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SE-114
Machine Foundations

By:
Dr. Saloni Pandya
Assistant Professor
Navrachana University

Machine Foundations
Type of Loads
 Static load – due to weight of machine and weight of foundation itself
 Dynamic load – nature of dynamic load depends on type of machine.

Type of machines

Reciprocating machines
 Produce periodic unbalanced force Engines, Compressors etc.
 Less than 600 rpm.
 Sinusoidal unbalanced force

Impact machines
 High impact load for small duration;
 Forge hammers etc.
 60 to 150 blows per minute

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Rotary machines
 Medium and high speed machines e.g. turbo-generators, rotary
compressors.
 Generally 1500 to 10000 rpm

Types of foundations
1. Block type
This type of machine foundation consists of a pedestal resting on a footing. The
foundation has large mass and a small natural frequency.

2. Caisson or Box type

The foundation consist of a hollow concrete block. The mass of the foundation is
less than that in the block type and the natural frequency is increased.

3. Wall type

A wall type of foundation consists of a pair of walls having a top slab. The machine
rests on the top slab.

4. Framed Type

This type of foundation consists of vertical columns having a horizontal frame at

their tops. The machine is supported on the frame.

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Type of Foundation

Basic definitions
 Vibration – Time dependent, repeated motion of translational or rotational type

 Periodic motion:- It is the motion which repeats itself periodically in equal time
intervals.

 Period (T)- The time period in which the motion repeats itself is called the period of
motion or simply period.

 Cycle- The motion completed in the period is called the cycle of motion.

 Frequency(f) – The number of cycles of motion in a unit of time is known as the

frequency of vibration.

T=1/f

 Free Vibration - Free vibrations are oscillations where the total energy stays the
same over time. This means that the amplitude of the vibration stays the same.

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 Forced vibration is a type of vibration in which a force is repeatedly applied to a

mechanical system.

 Natural frequency – Natural frequency, is the frequency at which a system tends

to oscillate in the absence of any driving or damping force.

 Resonance – When the frequency of the exciting force is equal to one of the natural
frequencies of the system, the amplitudes of motion become excessively large. This
condition is known as resonance.

 Damping – a reduction in the amplitude of an oscillation as a result of energy being

drained from the system to overcome frictional or other resistive forces.

Degree of Freedom
 The number of independent co-ordinates required to describe a
motion of a system is called degree of freedom.

Single degree of freedom

Two degree of freedom

A system with n degrees of freedom have n principal modes and n natural frequencies

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Degree of Freedom of a Block Foundation

 A rigid block of foundation have 6

degree of freedom

1. Translation along X-axis

2. Translation along Y-axis

3. Translation along Z-axis

4. Rotation along X-axis

5. Rotation along Y-axis

6. Rotation along Z-axis

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General Criteria for design of machine foundations

STATIC

 No shear/ bearing capacity failure

 No excessive settlement according to Is code

 The machine foundation should be isolated from other building foundations

 It should be able to carry the superimposed loads without causing shear or crushing

failure

DYNAMIC

 No resonance should occur between the natural frequency of the

foundation–soil system and pulsating load

 The amplitude of vibrations does not exceed the safe value

 Limitations of amplitude of vibration

1. to avoid damage to machinery

2. to avoid damage to neighbouring structures

3. to avoid discomfort to person

4. to avoid soil settlement

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General Criteria for design of machine foundations

 The water table should be at least ¼ B (where, B –width of foundation) below the
base plane.

Richart (1962)

Undamped Vibrations

 The figure below shows the rigid mass (m) resting on a spring of stiffness (k).

 The system has one degree of freedom

 Assuming that the system has been set in motion and it vibrates in the vertical direction

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The equation of motion for single degree of freedom is:-

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Damped Vibration

The figure below shows a rigid mass m resting on a spring of stiffness k and connected to a
viscous damper with a damping coefficient c. In this case, there is an additional force due to
damping.

The equation of motion in this case can be written as:-

Eq 1

The general solution of the above differential equation is :-

Eq 2

Where, wn = Natural frequency, D/ = Damping factor = C/CC ; CC = Critical Damping = 2*sqrt

(k*m)

If D > 1  The system is over damped and the motion in aperiodic

If D =1, the system is underdamped and the response is periodic.

