Indian Institute of Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Machine Vibration Laboratory

Autumn Semester
Experiment No. 1

Aim of the Experiment: To perform the static balancing of a rotating disc by three point mass balancing method.
Steps:
1) Check the critical speed and suggest a speed of operation.
2) Measure the unbalance velocity level at a speed well past the critical speeds (below or above). Let that vibration level
in velocity be V0 and rotor has to be balanced at that operating speed only.
3) Now mark the disc in three points which are 90° apart as shown in Fig.1.
4) Take the trial mass and measure its mass.
5) Attach the trial mass in three different positions as marked earlier and take the reading from vibration meter in velocity
mode with the help of analyser.
6) Now construct the vector diagram and find the position and amount of balancing mass.
7) It has to be noted that there are two unknowns (position and mass). So, it may appear that only two set of experimental
data on point 1 and 2 is good enough to get an inference. The data of third point decides the orientation i.e. whether it is
in upper or lower of the disc.

1
3

Fig.1. Position at which the test mass is to be attached

Notations:
V0 = The velocity level found from the disc to be balanced.
V1 = The velocity level found from the disc when the trial mass is attached to point 1.
V2 = The velocity level found from the disc when the trial mass is attached to point 2.
V3 = The velocity level found from the disc when the trial mass is attached to point 3.
VT 1 = The velocity level due to only trial mass at point 1 without unbalance mass (unmeasured).
VT 2 = The velocity level due to only trial mass at point 2 without unbalance mass (unmeasured).
VT 3 = The velocity level due to only trial mass at point 3 without unbalance mass (unmeasured).
mT = Trial Mass (known)
mcomp = compensating mass (to be computed)
α = the angle between V0 and VT 1 (to be computed)
Calculations:
By considering only two reading V1 and V2 , we can proceed for balancing. From the vector diagram in Fig. 2, we can construct
the following relations.
𝑉12 = 𝑉𝑇1
2
+ 𝑉02 − 2𝑉0 𝑉𝑇1 cos⁡(∝) (1)
2 2
𝑉2 = 𝑉𝑇2 + 𝑉02 − 2𝑉0 𝑉𝑇2 cos(180−∝) = 𝑉𝑇2
2
+ 𝑉02 + 2𝑉0 𝑉𝑇2 cos(∝) (2)
and VT 1 = VT 2 = VT (3)
 V12  V22  2V02
From (1) and (2), we get VT 1  VT 2  (4)
2
V22  V12
  cos 1 (5)
4V0VT
The velocity level is proportional to applied force. Then VT  M T r 2 or VT   M T r 2 . The compensating mass at
same radius r produces V comp  M comp r 2 . We want to produce a vector which cancels V0 , i.e., Vcomp  V0 . Then,

V0
M comp  MT (6)
VT
Orientation angle of balancing mass, α is has two values. So, it is required to have another data V3 to determine the exact
position of the mass to be attached.

V0

VT3 V3

Vcomp
V0 V0 V1
V2  V0
VT2  VT1
Vcomp V0

Fig.2. Vector Diagram

Questions:
1) Without any instrument or experimental setup how to judge whether a disc or rotor is balanced or not?
2) While specifying vibration level, is it always associated with speed? If yes, then why?
3) Summarize the Sommerfeld effect observed in the setup.
4) Is the balancing mass orientation angle is 15° or it’s multiple? If not, then how will you orient the mass in
the threaded hole?
5) Is your balancing method dynamic balancing?
6) State any other method to balance the experimental disc?