltage amplifiers are used to match and amplify the signals
before analysis

Analyzer
FFT analyzer commonly used
Analyzed signals used to find natural frequencies, damping ratios and
mode shapes
Vibration Measurement and Applications
10.8.3 Digital Signal Processing








x(t) represents analog signal, x
i
= x(t
i
) represents corresponding digital
record