2023

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF RUHUNA
ME4305 – MECHANICS OF MACHINES
CONTROL AUTOMATION AND MECHATRONICS LABORATORY
TITLE: STATIC AND DYNAMIC BALANCING OF ROTOR SYSTEMS
(L2) ACADEMIC YEAR: 2023

Laboratory Seal and Signature of the Instructor

Student
EG/2020/4152
Number
Lab Conducted
15/09/2023
Date
Lab Report Due
Date
Lab Report
Submitted Date

Evaluation (Instructor Use Only)

Evaluation Component Allocated Marks Out of 10.0 Student Achieved Marks
Task 1 2.0
Task 2 2.0
Task 3 2.0
Results 2.0
Discussion 2.0
Total 10.0
Signature of the Evaluator

Evaluator’s Comments:

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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING
ENGINEERING FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF RUHUNA
CONTROL AUTOMATION AND MECHATRONICS LABORATORY
ME4305 – MECHANICS OF MACHINES
TITLE: STATIC AND DYNAMIC BALANCING OF ROTOR SYSTEMS
(L2)
Pre-lab sheet
OBJECTIVES:
• To check the resultants of the summation of three vectors analytically.
• To check the resultants of the summation of three vectors graphically.

TASKS:
1. Get the summation of the given three vectors using the analytical method.
2. Get the summation of the given three vectors using the graphical method.

DATA:
Neutral is the origin point. All three vectors
have same amplitude.

Figure 1:
The given three vectors

RESULTS:
Write down the complete calculation procedure and the final results in each task.

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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING
ENGINEERING FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF RUHUNA
CONTROL AUTOMATION AND MECHATRONICS LABORATORY
ME4305 – MECHANICS OF MACHINES
TITLE: STATIC AND DYNAMIC BALANCING OF ROTOR SYSTEMS
(L2)
Lab sheet
OBJECTIVES:
• To observe the static balancing effect of a rotor by changing balancing weights.
• To observe the dynamic balancing effect of a rotor by changing balancing weights.

TASKS:
1. Observe the characteristics of a rotor when it is unbalanced in both statically
and dynamically.
a) Unbalance the rotor and observe characteristics under static condition.
b) Unbalance the rotor and observe characteristics under dynamic condition.
2. Observe the characteristics of a rotor when it is unbalanced only in dynamically.
a) Unbalance the rotor only in dynamic conditions.
b) Observe the characteristics in both static and dynamic conditions.
3. Observe the characteristics of a rotor when it is balanced in both statically and
dynamically.
a) Balance the rotor in both statically and dynamically.
b) Observe the characteristics in both static and dynamic conditions.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
Hardware
Static and dynamic balancing machine

The control automation and mechatronics laboratory has a section of balancing test kits with
separate units configured for static and dynamic tests. The main difference is the dynamic test
unit is installed with a variable-speed electric motor. The static test unit does not has an
electric motor in order to minimise the resistance to rotation.

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Figure 2: Rotor balancing test kit

Balancing weights are given for each unit which can be used in this experiment. Each weight
is clearly marked and each plate attached to the rotor is also marked.

Figure 3: Balancing weights and other required

tools.

The variable speed motor must be operated carefully. In some experiment setups, the resulting
vibration will be quite large if a high rotational speed is used.

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Figure 4: Electric motor speed controller

INTRODUCTION:
Balancing is an essential technique applied to mechanical parts of rotational functionality
(wheels, shafts, flywheels etc.) in order to eliminate the detected irregularities found within it
that may cause excessive vibrations during operation and act as undesirable disturbances on
the system being in use. Such irregularities may rise due to the inhomogeneous distribution of
material within the part, bending and deflection of rotating shafts, and eccentricity of mass
from the axis of rotation of the rotating disks and rotors.

These irregularities lead to small eccentric masses that disturb the mass distribution of the
part, and the last generate centrifugal forces when the part is in rotation; the magnitude of
these forces increases rapidly with the speed of rotation and enhances vibrations level during
operation, and cause serious problems.

Static balancing ensures the mass distribution about the axis of rotation of the rotating
mechanical part in the radial directions, without consideration of that distribution in the axial
(longitudinal) direction.

