[go: up one dir, main page]
Scribd
Upload
51 views1 page

Vibration Damping and Natural Frequency Analysis

The document discusses the importance of damping in rotor systems, particularly in relation to natural frequencies and vibration diagnostics. It explains how damping limits vibration magnification at resonance and outlines methods for determining natural frequencies and damping through impact tests. Key metrics such as critical damping, logarithmic decrement, and amplification factor are also defined to quantify the effects of damping on vibration behavior.

Uploaded by

Mecca
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
51 views1 page

Vibration Damping and Natural Frequency Analysis

The document discusses the importance of damping in rotor systems, particularly in relation to natural frequencies and vibration diagnostics. It explains how damping limits vibration magnification at resonance and outlines methods for determining natural frequencies and damping through impact tests. Key metrics such as critical damping, logarithmic decrement, and amplification factor are also defined to quantify the effects of damping on vibration behavior.

Uploaded by

Mecca
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Downloaded from [Link] by University of Queensland, Wiley Online Library on [12/02/2025]. See the Terms and Conditions ([Link]

com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
46 Condition Monitoring and Troubleshooting

by the difference between the spring reaction effect minus the mass reac-
tion effect. Therefore, at a natural frequency, with the displacement effect
exactly canceling out the acceleration effect, the vibration due to an oscil-
lating force of the same frequency would become magnified to infinity if it
were not for the presence of damping. Any damping eventually consumes
all the initial vibrating energy, bringing the rotor to a gradual stop if the
force stops. More importantly, as shown in Figure 2.11, it limits the amount
of magnification (or “amplification”, Q) if the force is continuously supplied
in an oscillating manner. In other words, at resonance, whereby definition
exciting frequency equals natural frequency, only damping times velocity
is available to react the force at a frequency equal to the natural frequency.
This is why damping in a rotor system is something to be maximized if
practical.

Impact Test Method of Determining Natural Frequencies


In the performance of vibration diagnostic testing, it is possible to perform
tests to specifically determine the natural frequencies of the pump and its
driver, as well as the damping at those natural frequencies. Typical vibrat-
ing patterns in space, or “mode shapes”, are shown along with simplified
formulas to predict the natural frequency values in Blevins, 1979.
As discussed earlier, operating a pump at one of its natural frequen-
cies would theoretically cause infinitely high vibration if it were not for
the presence of energy-absorbing damping. The damping is quantified in
terms of percent of critical damping zeta (i.e., the amount of damping to
quash a vibration after just one oscillation) that is present or alternatively
as a “log dec”, i.e., logarithmic decrement, which is approximately 2 times
pi (=3.14) times zeta. One other measure is the amplification factor Q that
predicts the amount of motion that will be achieved at resonance versus
the deflection that would have occurred if the force was just slowly applied
statically. Q = 1/(2*zeta).
The most straightforward type of test to determine natural frequency
and damping, using modern instrumentation of modest cost, is the impact
modal test, sometimes called the “bump” test, the force vs. time and force
vs. frequency of a typical such test being shown in Figure 2.12.
The damping can be determined from the natural frequency peak
obtained in a vibration response vs. frequency plot, known as a Frequency
Response Function (FRF) plot. The width of the peak corresponds to the
damping. Specifically, two times the width in delta-frequency at the “half
power point” of amplitude, divided by the natural frequency that the peak
is center at, is equal to the damping ratio, zeta. Since the vibration power is

You might also like