Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Tsing Yi)

Department of Engineering

Dynamics - Laboratory Sheet:

MEC4109 / DY01

Student name: ________________________ Course/Year: __________ Date: _________

Free vibration
Objective

To find the stiffness of a steel spring and determine the natural frequency of a mass spring
vibrating system.

Theory

X Deflection

B τ²

F
A C
Force F Effective Mass M
Figure 1 of spring
Figure 2
By Hooke’s law, the deflection or extension of a spring is proportional to the force applied to
it.

From Figure 1, x α F
F
x=
k
or F = kx

Where F in N, x in m , k =stiffness of spring in N/m

A rigid body of mass M under elastic restraint, supported by spring(s), forms the basis of all
analysis of vibrations in mechanical systems.

MEC4109 Dynamics - DY01 Page 1 of 6

The basic equation for undamped free vibration is of the form

mx = −kx where k = stiffness of the spring

m = mass of vibrating part (M) + effective mass of the spring.

The effective mass of spring is usually neglected if its value is small compared with M.
The motion is known as Simple Harmonic of periodic time
m
τ = 2π -------(1)
k
m
τ 2 = 4π 2 ----------(2)
k
where m in kg, k in N/m andτ in second.

The natural frequency f = 1/τ Hz

The effective mass of the spring can be found from the intercept of the graph τ2 against M as
shown in Figure 2 and the theoretical value should be 1/3 of the mass of the spring.

Apparatus

The set-up allows the helical spring to be suspended from the the top member of the portal
frame. The lower end of the spring is bolted a rod and integral platform onto which bodies of
mass 0.4 kg may be added. The deflection of the spring can measured with the graduating
scale provided. A LVDT can be mounted on the top of the platform to record the vibration
movement when the system is oscillating. The LVDT signal is recorded and stored in the
Oscilloscope. The waveform and frequency of the vibration of the mass spring system can be
obtained from the oscilloscope.

Procedures

PART I (Stiffness of spring)

1. Mount spring a on the frame and take down the initial reading of the pointer without
any mass on the platform.
2. Add 0.8 kg of mass (M) on top of the platform. Record the reading of the pointer.
3. Without unloading the mass, add addition mass on the platform as indicated in table 1a.

PART II (Undamped vibration)

1. Add 0.8 kg of mass (M) on top of the platform. Carefully adjust the height of the LVDT
so that the whole range of oscilation can be recorded.
2. Carefully set the system to vertical oscillation. Record the signal in the oscilloscope.
3. Determine the natural frequency from the oscilloscope.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for different masses as indicated in table 2.

Repeat PART I and PART II for spring b.

MEC4109 Dynamics - DY01 Page 2 of 6

Result

PART I (Stiffness of spring)

Mass M(kg) Pointer reading Extension x(mm)

0 0
0.8
1.6
2.4
3.2
4.0

Table 1a for spring A. Stiffness of spring A =______________

Mass M(kg) Pointer reading Extension x(mm)

0 0
0.8
1.6
2.4
3.2
4.0

Table 1b for spring B Stiffness of spring B =______________

Plot the graph of M against x for both springs.

Find the stiffness of each spring from the slope of the graph.

By Hooke’s Law
F=kx
Mg=kx
M=(k/g) x
Slope = k/g
k = slope * g [ BE CAREFUL of units. ]

MEC4109 Dynamics - DY01 Page 3 of 6

Part II (Undamped Free Vibration)

Mass M(kg) Period τ (sec) Frequency f (Hz)

0.8
1.6
2.4
3.2
4.0

Table 2a for spring a Intercept =_________________kg

Mass M(kg) Period τ (sec) Frequency f (Hz)

0.8
1.6
2.4
3.2
4.0

Table 2b for spring b Intercept =_________________kg

m
From equation (2), τ 2 = 4π 2
k
m = M + mass of platform and guide rod assembly + effective mass of spring

Plot the graph of τ 2 against M for spring a and spring b on the same graph paper.
The intercept of the best fit straight line on the M axis (Refer to figure 2) is the sum of mass
of platform and guide rod assembly and the effective mass of spring.

Given: Mass of spring A = 0.16 kg

Mass of spring B = 0.38 kg
Mass of the Rod and Integral Platform = 1.53 kg

Discussion

1. Discuss the factors that will affect the stiffness of a spring by comparing the stiffness of
spring a and spring b.

2. Discuss the effect of changing the mass on the natural frequency of a mass spring
vibrating system.

3. Discuss the effect of the value of stiffness of spring on the natural frequency of a mass
spring vibrating system.

4. Compare the effective mass of the spring obtained with the generally accepted value, i.e.
1/3 mass of the spring and discuss the differences.

MEC4109 Dynamics - DY01 Page 4 of 6

Discussion
Discuss your result based on your data and calculations. You should support your argument
with the experiment results.
1. Discuss the factors that will affect the stiffness of a spring by comparing the stiffness of
spring a and spring b.

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2. Discuss the effect of changing the mass on the natural frequency of a mass spring vibrating
system.

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3. Discuss the effect of the value of stiffness of spring on the natural frequency of a mass
spring vibrating system.

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4. Compare the effective mass of the spring obtained with the generally accepted value, i.e.
1/3 mass of the spring and discuss the differences.

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MEC4109 Dynamics - DY01 Page 5 of 6

Summary

Write briefly what you have learnt in this experiment.

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MEC4109 Dynamics - DY01 Page 6 of 6