For dynamic balancing, rotors are classified into two major categories; they are rigid and
flexible rotors. The same shaft of a rotor can be considered rigid if it operates much below its
first critical speed and flexible when operating near or above the first critical speed. That is
why sometimes it is also called slow and high-speed rotor balancing..

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THEORY:
A rotor system is said to be statically balanced if the system can rest, without turning, at any
angular position in its bearings. This condition is attained when the sum of the centrifugal
forces on the system due to unbalanced masses is zero in any radial direction. The centrifugal
force due to unbalanced mass of weight𝑚𝑖 , with its centre of gravity at a radial distance 𝑟𝑖 , is
proportional to 𝑚𝑖 × 𝑟𝑖 . For a rotor system to be statically balanced, the summation of
components of all such forces should be zero in any radial direction. That is,

∑ 𝑚𝑖𝑟𝑖 = 0
𝑖

A rotor system is said to be dynamically balanced when it does not vibrate in its running state.
To make a system dynamically balanced, it must first be statically balanced. In addition, the
sum of the moments of centrifugal forces due to the attached masses about any axis
perpendicular to the axis of the shaft must be zero. This condition is fulfilled when,

∑ 𝑚𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑖 = 0
𝑖

where𝑙𝑖is the distance of the attached mass from one end of the rotor system.

PROCEDURE:
Task 1
1.
Attach a 30 g mass (m1) at a radial distance of 60 mm to the plane B on both units.
2.
Attach a 30 g mass (m2) at a radial distance of 60 mm to the plane C on both units.
3.
Search for the stable equilibrium point on the static balance unit.
4.
Observe the vibration levels on the dynamic balance unit.
Task 2
5.
Do not remove previously attached weights.
6.
Attach a 60 g mass (m3) at a radial distance of 60 mm to plane D on both units.
7.
Search for the stable equilibrium point on the static balance unit.
8.
Observe the vibration levels on the dynamic balance unit.
Task 3
9.
Remove the 60 g mass (m3) attached to plane D on both units.

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10.
Attach a 30 g mass (m3) at a radial distance of 60 mm to plane D on both units.
11.
Attach a 30 g mass (m4) at a radial distance of 60 mm to plane E on both units.
12.
Search for the stable equilibrium point on the static balance unit.
13.
Observe the vibration levels on the dynamic balance unit.

NOTE:
In task 2, m3 is diametrically opposite to m1 and m2. In task 4, m3 and m4 are diametrically
opposite to m1 and m2. Include references in the discussion section.

Pre-lab
The three forces (3 vectors) are equal in magnitude and all the three forces make 1200 angles
with each other. This placement of those 3 forces fulfils all the requirements for any three
equal forces to be in equilibrium. Hence the given system is in equilibrium ( The resultant
force is equal to zero).

OBSERVATIONS:

Task 1

There are attached two masses on both B & C planes so observed that it is statically unbalance
at any position of the rotation. the reason is why there are weight act the direction of gravity
so each masses generate momentums equant moments therefor the system statically
unbalanced.

Dynamically, the rotation get little bite of vibration because of one side of the system generate
momentum.

Task 2

In task two added additional weight to the system that’s mean added some momentum to the
balanced system so all the system getting unbalanced, so it is creating statically balanced only
that rotating the upper position and downward position.

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So, it is already statically unbalanced as well as it is dynamically unbalanced because
externally added momentum to the system.

Task 3

Here remove the 60g mass instead that add 30g masses to each D & E plane so it is gets
statically balanced.
Dynamically, system not much vibration under rotation and it is dynamically balanced.

CALCULATIONS:
Summarise the data in each task using template tables given bellow.
For static balancing in task 1
Mass(g) Radius(mm) 𝑚 × 𝑟 – cross product 𝑚 × 𝑟 – amplitude
30 60 +1800 1800
30 60 +1800 1800

There are theoretically and experimentally observations are matched, therefor algebraic sum is
not equal to zero.

For dynamic balancing in task 1

Mass Radius Distance 𝑚 × 𝑟 × 𝑙 – cross 𝑚×𝑟×𝑙–
product amplitude
30 60 100 +180000 180000
30 60 150 +270000 270000

As observation of theoretically and experimentally date matched because the system is not
dynamically balanced.

