11 - Vibration

Abstract

This chapter presents a brief discussion of mechanical vibrations and its associated terminology. Its main emphasis is to provide practical “rules of thumb” to help calculate, measure and analyze vibration frequencies of mechanical systems. The chapter provides the formulas for computing the vibration frequencies of common mechanical systems. A vibration phenomenon that occurs when two harmonic motions of the same amplitude, but of slightly different frequencies is applied to a mechanical system. A simple, one degree of freedom mechanical system with damped, linear motion can be modeled as a mass, spring, and damper, which represent the inertia, elasticity, and the friction of the system, respectively. There are a number of different methods used to derive and solve the equations of motion for multiple degree of freedom systems. Analytical methods are not always adequate to predict or solve every vibration problem during the design and operation of mechanical systems. Therefore, it is often necessary to experimentally measure as well as analyze both the vibration frequencies and physical motion of mechanical systems.