If D < 1, then undamped

In machine foundations only Underdamped systems are of practical

importance.

For Underdamped systems :-

Equation 2, can be written as:-

Eq 3

A1 =(C1+C2)
Substituting,
A2 = i* (C1-C2)

For Undamped systems, D =0

Z = A1 cos wnd t +A2 Sin wnd t Eq 4

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Forced Vibrations

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Vibration Analysis of a Machine Foundation

 Machine foundation  6 degree of freedom

 It is assumed to have single degree of freedom.

 The mass mf of the system lumps together the mas of the machine and the mass of

foundation. The total mass acts at the centre of gravity of the system.

 All the elastic action can be lumped together into single elastic spring with a stiffness k.

 All resistance to the motion is lumped into the damping coefficient c.

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Determination of Parameters
Mass (m) :-

 Along with machine the surrounding soil also vibrates

 Surrounding soil  Participating mass or in-phase mass.

 Therefore, the total mass of the system is equal to the mass of the foundation block
machine (Mf) and mass of the participating soil (Ms)

 M = M f + Ms

 Ms is obtained from mass of the soil in the pressure bulb.

 Ms varies between 0 and Mf.

 Total mass (M) varies between Mf or 2Mf.

Spring Stiffness (k):-

 It depends upon following factors

 Type of soil
 Embedment of the foundation
 Contact area
 Contact pressure distribution
 Laboratory test:-

 A triaxial test with vertical vibrations is conducted to determine Young’s modulus E.

 Shear modulus is obtained by conducting Resonant Column test and E is obtained by

using E = 2 G (1+ ), where  - Poisson's ratio.

 The stiffness is determined as :

k =AE/L

A = cross-sectional area of the specimen, L = length of the specimen

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 Barkan’s Method :-

K = [1.13E / (1-2)]*sqrt A

Where, A = base area of the machine, i.e. area of contact

 Plate Load Test:-

A repeated plate load test is conducted and the stiffness of the soil in the test (kp) is found as the
slope of load-deformation curve. The spring constant k of the foundation is determined as under:

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 Resonance test:

The resonance frequency is obtained using a vibrator of mass m set up on a

steel plate supported on the ground. The spring stiffness is obtained from the
relation

Damping
 Damping is due to dissipation of vibration energy , which occurs mainly because of the
following reasons.
 Internal friction loss due to hysteresis and viscous effect
 Radiational loss due to propagation of waves through the soil.

The damping factor D for the Undamped system can be determined from the laboratory.

Vibrational response is plotted and the logarithmic decrement  is found from the plot as:-

Where, z1 and z2 are the amplitudes of the two consecutive cycles of an amplitude response
curve

The damping factor D and logarithmic decrement () are related as :

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The damping factor D may also be obtained from the area of the hysteresis loop of the load
displacement curve as,

Where, W = Total work done,  W = Work lost in hysteresis

The value of D for most soils generally varies between 0.01 and 0.1.

Displacement amplitude
Natural Frequency
Barken (1962) gave following relation for the natural frequency

Machine frequency (Hz)

Where, Cu = coefficient of elastic uniform compression , A = contact area of foundation

with soil.

The coefficient of elastic compression (Cu) depends upon the type of soil. It can be obtained from
the following relation.

The coefficient varies inversely proportional to the square root of the base area of the foundation.
Thus,

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FORMULAE FOR NATURAL FREQUENCIES

Expression for frequency and amplitudes can be derived for uncoupled sliding, rocking and

torsional vibrations as well as for the coupled modes of oscillation like rocking and sliding.

Some of these are discussed below.

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

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Modes of vibration of block foundation: (a) Uncoupled vertical mode; (b)

coupled rocking and sliding; (c) uncoupled torsion (plan view).

(iv)

Coupled mode for rocking and sliding.

 The rocking frequency is always coupled with sliding.

 Hence we have to take them together and the resultant frequency fn has to be
found from fn and fnx. It is found from the following expression.

 Two values of fn can be calculated from the equation:-

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 Similarly, expressions for the amplitudes of other coupled motions are also available.

 Dynamic analysis of foundation consists in determining these frequencies and amplitudes in

the different modes and checking whether they are within allowable limits.

