Vibration of linkages with variable stiffness joints

• Main Author: Yeo, Harrison Chong Yi.
• Other Authors: Yap Fook Fah
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Mechanics and dynamics
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/40656
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Studies concerning the relationship between stiffness and vibration have become a major concern for engineers and designers today. An experiment was prepared to test the vibration responses on a cantilever system. It comes with a set of interchangeable spring joints with different stiffness values that were used to support the free end of the cantilever. The aim is to relate the change in vibration responses of the cantilever upon excitation as the supports at the free end changes in stiffness. Several tests procedures like single impact testing, roving hammer testing and measurement averaging were used to locate the resonant frequencies of the system. Results show that increase stiffness at the joints raises the resonant frequency for every vertical mode vibration. From the finite element analysis tool, the frequencies of torsional and horizontal vibrations are not affected by the joints. An equation governing continuous system was used to prove the readings from the experiments true.