Mechanical vibrations worksheet with answers

Free printable Mechanical vibrations worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
kmδst​ = 0.5 mmunloaded

A machine rests on spring mounts, which compress by 0.5 mm under its weight. Treat it as an undamped single-degree-of-freedom system and use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

δst = 0.5 mmg = 9.81 m/s²
fn = Hz
2.Easy
k = 8 kN/mm = 15 kgx

A 15 kg mass hangs from a spring with a stiffness of 8 kN/m. Ignore damping. Find the natural frequency fn in Hz.

m = 15 kgk = 8 kN/m
fn = Hz
3.Medium
k = 20 kN/mc = 140 N·s/mm = 40 kg

A 40 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 20 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 140 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 40 kgk = 20 kN/mc = 140 N·s/m
ζ =
4.Medium
tx40 mm3 cycles2.3 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 40 mm is followed 3 cycles later by a peak of 2.3 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 40 mmx3 = 2.3 mmn = 3
ζ =
5.Hard
k1​ = 20k2​ = 20m = 10 kg

A 10 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 20 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 20 kN/m. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 10 kgk1 = 20 kN/mk2 = 20 kN/m
fn = Hz
6.Hard
k1​ = 30k2​ = 30k3​ = 20m = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 20 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 30 kN/m and k₂ = 30 kN/m; the bar stays level. Ignore damping and the masses of the springs and bar. Find the natural frequency fn of vertical vibration in Hz.

m = 20 kgk1 = 30 kN/mk2 = 30 kN/mk3 = 20 kN/m
fn = Hz

Answer key

  1. 1. fn = 22.29 Hz
  2. 2. fn = 3.676 Hz
  3. 3. ζ = 0.07826
  4. 4. ζ = 0.1498
  5. 5. fn = 5.033 Hz
  6. 6. fn = 4.359 Hz

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