Al-Nahrain Uni. Mechanics of Machines Dr.

Ahmed Al-Hamaoy
Mec. Eng Dep 3rd Year Lec. 5

Balancing of Machinery
Balancing is important to reduce the shaking force arises from the effect of the unbalancing.
The undesired effects of unbalancing are:-
1. Forced vibration
2. Bending of shaft
3. Additional forces on bearing
Static balance :
If in fig (1) we insure that the mass center (C.G) is coincided with the area center then the wheel is in static balance

Fig.(1) Unbalance effect

When a shaft carries several eccentric masses and the center of gravity ( C.G) of the masses lies in the axes of the shaft then
the system is in static balance .

Dynamic balance :
When a system is dynamically balanced it is automatically statically balanced, but the reverse is not true.
In the case of dynamic balance the centrifugal force (F) must be included where:-
F=mrω2
Consider two masses weighted W1 and W2 rotate at angular velocity ω shown in fig(2) . For dynamical balancing we must
have:-
F1 r 1= F2 r 2
or:-
W1 r 1 ω2/g= W2 r 2 ω2/g → W1 r 1 =W2 r 2 (weight – arm vector)

Fig.(2) Dynamic balance of two masses

2-Dynamic balance cases :
Case -1 All masses rotating in a common transverse plane .
As an example for this case is the balancing of the rotors and fans .
For balancing we have:-
∑W r =0
To make a balancing for these several unbalanced masses (m1,m2……..) in this case we must add a balancing mass (mb) of
weight (Wb) and located at radius (rb).The product (Wb rb) is called the balancing vector or balancing weight –arm vector
.The value of the balancing vector (Wb rb) can be found either graphically or analytically, it represents the opposite of the
resultant weight –arm of the whole masses.

1 Of 6
 Al-Nahrain Uni. Mechanics of Machines Dr. Ahmed Al-Hamaoy
Mec. Eng Dep 3rd Year Lec. 5

Ex -1: For three masses of weights (3, 5 and 4 N) lie at the same plane and located at radii (8, 12 and 10cm) at angles (143, 58,
and 15 deg.) respectively. Find the vector of balancing mass.see fig(3).

Fig.(3)
Solution:
a. Analytically
It is more simple to solve the problem by tabulation as in the following form :-

No. W(N) r (cm) Wr θ Wrsinθ Wrcosθ

1 3 8 24 134 -16.67 17.26
2 5 12 60 58 31.8 50.88
3 4 10 40 15 38.64 10.35
Total 53.77 95.14

From the table the resultant R is:-

R= √ (53.77 2+ 78.49 2) = 95.14 N cm
Wb rb =-R=- 95.14 N cm ,is the weight – arm vector .If we know the location of the balancing mass (rb) we can find the weight
(Wb)of the required balancing mass (mb)
b. Graphically

Case -2 all the rotating masses lie in common axial plane.

In this case the unbalance masses are distributed in several planes but all the planes lie in the plane of the page or they are
parallel to each other .
In this case in additional to the weight-arm vector we have the moment-arm vector which is the product of the weight –arm
and the plane distance (a1,a2,……etc).

Ex -2: For three masses (22.3, 44.5 and 44.5 N) located at radii (0.178, 0.127 and 0.254 m) at axes (a1=0, a2=0.127m and
a3=0.305m.) respectively. Find vector of balancing mass.
Solution: firstly we must choose a reference plane .In this case we can locate the referancr plane at the force F1.then we fill the
following table;

2 Of 6
Al-Nahrain Uni. Mechanics of Machines Dr. Ahmed Al-Hamaoy
Mec. Eng Dep 3rd Year Lec. 5

No. W(N) r (m) Wr(Nm) a (m) Wra

1 22.3 0.178 3.9694 0 0
2 44.5 0.127 -5.6515 0.127 -0.7177
3 44.5 0.254 11.303 0.305 3.4474
Total 9.62 2.73

Note that in this case the resultant Wr and Wra can be simply calculated by algebraic adding since there is no angle
between them .
The value of the arm vector is calculated from column (4) :-
R= 9.62 Nm → ∑Wrb =9.62 Nm,
The plane of this balancing arm is calculated as the following :-
a b=∑Wra /∑W r= 2.73/9.62 = 0.284 m

Case -3 Rotating masses distributed at many axial planes.

