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​ = 2.5 mmunloaded

A machine rests on spring mounts, which compress by 2.5 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 = 2.5 mmg = 9.81 m/s²
fn = Hz
2.Easy
k = 5 kN/mm = 8 kgx

An 8 kg mass hangs from a spring with a stiffness of 5 kN/m. Ignore damping. Find the natural circular frequency ωn in rad/s.

m = 8 kgk = 5 kN/m
ωn = rad/s
3.Medium
tx25 mm3 cycles1.4 mm

In a free-vibration test of a damped mass–spring system, a displacement peak of 25 mm is followed 3 cycles later by a peak of 1.4 mm. Find the damping ratio ζ.

x0 = 25 mmx3 = 1.4 mmn = 3
ζ =
4.Medium
k = 4 kN/mc = 340 N·s/mm = 20 kg

A 20 kg mass is supported by a spring with a stiffness of 4 kN/m and a viscous damper with a damping coefficient of 340 N·s/m. Find the damping ratio ζ.

m = 20 kgk = 4 kN/mc = 340 N·s/m
ζ =
5.Hard
k1​ = 60k2​ = 100k3​ = 60m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from spring k₃ = 60 kN/m. The top of k₃ is attached to a rigid bar that hangs from two springs side by side, k₁ = 60 kN/m and k₂ = 100 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 = 100 kgk1 = 60 kN/mk2 = 100 kN/mk3 = 60 kN/m
fn = Hz
6.Hard
k1​ = 60k2​ = 80m = 100 kg

A 100 kg mass hangs from two springs connected end to end (in series): the upper spring has k₁ = 60 kN/m and the lower one k₂ = 80 kN/m. Find the equivalent stiffness keq of the spring system in kN/m.

m = 100 kgk1 = 60 kN/mk2 = 80 kN/m
keq = kN/m

Answer key

  1. 1. fn = 9.97 Hz
  2. 2. ωn = 25 rad/s
  3. 3. ζ = 0.1512
  4. 4. ζ = 0.601
  5. 5. fn = 3.325 Hz
  6. 6. keq = 34.29 kN/m

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