4.

Balancing of Rotating Masses

4.1 Introduction
The high speed of engines and other machines is a common phenomenon
now-a-days. It is, therefore, very essential that all the rotating and reciprocating
parts should be completely balanced as far as possible. If these parts are not
properly balanced, the dynamic forces are set up. These forces not only increase
the loads on bearings and stresses in the various members, but also produce
unpleasant and even dangerous vibrations. In this chapter we shall discuss the
balancing of unbalanced forces caused by rotating masses, in order to minimize
pressure on the main bearings when an engine is running.

4.2 Balancing of Rotating Masses

The balancing of rotating bodies is important to avoid vibrations. In heavy
industrial machines such as steam turbines and electric generators, vibration
could cause catastrophic failure. Vibrations are noisy and uncomfortable and
when a car wheel is out of balance, the ride is quite unpleasant. In the case of a
simple wheel, balancing simply involves moving the center of gravity to the
center of rotation but as we shall see. for longer and more complex bodies, there
is more to it. For a body to be completely balanced it must have two things.
1. Static Balance. This occurs when there is no resultant centrifugal force and
the center of gravity is on the axis of rotation.
2. Dynamic Balance. This occurs when there is no resulting turning moment
alone the axis.

4.3 Balancing in one plane

If the system is a simple disc then static balance is all that is needed. Consider
a thin disc or wheel on which the center of gravity is not the same as the center
of rotation. A simple test for static balance is to place the wheel in frictionless
bearings. The center of gravity will always come to rest below the center of
rotation (like a pendulum). If it is balanced it will remain stationary no matter
which position it is turned to.

1
 If the center of gravity is distance r from the center of rotation then when it
spins at ω rad/s. centrifugal force is produced. This has a formula
𝐹𝐶 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑟
where m is the mass of the disc. This is the out of balance force. In order to
cancel it out an equal and opposite force is needed. This is simply done by
adding a mass m2 at a radius r2 as shown. The two forces must have the same
magnitudes.

𝑚 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑟 = 𝑚2∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑟2 𝑜𝑟 𝑚 ∙ 𝑟 = 𝑚2∙ ∙ 𝑟2
Placing a suitable mass at a suitable radius moves the center of gravity to the
center of rotation. This balance holds true at all speeds down to zero hence it is
balanced so long as the products of m and r are equal and opposite.
Now consider that our disc is out of balance because there are three masses
attached to it as shown. The 3 masses are said to be coplanar and they rotate
about a common centre.

2
The centrifugal force acting on each mass is
𝐹𝐶 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑟
The radius of rotation is r and the angular velocity is ω in radians/second. The
force acting on each one is hence:
𝐹1 = 𝑚1 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑟1 ; 𝐹2 = 𝑚2 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑟2 ; 𝐹3 = 𝑚3 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑟3
These are vector quantities and we can add them up to fine resultant for.

If the system was balanced, there would be no resultant force so the force
needed to balance the system must be equal and opposite of the resultant (the
vector that closes the polygon). The balancing mass M4 is then added at a
suitable radius and angle such that the product m r is correct.

3
 The result obtained would be the same whatever the value of ω and when ω =
0 we have static balance. In order to make the solution easier, we may make ω =
1 and calculate m r for each vector. This is called the m r polygon or vector
Note that angles will be given in normal mathematical terms with anticlockwise
begin positive from the x axis as shown.

Example 1
Three masses A. B and C are placed on a balanced disc as shown at the figure
below, radii of 120 mm. 100 mm and 80 mm respectively. The masses are 1 kg.
0.5 kg and 0.7 kg respectively. Find the 4th mass which should be added at a
radius of 60 mm in order to statically balance the system.

