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Vibration is defined as the instance/ condition of being vibrated or the act of vibrating. It is said to be a rapid linear motion of an elastic medium or a particle about an equilibrium position. It is the process or periodic motion about an equilibrium position such as propagation of sound from the microphone and periodic displacement of air. Vibration has components of frequency and of amplitude.
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Keyterms: Vibration, linear motion, equilibrium position, periodic motion, sound, air, Velocity, Displacement, Frequency, Acceleration
Unit of Vibration
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Vibration is not a physical quantity to have a unit. It is a form of a complex signal that tells us about the state of an object that experiences physical acceleration due to numerous forces. Vibrations took place at an equilibrium point when the movement of an object repeatedly happens in a certain direction.
Vibration is expressed by the units of Velocity, Displacement, Frequency, Acceleration. This unit can be denoted by the terms V, D, F, D, A. Vibration takes place to be a more complex sum of different frequencies that are at various amplitudes. The SI unit of Vibration unit or vibration is Watts per meter square.
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Vibration Analysis
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Vibration Analysis takes place in a maintenance or industrial environment. The main aim of vibration analysis is to identify equipment faults, rather than by reducing maintenance costs and equipment downtime. It is an important part of the Condition Monitoring Program. Moreover, it is referred to as predictive maintenance by experts.
The uses of Vibration Analysis take place to identify faults in rotating equipment like motors, pumps, gearboxes, fans, etc. The various faults can be unbalanced, misalignment, rolling element, resonance conditions bearing faults.
The use of units of Velocity, Acceleration, Displacement takes place in Vibration Analysis. They are shown as Time Wave Form (TWF). The use of spectrum commonly takes place when derivation is from a fast Fourier transform of the Time Wave Form.
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Types of Vibration
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Vibration is divided into three types which are mentioned in the below points:
- Free Vibration: Free Vibration takes place when a mechanical device with a starting input is set in a motion and allows it to oscillate or vibrate freely. At high natural frequencies, the mechanical devices vibrate and turn motionless. For eg: While swing, pulling a child back, and let it to and fro.
- Forced Vibration: When time-varying distortions like displacement, velocity, and load are applied to a mechanical system, then the disturbance can be periodic, a transient input, a random input, or a steady-state input. The periodic input can be either nonharmonic or harmonic disturbance. For eg: The vibration of a building occurs during an earthquake.
- Damped Vibration: Vibration is said to be damped when the energy of a vibrating system suddenly disappears by resistance or other fiction. The vibrations slowly reduce or may vary in intensity or frequency, For eg: Vehicular suspension dampened by the shock absorber.
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Various Units of Vibration
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The various units of vibration are Frequency, Displacement, Acceleration, Velocity. The details of various units of vibration are mentioned in the below points:
- Frequency: When we consider the number of times or cycles per second, a generated repetitive motion usually occurs in one second by a vibrating object, one must use the unit of frequency known as Hertz (Hz).
- Displacement: The displacement of the distance (amplitude) between the distance of a vibrating object or peaks of vibration from a permanent position then the unit will be μm, mm, m.
- Velocity: During the vibration cycle, the vibrating object reaches the maximum speed, then the use of units like cm/s or mm/s takes place to measure the changing rate of displacement (D) per unit time.
- Acceleration: Changing the rate of Velocity per unit time is known as Acceleration. In acceleration, vibration can be measured by using g, cm/s², m/s², mm/s².
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| Transverse Waves | Speed of Sound Formula | Oscillatory Motion |
| Resonance | LC Oscillation | Radio Waves |
| Wave Optics | Polarization of light | Huygens Principle |
Things to Remember
- Units of vibration is a part of Unit 10 Oscillation and Waves, chapter fourteen Oscillation.
- It carries a total of 12 to 14 periods and 4 to 5 marks.
Sample Questions
Ques 1. Mention the three important features measured in vibration? (1 mark)
Ans: The three important features measured in vibration are Amplitude, Frequency, and Acceleration.
Ques 2. What is the unit to measure vibration? (1 mark)
Ans: The unit to measure vibration is Watts per meter square (W/m2).
Ques 3. How does the frequency of vibration can be measured? (1 mark)
Ans: The frequency of vibration can be measured through Hertz (Hz).
Ques 4. Name the instruments that are used to measure vibration? (1 mark)
Ans: The instruments that are used to measure vibration are vibrometers, accelerometer, phase meter, frequency meter, velocity meter.
Ques 5. What are the various units of vibration? (3 marks)
Ans: The various units of vibration:
- Frequency: When we consider the number of times or cycles per second, a generated repetitive motion usually occurs in one second by a vibrating object, one must use the unit of frequency known as Hertz (Hz).
- Displacement: The displacement of the distance (amplitude) between the distance of a vibrating object or peaks of vibration from a permanent position then the unit will be μm, mm, m.
- Velocity: During the vibration cycle, the vibrating object reaches the maximum speed, then the use of units like cm/s or mm/s takes place to measure the changing rate of displacement (D) per unit time.
- Acceleration: Changing the rate of Velocity per unit time is known as Acceleration. In acceleration, vibration can be measured by using g, cm/s², m/s², mm/s².
Ques 6. Give a few examples of vibration. (3 marks)
Ans: Examples of three types of vibration are:
- Free Vibration: While swinging, pulling a child back, and let it to and fro.
- Forced Vibration: The vibration of a building occurs during an earthquake.
- Damped Vibration: Vehicular suspension dampened by the shock absorber.
Ques 7. What is a damped vibration? Explain. (2 marks)
Ans: When the energy exerted by a vibrating system starts to get reduced due to friction and other resistance factors, the vibrations are said to be damped. The vibrations gradually decrease or there is a change in frequency or intensity or stops and the vibrating body rests in its equilibrium position.
Ques 8. What is the use of vibration analysis? (1 mark)
Ans: The Vibration Analysis is used to identify faults in rotating equipment like motors, pumps, gearboxes, fans, etc. The various faults can be unbalanced, misalignment, rolling element, resonance conditions bearing faults.
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