Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Instruments
By:
Dr. B. K. Sridhara,
NIE, Mysore
5.1 Introduction
In practice the measurement of vibrations becomes necessary due to following reasons.
1. To determine natural frequencies, modal shapes and damping ratios. The
measurement of frequencies of vibration and forces developed is necessary to
design active vibration isolation systems.
2. The theoretically computed vibration characteristics of a machine or structure may
be different from the actual values due to the assumptions made in the analysis. (To
verify the analytical models).
3. Periodic measurement of vibration characteristics of machines and structures
becomes essential to ensure adequate safety margins. (Preventive maintenance).
4. Measurement of input and resulting output vibration characteristics of a system
helps in identifying the system in terms of its mass, stiffness and damping.
2 3 4
1 5
Instead of the above, vibration analyzers can also be used. Several commercial vibration
analyzers are available today. They consist of a vibration pick up and an FFT (Fast Fourier
Transformation) analyser, a balancing kit for phase measurement and an inbuilt computer.
The pick up essentially a piezo electric type with a natural frequency of 25 kcps. (KHz).
Built in double integration is also available for displacement plots. FFT converts time
domain signal to a signal in frequency domain to identify the frequencies of concern.
x
Casing
C
y
y = Y Sin ωt
Base
Figure 5.3
.. . . – K (x-y)
mx = - C (x-y)
if..
Z = x-y; relative displacement the equation of motion becomes
. .
mZ + CZ + KZ = mω2Y Sin ωt
from this
Z r2
= [1- r ] + [2 r]2
2 2
Y
φ = tan-1 [2 r/1-r2]
= 0.1
Z/Y = 0.15
= 0.25
= 0.5
= 1.0
r = ω/ω
ωn
ω >>>>> ωn
Z/Y ≈ 1, (independent of )
∴Z=Y
Hence the seismic mass remains stationary. It remains undisturbed in space. The
supporting casing moves the vibrating body. Thus the relative displacement between the
casing and the mass is the true displacement of the casing. Like wise, the relative velocity
between the casing and the mass is the true velocity of casing. Usually, the relative motion
Z is converted into electric voltage. The seismic mass is a magnet moving relative to the
coils fixed to the case, as shown in Figure 5.6.
0 0
x 0 0
0 0 Seismic mass
Figure 5.6
The voltage generated is proportional to the rate of cutting of magnetic field. Therefore the
output of the instrument is proportional to the velocity of the vibrating body. Such
instruements are called velometers. A typical instrument of this kind may have a natural
frequency of 1 Hz to 5 Hz and a useful range of 10 Hz to 2000 Hz. The sensitivity of such
instruments may be in the range of 20 mV/cm to 350 mV/cm. Both the displacement and
acceleration are available from the velocity type transducer by means of the integrator or
the differeniator provided in most signal conditioner units.
Limitation of Vibrometers
In order to have r >>>1, ωn should be very small. This means that, the mass must be very
large and the spring must have a very low stiffness. Therefore, a vibrometer is a spring-
mass-damper system with a very large mass and a flexible spring. This results in bulky
instrument, which is not desirable in many applications.
In practice, a vibrometer may not have a large value of r, and hence the value of Z, may not
be exactly equal to Y. In such cases the true value of Y, can be computed from:
Z = r2
Y [1- r2]2 + [2 r]2
5.5 Accelerometer
It is an instrument with high natural frequency. When the natural frequency of the
instrument is high compared to that of the vibrations to be measured, the instrument
indicates acceleration.
∴Z (ω/ωn)2.Y
(1/ωn2). ω2Y
Due to their small size and high sensitivity accelerometers are preferred in vibration
measurements. The acceleration measured can be integrated once or twice with the help of
modern electrical circuits to obtain velocity and displacement of the system.
Thus the difference between a vibrometer and an accelerometer is in its natural frequency.
In vibrometer it is very small where as in accelerometer it is very high. The principle of
construction remains same.
Thus an instrument with a natural frequency of 100 Hz has a useful frequency range of 0 to
20 Hz with negligible error. (Up to 20 Hz the error is less than 0.01%). Figure 5.8 shows
accelerometers.
ωn = 4 rad/sec, = 0.2
Z = Relative amplitude Z 4 mm
= 8/2 = 4 mm 8 mm
Mean
ω = 40 rad/sec
r = ω/ωn = 40/4 = 10
Z = r2
= 1.0093
Y [1- r2]2 + [2 r]2
2. A vibrometer has a natural frequency of 10 cps and has a damping ratio of 0.7. It is used,
by mistake, to measure vibrations of a fan base at an exciting frequency of 180 rpm. The
measured vibration velocity of the fan base is 3 mm/s. What is the actual velocity of the
fan base?
For a vibrometer,
Z = r2
Y [1- r2]2 + [2 r]2
In the present case, ωn = 10 cps = 62.8 rad/sec.
Exciting frequency ω = 180 rpm = 18.84 rad/sec.
Hence
r = ω/ωn = 0.3
(Z/Y) = 0.09/(0.8281 + 0.1764) = 0.089
It may be noted that the actual velocity is beyond permissible limits, whereas what is
read is well below the permissible limit. Hence one should be very careful in selecting
the proper instrument.
Z = 0.004 cm = 0.0004 mm
Z = r2 , =0
Y [1- r2]2 + [2 r]2
Z r2 r2
Y = [1- r2]2
=
[1- r2]
4. A vibrometer indicates 2 percent error in measurement and its natural frequency is 5 Hz.
If the lowest frequency that can be measured is 40 Hz, find the value of damping factor.
Solution:
Data: ωn = 5Hz, ω = 40 Hz, error = 2%
r = ω/ωn = 40/5 = 8
= 0.35