 In general, the natural frequencies of the foundation should be well above or well below the
operational frequency of the machine to avoid resonance condition.

 The amplitudes of vibrations which depend on the magnitudes of the acting forces as
described above.

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN OF MACHINE FOUNDATIONS

 Rotating machines are generally balanced but reciprocating parts are usually unbalanced.

 The generators and steam turbines are balanced, air compressors and reciprocating pumps are

unbalanced.

 The Indian Standard Code of Practice for Design of Machine Foundations IS 2974 has been

published in five parts. They are the following:

 Part 1 COP for reciprocating machines—(1982) revised in 1993

 Part 2 COP for impact type of machines like hammers (1980) revised in 1993

 Part 3 COP for rotary type machines—medium to high frequency (1992) revised in 1995

 Part 4 COP for rotary type machine—low frequency (1989) revised in 1995

 Part 5 COP for impact type of machines other than hammers (like forging and stamping press,

pig breaks drop crushers etc.) (1987) revised in 1993

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Machines are classified as high or low frequency according to their rpm as follows:

 0–500 rpm: low frequency machines.

 500–1000 rpm: intermediate to high frequency machines.

 > 1000 rpm: high frequency machines

Method of Analysis of Machine Foundations

1. We make static analysis to see whether the foundation pressures under the static loads and the

dynamic forces with suitable overload factors are within safe limits. The specified dynamic

loads are multiplied by a factor, 3 to give static values. The settlement due to consolidation

and effects of vibration under the static and dynamic loads should also be within limits.

2. We make dynamic analysis to see whether the amplitude of vibration under service condition

are within the general prescribed limits as given by the manufacturers or prescribed by the

Code. Generally, it is accepted that amplitudes should be less than 0.2 m.

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3. Dynamic analysis was made to ensure that there will be no resonance. The natural frequency

of the foundation should be high for low speed engines and vice versa. The general practice is

that the natural frequency should be at least either less than 0.5 times (30–50%) or more

than 2.5 times (200–300%) the operating frequency of the machine.

4. When the natural frequency of the designed foundation is much higher than the operating

frequency, the foundation is said to have been over-tuned.

5. If the frequency of the designed foundation is much less than the operating frequency the

foundation is said to have been under-tuned.

STATIC ANALYSIS

 The forces to be considered in static analysis are, the static loads and the dynamic loads
caused by the unbalanced forces.

 The static forces are easy to be calculated.

 These are due to the dead weights of the foundation and the machines mounted on it.

 Eccentricity of loads should be avoided.

 The unbalanced forces are produced by the rotation of the different parts of the machine (as in
a multi-cylinder engine).

 These dynamic forces can be determined from the data supplied by the manufacturers. These
forces should be determined in X, Y and Z directions, and the resultant moments about the
centre of gravity of the foundation determined.

 These calculated moments and forces are usually multiplied by a factor called the ‘dynamic
coefficient’ to convert the dynamic effect into static effect.

 A factor of 3 is usually used.

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DYNAMIC ANALYSIS

Dynamic analysis is the calculation of frequencies and amplitudes. Earlier, machines were

usually bolted to the foundation block, which served the function of spreading the load to the

soil and increasing the mass of the vibrating system. In cases where fine-tuning of the

foundation was to be done after the construction of the foundation, cavities were left to adjust

the weight of the foundation and thus adjust its frequency.

DESIGN OF A BLOCK
FOUNDATION FOR A
COMPRESSOR
(RECIPROCATING
MACHINE)

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 For compressors  block foundations are usually adopted.

 Compressors can be the vertical type or horizontal type.

 The foundation for compressor machines is subjected to forced vibration with

damping.

 We make both static and dynamic analysis.

 In static analysis, we ensure that the foundation pressure and settlement are within
their permissible values.

 In dynamic analysis, we ensure that resonance is avoided and the amplitude of

vibration is within limits.

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Tschebotarioff’s Reduced Natural Frequency Method

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Static analysis
Step 1: From the machine dimensions and data, draw a tentative layout of a suitable type of
block foundation based on past experience. In practice, a block approximately 2.5 times the
weight (2 to 3 times) of the machine is chosen for this purpose.

