GUJARAT

TECHNOLOGICAL
UNIVERSITY
BIRLA VISHVAKAMA MAHAVIDYALAYA
VALLABH VIDYANAGAR
KINEMATICS OF MACHINES (2131906)
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SEMESTER 3

YEAR 2015

Radial & Tangential

Components Of Acceleration
PRESENTED BY : DIVISION 7
BODA CHAHAT
BALDHA NIKHIL

15 ME 325
15 ME 309

Contents
Acceleration diagram
Components of acceleration diagram
Acceleration diagram of a link
Acceleration of a point on link
Acceleration diagram of four bar kinematic chain

Acceleration Diagrams
It is important to determine the acceleration of links because
acceleration
produces inertia forces in the link which
stress the component parts of the mechanism. Accelerations
may be relative or absolute in the same way as described for
velocity.
We shall consider two forms of acceleration, tangential and
radial. Centripetal acceleration is an example of radial.

Centripetal (A Radial Example) Acceleration

The relevant equations are:
V=R, a=R or a=V/R.
The centripetal acceleration of B relative to A is
in a radial direction so a suitable notation
might be aR.
It is calculated using
aR = x AB or aR = V/AB.
This component is perpendicular to the velocity of
the particle at the given instant.

Tangential Acceleration
Only occurs if the link has an angular acceleration rad/s.
Consider a link AB with an angular acceleration about A.
This component is parallel to the velocity of the particle at
the given instant.
at = x AB

Acceleration Diagram for a Link

Consider two points A and B on a rigid link as shown in Fig.(a).
Let the point B moves with respect to A, with an angular velocity of rad/s and
let rad/s2 be the angular acceleration of the link AB.

Acceleration of a particle whose velocity changes both in magnitude and direction at

any instant has the following two components :
1.

The centripetal or radial component, which is perpendicular to the velocity

of the particle at the given instant.

2.

The tangential component, which is parallel to the velocity of the particle at

the given instant.

Thus for a link AB, the velocity of point B with respect to A (i.e. v BA) is perpendicular
to the link AB as shown in Fig. (a).
Since the point B moves with respect to A with an angular velocity of rad/s,
therefore centripetal or radial component of the acceleration of B with respect to A,
ArAB= x length of link (AB) = v2AB /AB

(=vAB/AB)

This radial component of acceleration acts perpendicular to the velocity vBA, In other
words, it acts parallel to the link AB.

We know that tangential component of the acceleration of B with respect to A,

This tangential component of acceleration acts parallel to the velocity vBA.

In other words, it acts perpendicular to the link AB.
In order to draw the acceleration diagram for a link AB, as shown in (b),
from any point b', draw vector b'x parallel to BA to represent the radial
component of acceleration of B with respect to A i.e. a rBA and from point x
draw vector xa perpendicular to B A to represent the tangential component
of acceleration of B with respect to A i.e. a tBA . Join b' a'. The vector b' a'
(known as acceleration image of the link AB) represents the total
acceleration of B with respect to A (i.e. aBA) and it is the vector sum of radial
component (arBA) and tangential component (atBA ) acceleration.

Acceleration of a Point on a Link

Consider two points A and B on the rigid
link, as shown in Fig. (a). Let the
acceleration of the point A i.e. aA is known
in magnitude and direction and the
direction of path of B is given.
The acceleration of the point B is
determined in magnitude and direction by
drawing the acceleration diagram as
discussed below.
1.

From any point o', draw vector o'a'

parallel to the direction of absolute
acceleration at point A i.e. aA , to some
suitable scale, as shown in Fig.(b).

(a) Points on a link

o'

a'

2.

We know that the acceleration of B with respect

to A i.e. aBA has the following two components:
(i) Radial component of the acceleration of B with
respect to A i.e. arBA, and
(ii) Tangential component of the acceleration B
with respect to A i.e. atBA
These
two
perpendicular.

components

are

mutually

3. Draw vector a'x parallel to the link AB (because

radial component of the acceleration of B with
respect to A will pass through AB), such that

o'

a'

Vector ax = arBA = vBA/AB

Where vBA = velocity of B with respect to A

4.

5.

6.