4
Sol
First draw up a table to calculate the value of mr for each mass:
Mass Radius Mr
No.
[Kg] [mm] [Kg mm]
A 1 120 120
B 0.5 100 50
C 0.7 80 56
D mD 60 60 mD

Draw the mr polygon to fine the value of mr for 4th mass

The resultant 144.3 Kg m and is equal to 60 mD. the mass required:
𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑠 144.3 144.3
𝑚𝐷 ∙ 𝑟𝐷 = 144.3 → 𝑚𝐷 = = = 2.405 𝐾𝑔
𝑟𝐷 60
204° 𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐴 𝑎𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛

5
Example 2
Four masses m1, m2, m3 and m4 are 200 kg, 300 kg, 240 kg and 260 kg
respectively. The corresponding radii of rotation are 0.2 m, 0.15 m, 0.25 m and
0.3 m respectively and the angles between successive masses are 45°, 75° and
135°. Find the position and magnitude of the balance mass required, if its radius
of rotation is 0.2 m.
Solution.

Given : m1 = 200 kg ; m2 = 300 kg ; m3 = 240 kg ; m4 = 260 kg ; r1 = 0.2 m ; r2 =

0.15 m ; r3 = 0.25 m ; r4 = 0.3 m ; θ1 = 0° ; θ2 = 45° ; θ3 = 45° + 75° = 120° ; θ4
= 45° + 75°+ 135° = 255° ; r = 0.2 m.
Find the position and magnitude of the balance mass required, if its radius of
rotation is 0.2 m.
Let m = Balancing mass, and θ = The angle which the balancing mass makes
with m1

1- draw the space diagram showing the positions of all the given masses as
shown in Figure below:

2- Tabulate the data as shown in Table below. The planes are tabulated in the
same order in which they occur, reading from left to right.
Mass Radius (r) mr
No.
[Kg] [m] [Kg m]
m1 200 0.2 40
m2 300 0.15 45
m3 240 0.25 60
m4 260 0.3 78
m m 0.2 0.2m

6
3- Now draw the vector diagram with the above values, to some suitable scale,
as shown in Figure below.

mr polygon

mr polygon

4- The closing side of the polygon ae represents the resultant force. By

measurement, we find that ae = 23 kg-m.

5- The balancing force is equal to the resultant force, but opposite in direction
as shown in figure of mr diagram. Since the balancing force is proportional to
m.r, therefore:
𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑠
0.2 ∙ 𝑚 = 𝑎𝑒 = 23𝐾𝑔𝑚 → 𝑚 = 115 𝐾𝑔

By measurement we also find that the angle of inclination of the balancing mass
(m) from the horizontal mass of 200 kg:

𝜃 = 201°

4.4 Masses not in the same plane

Consider 2 masses statically balanced as shown but acting at different places
along the axis.

7
For static balance:
𝑚𝐴 𝑟𝐴 = 𝑚𝐵 𝑟𝐵
It is clear that even with static balance, centrifugal force will produce a
turning moment about the centre of gravity for the system. In this simple case, the
problem is solved by adding equal and opposite forces at the two points as shown.

Consider the turning moment due to a single mass

The centrifugal force produced is:

𝐹 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝑟 ∙ 𝜔2
The turning moment about the reference plane:

8
 𝑇 𝑀 = 𝐹 ∙ 𝑥 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝑟 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑥
For dynamic and static balance, we must work out the resultant turning
moment and add masses at appropriate points to cancel it out. The appropriate
points will be on two planes not coplanar with any of the original masses. This
involves drawing two vector diagrams and since ω is common to all vectors we
can a again take co =1 and draw vectors representing Mr and Mrx. Then
calculate the required masses and angles.
Example3
Find the mass and the angle at which it should be positioned in planes A and
D at radius of 60 mm in order to product complete balance of the system shown.

rB=75 mm; rC= 50 mm; mB=5 Kg; mC=2 Kg

SOLUTION
Note that the diagram has been drawn with B vertical. It is a good idea to
always start by making one of the known masses horizontal or vertical to make
the construction of the vector diagrams easier. All angles should be expressed in
absolute terms.
Plane A is the reference plane. All values of x are measured from plane A
thus making mrx for A equal to zero. It follows that it does not appear in the
vector diagram. Make up a table as follows leaving unknowns as symbols.
m r mr x mrx
No.
[Kg] [mm] [Kg mm] [mm] [Kg mm2]
A mA 60 60 mA 0 0
B 5 75 375 200 75000
C 2 50 100 300 30000
D mD 60 60 mD 375 22500 mD