For static balancing in task 2

Mass Radius 𝑚 × 𝑟 – cross product 𝑚 × 𝑟 – amplitude
30 60 +1800 1800
30 60 +1800 1800
60 60 -3600 3600

As shown calculated values that system is statically balanced as well experimentally.

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For dynamic balancing in task 2

Mass Radius Distance 𝑚 × 𝑟 × 𝑙 – cross 𝑚×𝑟×𝑙–
product amplitude
30 60 100 +180000 180000
30 60 150 +270000 270000
60 60 200 -720000 720000

Those experimentally and theoretically system is dynamically balanced so observation and

calculations data matched

For static balancing in task 3

Mass Radius 𝑚 × 𝑟 – cross product 𝑚 × 𝑟 – amplitude

30 60 +1800 1800
30 60 +1800 1800
30 60 -1800 1800
30 60 -1800 1800

As usually experimentally and theoretically observation are matched.

For dynamic balancing in task 3

Mass Radius Distance 𝑚 × 𝑟 × 𝑙 – cross 𝑚×𝑟×𝑙–
product amplitude
30 60 100 +180000 180000
30 60 150 +270000 270000
30 60 50 -90000 90000
30 60 200 -360000 360000

Algebraic summation is equal to zero means system is dynamically balanced.

RESULTS:
all the data which overserved experimentally data is macheted as theoretically proof, so these
theories can used for wide range of application such as automobile, aerospace, machine’s
parts which includes with rotary motion. Therefor can increase machine’s efficiency that
reduced by vibration due to ration.

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DISCUSSION:
1. Why dynamic balancing so important to us?

Reducing vibration

Dynamic balancing helps minimize vibrations in rotating machinery and equipment.

Excessive vibrations caused by unbalanced parts can be harmful to the functionality
and durability of the machinery. In some situations, vibrations can also be a source of
pain, noise, and safety risks.

Enhancing equipment life

Rotating parts that are out of balance can cause early wear and tear on seals, bearings,
and other important machinery components. You can lengthen the equipment's
lifespan, lower maintenance expenses, and boost overall reliability by balancing these
components.

Energy efficiency

Because vibrations and unequal loads generate less friction and resistance, balanced
machinery runs more effectively. This may result in reduced operational costs and
energy savings in industrial processes.

Improved product quality

Precision and quality control are crucial in production, especially in sectors like the
automobile and aerospace industries. Unbalanced parts can compromise the precision
and calibre of the output. Parts and assemblies must adhere to high quality standards,
which are ensured via dynamic balancing.

Performance optimization

In some applications, such as automotive engines and aircraft engines, precise balance
is crucial for achieving optimal performance. Balancing ensures that engines run
smoothly and efficiently, leading to better fuel efficiency and overall performance.

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Noice reduction

Unwanted noise in both industrial and residential settings can be produced by

unbalanced machinery. Dynamic balancing aids in noise reduction, enhancing
workplace comfort for workers and lowering nearby noise pollution.

2. Give examples for practical applications of this practical.

Engine balancing

Internal combustion engines in the automotive sector require dynamic balancing to

function properly. When the crankshaft, pistons, and connecting rods are balanced, the
engine runs more smoothly, has fewer vibrations, and lasts longer.

Rotary balancing

Helicopters and aircraft require precise rotor balancing to ensure stable flight and
minimize vibrations. Dynamic balancing of rotor blades and components is essential
for safety and performance.

Machine tools

Balancing the components of machine tools, such as spindles and cutting tools,
improves machining accuracy and surface finish.

Propellor balancing

Ship propellers need dynamic balancing to reduce vibrations and improve fuel
efficiency. Balancing ensures smoother operation and minimizes wear on bearings and
seals.

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Reference

[1] X. Yu, K. Mao, S. Lei, and Y. Zhu, “A new adaptive proportional-integral control
strategy for rotor active balancing systems during acceleration,” Mechanism and
Machine Theory, vol. 136, pp. 105–121, Jun. 2019, doi:
ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2019.02.015.

End of lab sheet

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