From point x, draw vector xb perpendicular to AB or

vector a'x (because tangential component of B with
respect to A i.e. atBA , is perpendicular to radial component
arBA ) and through o' draw a line parallel to the path of B
to represent the absolute acceleration of B i.e. a B. The
vectors xb' and o' b' intersect at b'. Now the values of a B
and atBAmay be measured, to the scale.
By joining the points a' and b' we may
determine the total acceleration of B with
respect to A i.e. aBA. The vector a' b' is
known as acceleration image of the link
AB.
The angular acceleration of the link AB is
obtained by dividing the tangential
components of the acceleration of B with
respect to A (atBA ) to the length of the
link. Mathematically, angular acceleration
of the link AB, AB = at AB / AB

b'
aBA
aB
o'

a'
atBA

arBA
x

For any other point C on the link, draw triangle a' b' c' similar to triangle ABC.
Now vector b' c' represents the acceleration of C with respect to B i.e. aCB, and
vector a' c' represents the acceleration of C with respect to A i.e. aCA. As discussed
above, aCB and aCA will each have two components as follows :

aCB has two components; arCB and atCB as shown

by triangle b' zc' in Fig.(b), in which b' z is
parallel to BC and zc' is perpendicular to b' z or
BC.
aCA has two components ; arCA and atCA as shown
by triangle a' yc' in Fig. (b), in which a' y is
parallel to AC and yc' is perpendicular to a' y or
AC.

Example The dimensions and configuration of the four bar mechanism, shown in Fig.
are as follows : P1A = 300 mm; P2B = 360 mm; AB = 360 mm, and P1P2 = 600 mm. The
angle AP1P2 = 60. The crank P1A has an angular velocity of 10 rad/s and an angular
acceleration of 30 rad/s2, both clockwise. Determine the angular velocities and angular
accelerations of P2B, and AB and the velocity and acceleration of the joint B.
Solution
Given Data : AP1 = 10 rad/s ; AP1 = 30 rad/s2
P1A = 300 mm = 0.3 m
P2B = AB =360 mm = 0.36 m
We know that the velocity of A with
respect to P1 or velocity of A,
vAP1 = vA = AP1 P1A = 10 0.3 = 3 m/s
Fig (a)

Velocity of B and angular velocities of P2B and AB

First of all, draw the space diagram, to some suitable scale, as shown in Fig. (a).
Now the velocity diagram, as shown in Fig. (b), is drawn as discussed below:
1. Since P1 and P2 are fixed points, therefore these
points lie at one place in velocity diagram. Draw
vector p1 a perpendicular to P1A, to some suitable
scale, to represent the velocity of A with respect to
P1 or velocity of A i.e. vAP1 or vA, such that
vector p1a = vA P1 = vA = 3 m/s
2. From point a, draw vector ab perpendicular to AB
to represent velocity of B with respect to A (i.e.
vBA) and from point p2 draw vector p2b
perpendicular to P2B to represent the velocity of B
with respect to P2 or velocity of B i.e. vBP2 or vB.
The vectors ab and p2b intersect at b.

By measurement, we find that

vBP2 = vB = vector p2b = 2.2 m/s ANSWER and
vBA = vector ab = 2.05 m/s

We know that angular velocity of P B,

2

and angular velocity of AB,

Acceleration of B and angular acceleration of P B and AB

2

We know that tangential component of the acceleration of A with respect to P1,

Radial component of the acceleration of A with respect to P1,

Radial component of the acceleration of B with respect to A.

and radial component of the acceleration of B with respect to P2,

The acceleration diagram, as shown in Fig.(c), is drawn as follows:

1. Since P1 and P2 are fixed points, therefore these points will lie at one place, in the
acceleration diagram. Draw vector p1' x parallel to P1A, to some suitable scale, to
represent the radial component of the acceleration of A with respect to P1, such that
2. From point x, draw vector xa' perpendicular to P1A to represent the tangential
component of the acceleration of A with respect to P1, such that
3. Join p1' a'. The vector p1' a' represents the acceleration of A. By measurement, we
find that the acceleration of A,
4. From point a', draw vector a' y parallel to AB to represent the radial component of
the acceleration of B with respect to A, such that

5. From point y, draw vector yb' perpendicular

to AB to represent the tangential component
of the acceleration of B with respect to A
(i.e. atBA ) whose magnitude is yet unknown.
6. Now from point p2, draw vector p2z
parallel to P2B to represent the radial
component of the acceleration B with
respect to P2, such that

7. From point z, draw vector zb' perpendicular

to P2B to represent the tangential
component of the acceleration of B with
respect to P2 i.e. atBP2 .

8. The vectors yb' and zb' intersect at b'. Now the vector p2' b' represents the
acceleration of B with respect to P2 or the acceleration of B i.e. aBP2 or aB. By
measurement, we find that

We know that angular acceleration of P2B,

and angular acceleration of AB,

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