9
 Now draw a polygon of mrx vectors in order to find the value of mrx at D.
Start with B in this case because it is vertical
Scaling the vector D which closes the tringle we find
𝑚 ∙ 𝑟 ∙ 𝑥 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐷 = 22500 𝑚𝐷
𝑚𝑟𝑥 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐷 = 94000 = 22500 ∙ 𝑚𝐷
𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑠 94000
→ 𝑚𝐷 = ≈ 4 ∙ 17 𝐾𝑔; 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑑 254°
22500
Now we calculate mr for D:
𝑚𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐷 = 4.17 ∙ 60 = 250.68

Next, we draw the polygon for the mr values as shown:

The vector which closed the polygon represents mr for A, mr for A=195Kgm
𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑠 195
60 𝑚𝐴 = 195𝐾𝑔𝑚 → 𝑚𝐴 = = 3.25𝐾𝑔 𝑎𝑡 6° 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
60
The answer is best shown with an end view:

10
Example 4
A shaft carries four masses A, B, C and D of magnitude 200 kg, 300 kg, 400 kg
and 200 kg respectively and revolving at radii 80 mm, 70 mm, 60 mm and 80
mm in planes measured from A at 300 mm, 400 mm and 700 mm. The angles
between the cranks measured anticlockwise are A to B 45°, B to C 70° and C to
D 120°. The balancing masses are to be placed in planes X and Y. The distance
between the planes A and X is 100 mm, between X and Y is 400 mm and
between Y and D is 200 mm. If the balancing masses revolve at a radius of 100
mm, find their magnitudes and angular positions.
Solution.
Given: mA = 200 kg ; mB = 300 kg ; mC = 400 kg ; mD = 200 kg ; rA = 80 mm
= 0.08m ; rB = 70 mm = 0.07 m ; rC = 60 mm = 0.06 m ; rD = 80 mm = 0.08 m ;
rX = rY = 100 mm = 0.1 m.
Let
mX = Balancing mass placed in plane X, and mY = Balancing mass placed in
plane Y.
The position of planes and angular position of the masses (assuming the mass A
as horizontal) are shown in Figure (a) and (b) respectively.

11
Assume the plane X as the reference plane (R.P.). The distances of the planes to
the right of plane X are taken as + ve while the distances of the planes to the left
of plane X are taken as – ve. The data may be tabulated as shown in Table
below:
m r mr x mrx
Plane.
[Kg] [mm] [Kg mm] [m] [Kg m2]
A 200 0.08 16 -0.1 -1.6
X (r.p) mx 0.1 0.1 mx 0 0
B 300 0.07 21 0.2 4.2
C 400 0.06 24 0.3 7.2
Y mY 0.1 0.1 mY 0.4 0.04 mY
D 200 0.08 16 0.6 9.6
The balancing masses mX and mY and their angular positions may be determined
graphically as discussed below:
1- draw the mrx diagram (couple polygon) from the data given in table above
(column 6) as
shown in Figure (c) to some suitable scale:

mrx diagram
2- The vector d′o′ represents the balanced couple. Since the balanced couple is
proportional to 0.04 mY, therefore by measurement:
𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑠 7.3 𝐾𝑔𝑚2
0.04 ∙ 𝑚𝑌 = 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑑 ′ 𝑜′ = 7.3 𝐾𝑔𝑚2 → 𝑚𝑌 = = 182.5 𝐾𝑔
0.04

12
3- The angular position of the mass mY is obtained by drawing OmY in Figure
(b), parallel to vector d′o′ . By measurement, the angular position of mY is θY =
12° in the clockwise direction from mass mA (i.e. 200 kg ).
4- Now draw the mr diagram (force polygon) from the data given in Table a
(column 4) as shown in Figure(d).

