School of Mechanical Engineering
Course Code:BTME3008 Course Name: Dynamics of Machines
Unit II
Topic 2
Balancing of different masses rotating in
the same plane.
Faculty Name: Dr. P.Suresh Program Name: B.Tech., Mech
Recapitulations
1. Balancing of a single rotating mass by a single mass rotating
in the same plane.
2. Balancing of a single rotating mass by two masses rotating in
different planes.
Objectives
The high speed of engines and other machines is a common phenomenon now-a-days. It is,
therefore, very essential that all the rotating and reciprocating parts should be completely
balanced as far as possible.
If these parts are not properly balanced, the dynamic forces are set up.
These forces not only increase the loads on bearings and stresses in the various members,
but also produce unpleasant and even dangerous vibrations.
The balancing of unbalanced forces caused by rotating masses is discussed
Introduction
Whenever a certain mass is attached to a rotating shaft, it exerts
some centrifugal force, whose effect is to bend the shaft and to
produce vibrations in it.
In order to prevent the effect of centrifugal force, another mass is
attached to the opposite side of the shaft, at such a position so as
to balance the effect of the centrifugal force of the first mass.
This is done in such a way that the centrifugal force of both the
masses are made to be equal and opposite.
The process of providing the second mass in order to counteract
the effect of the centrifugal force of the first mass, is called
balancing of rotating masses.
Balancing of Several Masses Rotating in the Same Plane
Consider any number of masses (say four) of magnitude m1, m2, m3 and
m4 at distances of r 1, r2, r3 and r4 from the axis of the rotating shaft.
Let θ1, θ2, θ3 and θ4 be the angles of these masses with the horizontal
line OX, as shown in Fig.
Let these masses rotate about an axis through O and perpendicular to
the plane of paper, with a constant angular velocity of ω rad/s.
1. Analytical method
The magnitude and direction of the balancing mass may be obtained,
analytically, as discussed below :
1. First of all, find out the centrifugal force (or the product of the mass
and its radius of rotation) exerted by each mass on the rotating
shaft.
2. Resolve the centrifugal forces horizontally and vertically and find
their sums, i.e. ΣH and ΣV .
We know that Sum of horizontal components of the centrifugal forces,
ΣH = m1r1cosθ1 + m2r2cosθ2 + ……..
and sum of vertical components of the centrifugal forces,
ΣV = m1r1sinθ1 + m2r2sinθ2 + ……..
Contd..
3. Magnitude of the resultant centrifugal force,
Fc = Sqrt { (ΣH)2 + (ΣV)2 }
4.If θ is the angle, which the resultant force makes with the horizontal, then tan θ =
ΣV / Σ H
5. The balancing force is then equal to the resultant force, but in opposite direction.
6. Now find out the magnitude of the balancing mass, such that
Fc= m r
where m = Balancing mass, and r = Its radius of rotation.
2. Graphical method
The magnitude and position of the balancing mass may also be
obtained graphically as discussed below :
1. First of all, draw the space diagram with the positions of the
several masses, as shown in Fig.
2. Find out the centrifugal force (or product of the mass and radius of
rotation) exerted by each mass on the rotating shaft.
3. Now draw the vector diagram with the obtained centrifugal forces (or the product of the
masses and their radii of rotation), such that ab represents the centrifugal force exerted by
the mass m1 (or m1.r1) in magnitude and direction to some suitable scale.
Similarly, draw bc, cd and de to represent centrifugal forces of other masses m2, m3 and m4
(or m2.r2, m 3.r3 and m4.r4).
4. Now, as per polygon law of forces, the closing side ae represents the resultant force in
magnitude and direction, as shown in Fig. (b). The balancing force is, then, equal to the
resultant force, but in opposite direction.
6. Now find out the magnitude of the balancing mass (m) at a given radius of rotation (r),
such that
mω2r ⋅ = Resultant centrifugal force or
m.r = Resultant of m1.r1, m2.r2, m3.r3 and m4.r4
Problem
Four masses m1, m2, m3 and m4 are 200 kg, 300 kg, 240 kg and 260 kg
respectively. The corresponding radii of rotation are 0.2 m, 0.15 m, 0.25 m
and 0.3 m respectively and the angles between successive masses are 45°,
75° and 135°. Find the position and magnitude of the balance mass required,
if its radius of rotation is 0.2 m.