Step 2: From the dimensions of the block foundation, find the eccentricities x , y and z with the
machine founded on it and determine the static pressure and stresses due to moments. In
general, eccentricity should always be as small as possible. Soil pressure is calculated as
follows:

Soil pressure = W/A ± M/Z

Step 3: From the dimensions of the machine and its characteristics, calculate the following
forces and moments depending on whether it is a vertical or horizontal compressor.
Σ Vertical unbalanced force
Σ Horizontal unbalanced force
Σ Unbalanced rocking moments

Determine the additional stresses in the foundation due to these forces. To make these forces
into static forces, assume the equivalent static force. This is taken as 3 times the dynamic force.
The effect of these loads is added to the forces due to gravity forces.

Dynamic analysis for resonance and amplitudes

Let X be along the length, Y along breadth and Z along the vertical.

Step 1: Find probable frequencies and amplitude in uncoupled modes and check their
magnitudes for the following.

(a) Consider vertical mode and find frequency and amplitude. Use Eq. (i). Values for Cu
are taken from test results or from Table given below.
(b) Consider sliding mode and find its frequency and amplitude using Eq. (ii).
(c) Consider rocking mode and find its frequency and amplitude using Eq. (iii).
(d) Consider torsional mode and find its frequency and amplitude using Eq. (iv).

Step 2: Consider coupled modes (rocking and sliding or vertical, rocking and sliding) and find
the frequencies and amplitudes in these modes and ensure that their magnitudes are within limits
using Eq. (v).

 The allowable amplitude in machine foundation depends on the frequency of the machine.

 For machines up to 1000 rpm an amplitude value of 0.2 mm is considered safe.

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In the general analysis of machine foundations, we use separate coefficients for each type of

vibration. I.S. recommends the following rough correlation between them:

 Coefficient of uniform elastic compression Cu

 Coefficient of uniform elastic shear C= 1/2 Cu

 Coefficient of elastic non-uniform compression C = 3.46 C

 Coefficient of elastic non-uniform shear C = 0.75Cu

FORMULAE FOR NATURAL FREQUENCIES

Expression for frequency and amplitudes can be derived for uncoupled sliding, rocking and

torsional vibrations as well as for the coupled modes of oscillation like rocking and sliding.

Some of these are discussed below.

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

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Modes of vibration of block foundation: (a) Uncoupled vertical mode; (b)

coupled rocking and sliding; (c) uncoupled torsion (plan view).

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(iv)

Coupled mode for rocking and sliding.

 The rocking frequency is always coupled with sliding.

 Hence we have to take them together and the resultant frequency fn has to be
found from fn and fnx. It is found from the following expression.

 Two values of fn can be calculated from the equation:-

RECOMMENDED VALUES OF Cu

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Construction Details of Block Foundations

 Block foundations should be cast in horizontal lifts avoiding cold joints. It should

be liberally reinforced on all surfaces, around openings.

 The minimum steel specified is 25 kg/m3 of concrete (16 to 25 mm rods at 20 to 30

cm spacing in both directions and also on the lateral faces).

 Concrete cover should be at least 75 mm for the earth side of concrete and 50 mm

for the sides exposed to air.

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Example : Design of a block foundation for a vertical

compressor
A two cylinder vertical compressor of weight 10 t is driven by an electric motor
weighing 3.5 t working at 600 rpm. The length and breadth of the base of the
foundation block are Lx = 6.6 and Ly = 4 m, and it weighs 54.7 tons.
The data of forces generated are as follows: Z0 = F0 / (4m2)*(fnz2-f2)
 Unbalanced forces: vertical = 4.24 tons; horizontal = 0 ton
 Unbalanced rocking moment = 4.59 t and  = 78.9°
 Centre of gravity of system; x = 3.3 m from edge; y = 2.00 from edge; z = 0.89 m
from base.
 Mm0 = Mass moment of inertia of system = 27.6 t ms2
 Determine the natural frequencies in vertical, sliding, rocking (uncoupled
modes) and also in the coupled frequencies of vertical, sliding and rocking mode
if Cu = 4.0 x 103 t/m3 and safe bearing capacity 150 kN/m2.

Permissible Amplitudes

Pg 11 , IS : 2974 ( Part I ) • 1982

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Thank you

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