mr diagram
5- The vector eo represents the balanced force. Since the balanced force is
proportional to 0.1 mX, therefore by measurement:
𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑠 35.5 𝑘𝑔𝑚
0.1 ∙ 𝑚𝑋 = 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝒆𝒐 = 35.5 𝑘𝑔𝑚 → 𝑚𝑋 = = 355𝐾𝑔
0.1𝑚
The angular position of the mass mX is obtained by drawing OmX in Figute. (b),
parallel to vector eo. By measurement, the angular position of mX is θX = 145°
in the clockwise direction from mass mA (i.e. 200 kg ).
4.5. Balance of Reciprocating Machines
Reciprocating machines here means a piston reciprocating in a cylinder and
connected to a crank shaft by a connecting rod. You can skip the derivation of
the acceleration by going to the next page-First let s establish the relationship
between crank angle, and the displacement, velocity and acceleration of the
piston.

Crank Connecting
13
3.6 Derivation of acceleration equation:
A crank, connection rod, and piston mechanism as show in the figure.

When θ=0 the piston will be furthest left at a distance of:

𝐿 + 𝑅 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑂
Take this as reference point and measure displacement x from there. Remember
that:
𝜃 = 𝜔 ∙ 𝑡, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜔 = 2 ∙ 𝜋 ∙ 𝑛
The displacement is then:
𝐿 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑠
𝑥 = (𝐿 + 𝑅) − [√𝐿2 − (𝑅 ∙ sin 𝜃)2 + 𝑅 ∙ cos 𝜃]; 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑛 = → 𝑥
𝑅
= 𝑅 ∙ [(𝑛 − 1) − cos 𝜃 − √𝑛2 − (sin 𝜃)2 ]
Differentiate to get the velocity:
𝑑𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜃) ∙ cos 𝜃 sin(2 ∙ 𝜃)
𝑣= = 𝜔 ∙ 𝑅 [𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 + 1] = 𝜔 ∙ 𝑅 [sin 𝜃 + 1]
𝑑𝑡
2∙ [𝑛2 − 2
𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝜃)]2 2∙ [𝑛2 − 2
𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝜃)]2
Differentiate again and simplify to get acceleration:
𝑑𝑣 2
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (2 ∙ 𝜃) cos (2 ∙ 𝜃)
𝑎= = 𝜔 ∙ 𝑅[cos 𝜃 + 3 + 1
𝑑𝑡 2 2
4 ∙ (𝑛 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝜃)) 2 (𝑛 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝜃))2
2 2

For a good approximation

𝑐𝑜𝑠 (2 ∙ 𝜃)
𝑎 = 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑅[𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 +
𝑛
𝐿
𝑋 = (𝐿 +𝑅) −𝑅 cos 𝜃 ൤𝑛 = ൨
𝑅
𝑋 = 𝑅[ (𝑛 + 1) − cos 𝜃]
𝑋 = ቂ(𝐿 + 𝑅) − √𝐿2 − 𝑅 2 sin 𝜃 2 − 𝑅 cos 𝜃ቃ
𝐿 𝐿 2
𝑋 = 𝑅 ቈቀ𝑅 + 1ቁ − ටቀ𝑅ቁ − sin 𝜃 2 − cos 𝜃቉

𝑋 = R ∙ ቂ(𝑛 + 1) − cos 𝜃 − √𝑛2 − sin 𝜃 2 ቃ

𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝜃
𝑣 = 𝑑𝑡 = ×
𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥
𝑣=𝜔×
𝑑𝜃

14
 ∴ 𝑅 sin 𝜃 = 𝐿
sin 𝜃 2 = 2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃
1
𝑑 ቈ(𝑛 + 1) − cos 𝜃 − (𝑛2 − sin 𝜃 2 )2 ቉
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑣= =𝜔∙ =𝜔×𝑅
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝜃
1 2 −1
= 𝜔 ∙ 𝑅 ቈ0 + sin 𝜃 − (𝑛 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 2 ) 2 ∙ (−2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃)቉
2
−2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃
𝑣 = 𝜔 × 𝑅 ቎sin 𝜃 − ቌ 1
ቍ቏ ∵ 2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 = sin 2𝜃
2(𝑛2 − sin 𝜃 2 )2
sin 2𝜃
𝑣 = 𝜔 × 𝑅 ቎sin 𝜃 + 1቏
2(𝑛2 − 2
sin 𝜃 2)
𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝑎= = × ,, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜔=
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑣
∴𝑎= 𝜔×
𝑑𝜃

