ASSIGNMENT SHEET 1

Mechanical Measurements and Instrumentation

Due Date; On or before 16/09/2014
PROBLEMS BASED ON CHAP 3 DYNAMICCHARACTERSTICS
1) A thermometer has a time constant of 10 s and behaves as a first order system. It is
initially at a temperature 300C and then suddenly subjected to a surrounding temperature
of 1200C. Calculate the 90 percent rise time and the time to attain 99 percent of the
steady-state temperature.
2) A thermometer acting as a first order system is initially at a temperature of 350C and is
then suddenly subjected to a temperature of 1100C. After 8 s the thermometer indicates a
temperature of 750C. Calculate the time constant and the 90 percent rise time for the
thermometer.
3) What is the time constant for a single-degree-of-freedom, spring-damper system for
which W 20 N and damping coefficient c 5 N-s/m?
d
dt
rather than F ma , where T is the torque and J the mass moment of inertia.
Dimensions for damping coefficient, c , are torque divided by angular velocity. Write the
basic equations and solutions for the torsional case, specifying proper units for each term.

4) Second order systems are often torsional rather that translational, based on T J

5) The natural frequency of a simple spring-mass system is expressed by f

1
2

kg c
=
m

1 kg
. If the system has a frequency of 25Hz on the earths surface (standard
2 w
gravity), what will be its frequency of vibration on the surface of the moon (use gravity
of acceleration on moon as 1.67 m/s2)? In gravity free space?

1 g
, where L
2 L
is the length of the pendulum. If the length is adjusted to provide a period of 1 Hz on
earths surface, what would be its period on the moons surface? In gravity free space?

6) The period of a simple pendulum is expressed by the relationship f

7) A pressure transducer uses a diaphragm as a pressure summing device. In application the

diaphragm and fluid behaves as a second order, single degree freedom system. The static
displacement is proportional to the applied force (pressure). If the natural undamped
frequency of the system is 3600 Hz and the total viscous damping is 75% of critical,
determine the frequency range(s) over which the ratio of dynamic amplitude to static
amplitude (inherent error) deviates from unity by an amount no greater than 6%.

8) A force transducer behaves as a simple second-order system. If the undamped natural

frequency of the transducer is 1800 Hz and its damping is 30% of critical what will be the
inherent error in amplitude fro a harmonic input of 950 Hz? Calculate phase angle.
For an SDOF system as shown in Fig.1, Mass (M) = 50 Kilogram, Stiffness (K) =
25,000, Newton/Meter and Damping (C) = 130 Newton-Second/Meter. Solve the GDE
using suitable numerical method, plot free vibration response of the system for the
following 3 cases [Using Matlab], Also verify the MATLAB results with your hand
calculation.
X(t
a) Case 1; = 0.2
)
b) Case 2; = 1
c) Case 3; = 2

Fig.1
9) For the same problem as discussed in Problem No. 1. Find vibration response of the
system for the following excitation force using numerical method using MATLAB and
verify your results with the aid of hand calculations.
a) Case 1; Harmonic Excitation, F(t) = 10 sin (20t), Plot the system response in time
domain domain
b) Case 2; Rectangular pulse as Excitation (Fig.2), Plot the excitation and system
response in time domain [Using Matlab].

F0 =100N

t0 =1 s

Fig.1

PROBLEMS BASED ON CHAP 4 TIME DEPENDENT CHARACTERSTICS

10) Explain the frequency spectrum plot. Provide a frequency spectrum plot for the signals
(i)

y1 = 10sint + 2sin2t and (ii) y4 = 10sint + 8sin2t

11) The following equation represents the time variation of a mechanical strain:
= 120 + 95sin (15t) + 40sin (30t) + 18sin (45t) 55cos (15t) 24cos (45t).
(a) What is the fundamental frequency in Hertz? (b) Rewrite the equation in terms of
cosine components only by combing proper sine and cosine terms. (c) What is the
amplitude of the third harmonic component?
12) Consider two components waveform as y1 = 10sint + 2sin2t. On a graph sheet plot the
two components independently so that let them have common x axis y axis. Beneath this
plot provide the resulting signal. Let the signal cover three periods. Further study the
effect of (i) change in amplitude of the second harmonic in relation to the first, say
y3 = 10sint + 6sin2t, (ii) change in frequency of the second harmonic in relation to the
first, say y4 = 10sint + 5sin5t, (iii) change in phase angle of the second harmonic in

relation to the first, say y2 = 10sint + 5sin (

). Provide graphical plots. Graph
sheets will be provided.
13) Suppose that an acceleration time relation is expressed by the following equation,

a = 3800 sin (2450t) + 1750 cos (

)+ 800sin (36750t) where a is acceleration
and t is time in seconds. (i) Identify the number of harmonics in the signal. (ii) The
circular frequency of each harmonic and relation between the harmonics. (iii) State the
order of the harmonics. (iv) Provide a frequency spectrum plot.
14) A certain pressure transducer has a natural frequency of 5000 Hz and a damping ratio or
of 0.4. Estimate the resonance frequency and amplitude response and phase shift at a
frequency of 2000 Hz.