MDB 3093 Vibrations

Assignment 1: Fundamentals of Vibrations & Free Vibration of Single Degree of

Freedom System
1 a. Describe TWO (2) examples each of positive and negative impacts of
vibration, and explain the importance of the study of vibration.
[5 marks]

b. A mass m is attached at the end of a massless rigid bar PQ as shown in

FIGURE Q1b. Given that mass m = 0.1 kg, stiffness coefficient 𝑘1 = 𝑘2 =
500 N/m, length 𝑙1 = 0.1 m, 𝑙2 = 0.2 and 𝑙3 = 0.3 m. Assume that the
angular displacement  at pin P is small for this vibratory system.

FIGURE Q1b

i. Draw the free body diagram of this vibratory system.

[4 marks]

ii. Determine the equivalent spring constant at Q.

[4 marks]

iii. Formulate the equation of motion for mass m.

[4 marks]

iv. Calculate the natural frequency of this vibratory system.

[3 marks]
2 a. FIGURE Q2a shows a spring-mass-damper system. The mass, m, damping
constant, c and spring constant, k are set to 1 kg, 4 Ns/m and 4 N/m,
respectively. The equation of motion of the system is described by:

𝑥̈ + 4𝑥̇ + 4𝑥 = 0

m
c
x

FIGURE Q2a

i. Determine the free-vibration response of the system when the initial

displacement, 𝑥𝑜 is 0 m and initial velocity, 𝑥̇ 𝑜 is 1 m/s.
[10 marks]

ii. Explain the changes that could be observed in the free-vibration

response of the system when the initial displacement, 𝑥𝑜 , initial velocity,
𝑥̇ 𝑜 , mass, m and damping constant, c remain the same, while the spring
constant, k is changed as follows:
(a) 𝑘 = 8 N/m.
(b) 𝑘 = 3 N/m.
[10 marks]