sin 2𝜃 cos 2𝜃
𝑎 = 𝜔 2 𝑅 ቎cos 𝜃 + 3
+ 1቏
4(𝑛2 − sin 𝜃 2 )2 (𝑛2 − 2
sin 𝜃 )2

3.7 Forces
The internal combustion engines convert the linear motion of the pistons to
the rotational motion of crankshaft. This attributes to the primary and secondary
forces in an engine. A single cylinder four-stroke engine completes two
rotations of crankshaft per power stroke and hence each cycle is given an angle
of 180 degrees.
3.7.1 Primary forces- When a piston passes through TDC and BDC, the
change of direction produces an inertia force due to which the piston tends to
move in the direction in which it was moving before the change. This force,
called the primary force, increases with the rise of the engine speed, and unless
counteracted produces a severe oscillation in the vertical plane.
3.7.2 Secondary forces
In every cycle of 180 degree, the piston either moves from top to bottom or
reverse. The distance travelled by the piston is not uniform and this give rise to
the secondary forces. Secondary forces occur twice every half rotation and
hence the name.
You could see that the distance moved by the piston by completing 90
degrees a little over the half stroke. Since piston is connected to the crankshaft
and it rotates with uniform speed, the piston travels faster in first 90 degrees and
slow in other half. The reverse happens while travelling from bottom to top.
15
 Reciprocation forces
Using the close approximation fore acceleration, the inertial force required to
accelerate the piston is given by:
cos(2 ∙ 𝜃)
𝑎 = 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑅[𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 + ]
𝑛
This may by thought of as two separate forces:
𝐹𝑝 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠
𝑐𝑜𝑠(2 ∙ 𝜃)
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑅 ቈ ቉ 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝑛

16
3.8 Primary force for a single cylinder
The primary force:
𝐹𝑝 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
Must be thought of as a force with peak value mω2R that varies
cosinusoidally with angle θ. m is mass of piston; R is crank radius. So, the
primary force (Fp) is maximum when θ=0 or 1800.

Example 5
Determine the primary out of balance force for a single cylinder machine
with a piston of mass 0.5 kg, with a connecting rod 120 mm long and a crank
radius of 50 mm when the speed of rotation is 3000 rev/mm.
Solution:
2 ∙ 𝜋 ∙ 𝑛 2 ∙ 𝜋 ∙ 300
𝜔= = = 100 ∙ 𝜋
60 60
𝐹𝑝 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑅 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 0.5 ∙ (100 ∙ 𝜋)2 cos 𝜃 = 2467.4 ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑁

3.9 Secondary force for a single cylinder

The secondary force
𝑐𝑜𝑠(2 ∙ 𝜃)
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑅 ቈ ቉
𝑛
must be thought of as a force with peak value mω2R/n what varies
cosinusoidally with double angle 2θ. So, the primary force (Fs) is maximum
when θ=00 ,900 1800 and 3600.

Example 6
Determine the secondary of balance force for a single cylinder machine with
a piston of mass 0.5 kg, with a connecting rod 120 mm long and a crank radius
of 50 mm when the speed of rotation is 3000 rev/mm.
Solution:
2 ∙ 𝜋 ∙ 𝑛 2 ∙ 𝜋 ∙ 300 120
𝜔= = = 100 ∙ 𝜋; 𝑛 = = 2.4
60 60 50
𝑐𝑜𝑠(2 ∙ 𝜃) 0.05
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑚 ∙ 𝜔2 ∙ 𝑅 ቈ ቉ = 0.5 ∙ (100 ∙ 𝜋)2 ∙ ∙ 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2 ∙ 𝜃)
𝑛 2.4
= 1028.1 ∙ cos(2 ∙ 𝜃)
Note: The unbalance forces due to reciprocating mass (piston) varies in
magnitude but constant in direction, while due to rotating masses is constant in
magnitude but varies in direction. 64