In this case the planes are make angle and not parallel to each others . In order to reduce the shaking force and bending
of shaft we must locate two balancing masses at least (called counter masses) rather than one mass.

Ex-3: For a the shaft shown below the three masses (5,10 and 10N) at radii (8,12 and 10 cm) are located at planes where
the distant between them are 13 and 5 cm . Make a balancing by adding two masses (mA and mB ) and located at radii
(rA=5cm,rB=10cm) in two axial planes with 10cm apart .what is the required values and directions of mAand mB?

Solution;
We must find mA and mB and their angles
1. Choose a reference plane A-A to locate mA and plane B-B (10cm from A-A) to locate mB.
2. Fill the following table :-

No W(N) r(cm) Wr(Ncm) a(cm) Wra(Ncm) b (cm) Wrb(Ncm)

1 5 8 40 0 0 10 400
2 10 12 120 13 1560 -3 -360
3 10 10 100 5 500 5 500
A ? 5 ? 0 0 10 ?
B ? 10 ? 10 ? 0 0
Note: represent unknown values which must be found later.

3 Of 6
 Al-Nahrain Uni. Mechanics of Machines Dr. Ahmed Al-Hamaoy
Mec. Eng Dep 3rd Year Lec. 5

3. Draw (Wr) polygon at proper scales as shown in fig(a):-

Fig.(a):Wr polygon

From this figure we find:-

R=145.8 N, θR=32.7 deg.
4. Draw the moment –arm vectots (Wra) polygon to scale as shown in fig.(b)
Note: use the same angles of W (θ1=59, θ3=324)

fig(b):moment-arm (Wra) polygon

From this figure we find :-

(Wra)B= 1630, and θ = 225
5. we can now calculate Wb as the follow :-
WrB=(Wra)B/aB =1630/10=163 N cm
Since rB=10cm , then WB=163/10 = 16.3 N, at the angle θB=225
6. draw balancing polygon to scale to find:-
WrA= 25
We have rA=5 then WA= 5 N, at angle θA =90

Fig(c): balancing polygon

Note: Polygons (a) and (c) can be combined in a single one as shown below:

4 Of 6
 Al-Nahrain Uni. Mechanics of Machines Dr. Ahmed Al-Hamaoy
Mec. Eng Dep 3rd Year Lec. 5

problems
1. Find the required weight and its angular position for balancing mass located at 10 cm radius for the rotor shown in
the figure, use graphical method.

2-If the length of the shaft in Ex3 is 0.25m and it rotates at 1200rpm ,find the forces on the bearing at the two end caused by
the unbalancing
3-For the rotor shown below , make balancing by two masses at planes AA, BB. make use of the data given in the
following table :-
No W(N) r(cm)
1 45 0.15
2 90 0.10
A - 5
B - 10

5 Of 6
 Al-Nahrain Uni. Mechanics of Machines Dr. Ahmed Al-Hamaoy
Mec. Eng Dep 3rd Year Lec. 5

Balancing of Reciprocating Masses

For simple engine mechanism we have the expression for inertia force F;
F= MR ω2 [cosθ + R/L (cos2θ)], where:
R= crank radius
L= length of connecting rod
M=equivalent mass of reciprocating parts
ω = angular velocity of crank
θ= crank angle

Ex.4 : Check the balancing for 6-cylinder engine shown;-

Where, M=0.078, n= 3000 rpm, R=2 and R/L=0.25
Solution; to check balance we fill the following table

No θ cos θ Cos2 θ R/L(cos2θ) cosθ + R/L(cos2θ) F

1 20 0.904 0.766 0.191 1.131 1450
2 260 -0.174 -0.94 -0.235 -0.409 -525
3 140 -0.766 0.174 0.044 -0.722 -925
4 140 -0.766 0.174 0.044 -0.722 -925
5 260 -0.174 -0.94 -0.235 -0.409 -525
6 20 0.904z 0.766 0.191 1.131 1450
Total 0 0 0 0 0

Since the total summations in all columns are all zero a perfect balance is obtained.

6 Of 6