Given : m1 = 200 kg ; m2 = 300 kg ; m3 = 240 kg ; m4 = 260 kg ;
r1 = 0.2 m ; r 2 = 0.15 m ; r3 = 0.25 m ; r4 = 0.3 m ;
θ1 = 0° ; θ2 = 45° ; θ3 = 45° + 75° = 120° ; θ4 = 45° + 75° + 135° = 255° ;
r = 0.2 m
Contd..
m = Balancing mass, and
θ = The angle which the balancing mass makes with m1.
Since the magnitude of centrifugal forces are proportional to the product of
each mass and its radius, therefore
m1r1 = 200 x 0.2 = 40kg-m
m2r2 =300 x 0.15 = 45kg-m
m3r3 = 240 x 0.25 = 60kg-m
m4r4 = 260 x 0.3 = 78 kg-m
The problem may, now, be solved either analytically or graphically. But we
shall solve the problem by both the methods one by one.
Contd..
1. Analytical method
The space diagram is shown in Fig.
Resolving m1.r1, m2.r2, m3.r3 and m4.r4 horizontally,
Σ H = m1r1cos θ1 + m2r2cos θ2 + m3r3cos θ3 + m4r4cos θ4
= 40cos0° + 45cos45° + 60cos120° + 78cos255°
= 40+31.8+ 30 +20.2 = 21.6 kg-m
Now resolving vertically,
Σ V = m1r1Sin θ1 + m2r2Sin θ2 + m3r3Sin θ3 + m4r4Sin θ4
= 40sin0° + 45sin45° + 60sin120° + 78sin255°
= 0 + 31.8 + 52 + 75.3 = 8.5 kg-m
Contd..
∴Resultant, R = Sqrt { (ΣH)2 + (ΣV)2 }
= Sqrt { (21.6)2 + (8.5)2 } = 23.2 kg-m
We know that m r = R = 23.2
m = 23.2/r = 23.2/0.2 = 116 kg
tan θ ′ = Σ V/ ΣH = 8.5/21.6 = 0.3935
θ ′ = 21.48°
Since θ ′ is the angle of the resultant R from the horizontal mass of
200 kg, therefore the angle of the balancing mass from the horizontal
mass of 200 kg, θ = 180° + 21.48° = 201.48°
Contd..
2. Graphical method
The magnitude and the position of the balancing mass may also be found
graphically as discussed below :
1. First of all, draw the space diagram showing the positions of all the
given masses as shown in Fig.
2. Since the centrifugal force of each mass is proportional to the product
of the mass and radius, therefore
m 1.r1 = 200 × 0.2 = 40 kg-m
m 2.r2 = 300 × 0.15 = 45 kg-m
m 3.r3 = 240 × 0.25 = 60 kg-m
m 4.r4 = 260 × 0.3 = 78 kg-m
Contd..
3. Now draw the vector diagram with the above values, to some suitable
scale, as shown in Fig. (b). The closing side of the polygon ae represents
the resultant force. By measurement, we find that ae = 23 kg-m.
4. The balancing force is equal to the resultant force, but opposite in
direction as shown in Fig.
Since the balancing force is proportional to m.r, therefore
m × 0.2 = vector ea = 23 kg-m or m = 23/0.2 = 115 kg Ans.
By measurement we also find that the angle of inclination of the
balancing mass (m) from the horizontal mass of 200 kg, θ = 201° .
Questions
1. Balancing of different masses rotating in the same plane.
2. Analytical method
3. Graphical method
4.Problems on balancing of different masses rotating in the same plane.
References
Text Book
S.S. Rattan (2009), “Theory of Machines”, 3 rd Edition, Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company
Ltd, ISBN: 978-0-070-14477-4.
Reference Books
R.S. Khurmi and J.K.Gupta (2008), Theory of Machines, Eurasia Publishing House, ISBN: 978-8-
121-92524-2.
A. Ghosh (2009), Theory of Mechanisms and Machines, 3 rd Edition, East-West Press Pvt. Ltd., New
Delhi, ISBN: 978-8-185-93893-6.
T Thomson William, Dillon Dahleh Marie and Padmanabhan Chandramouli (2008), Theory of
Vibration with applications, 5th Edition, Pearson Education Publishers, ISBN: 978-8-131-70482-0.
Thank you