17
3.10 Problem in reciprocating Balance:
We know from the first balancing tutorial that in order to balance rotors we
need to place balancing masses on two planes. Reciprocating machines can be
balanced by placing two reciprocating masses on two planes. To balance
primary components these would rotate at the crank speed. To balance
secondary components, they would have to rotate at double the crank speed in
order to produce double angles in a given period of time. The method so far
used is easily adapted to solve the balance. We produce the mrx or mrx/n
polygons and deduce the balancing component in the reference plane. Adding
this component, we then draw the mr polygon to deduce the balancing
component in the second reference plane.

3.10.1 Example 7
Two lines of reciprocating masses at A and B are to be balanced for
PRIMARY forces and couples by two lines of reciprocating pistons at C and D.
given mA = 0.5 Kg and mB=0.75Kg and that crank B is rotated 700 relatives to
A, determine masses mC and mD and the angle of their cranks. All crank radii
are the same.

Solution:

Space diagram
Make the D the reference plane
Mass r x mr Mrx
No.
[Kg] [m] [m] [Kgm] [Kgm2]
A 0.5 r 0.2 0.5r 0.1 r
B 0.75 r 0.7 0.75r 0.525 r
C mC r 1 mCr mCr
D mD r 0 mDr 0
Draw the mrx polygon with a suitable scale ratio and with a bit of
trigonometry:

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mc=0.567r; ϕ=29.60. the mass will be 0.657Kg placed on crank C at240.40 to
crank A.

Now draw the mr polygon with:

𝑚𝐶 ∙ 𝑟 = 0.567 ∙ 1, 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝐶 = 0.567
A bit more trigonometry or scaling from the diagram reveals that:
𝐹 = 0.521 ∙ 𝑟; 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝐷 = 0.521𝐾𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑡 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 203.9° 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝐴.

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3.10.2 Example 8
A compressor has thee inline pistons of mass 0.4Kg with a crank radius of 40
mm and ratio n of 3. The cranks are equally spaced in angle and positioned as
shown. Determine the primary and secondary force and turning moment about
the reference plane X when it revolves at 30 rad/s.

Solution primary
No. Mass Radius mr*10-3 x mrx*10-6 θ
[Kg] [m] [Kgm] [m] Kgm2 [degrees]
A 0.4 0.04 0.016 0.05 800* 0
B 0.4 0.04 0.016 0.1 1600 120
C 0.4 0.04 0.016 0.15 2400 240
Drawing the mr polygon with θ=0 (first is straight) we see the resultant force
as expected

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 mr polygon

mrx polygon
The mrx polygon and bit of trigonometry shows the resultant is:

𝑅 = √(1200 ∙ 10−6 )2 + (693 ∙ 10−6 )2 = 1386 ∙ 10−6 𝐾𝑔𝑚2

The resultant makes an angle of"

693
∅ = tan−1 = 30° 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙.
1200
The component of the moment in line with cylinder is:

𝑇𝑀 = 𝜔2 ∙ 1200 ∙ 10−6 1.08𝑁𝑚 (𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛)𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 1.08 ∙ cos 𝜃

Solution secondary
mr*10-3 N mr/n*10-3 x mrx*10-6 mrx/n*10-6 2*θ
No.
[Kgm] [-] [Kgm] [m] Kgm2 Kgm2 [degrees]
A 0.016 3 5.33 0.05 800 266.7 0
B 0.016 3 5.33 0.1 1600 266.7 240
C 0.016 3 5.33 0.15 2400 266.7 480

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 Draw the mr/n polygon with double angles and the get a closed triangle
showing that the secondary forces are balanced. Draw the mrx/n polygon with
double angles and resultant vector is r=462x10-6.

The component in the line of the cylinder is 400*10-6 Kgm2.

The moment produced is:
1200
∙ 10−6 ∙ 302 = 0.36 𝑁𝑚 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑒 (𝑥𝑥).
3
The resultant is 300 anticlockwise of A.

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