Vibration Control

Writen by Elizabeth Morgan

Vibration can cause loosening of components or relative movement between elements of the specimen. Consequently, it can create unpleasant and intolerable noise, operating defects, wear, and physical deformation and can usually lead to fatigue and failure of the mechanical components. This is the chief reason why vibration control is extremely important. Vibration control may involve either source alteration or vibration isolation, or a combination of the two these two techniques.

In controlling vibration, it is necessary to first check to determine if the level of vibration can be lessened by means of source alteration. This can be achieved by turning the source into something more rigid and firm from a structural stance, replacing or altering some components, balancing, or enhancing dimensional tolerances. The rigidity as well as the system mass can be attuned so that the system's forcing frequency does not agree or coincide with the resonant frequency. The said process is called detuning.

It is also possible to use a decoupling technique. This process involves a reduction of the amount of coupled resonators that thrive between the source of the vibration and the receiver of interest. Although the mentioned techniques can be employed in the construction or design, they are frequently used as method of correction. But in the application of the said procedures, it is vital to make sure that they don't cause other problems or failures.

Isolation can also be done in control of vibration. Vibration isolators can be classified into three general categories: elastomeric mounts, metal springs, and resilient pads. When correcting a design, make sure that the isolators to be used are attuned to guard against the lowest frequency that the machine can produce. Also, the isolation equipment should trim down the transmissibility at each frequency included in the Fourier spectrum of the forcing function.

Metal springs are the commonly used vibration isolators. These isolators are advantageous since they can resist to environmental aspects, they don't have the tendency to creep or drift, they allow optimum deflection, and they are ideal for low-frequency vibration isolation. Elastomeric mounts, on the other hand, are primarily made up of natural and synthetic rubber materials. This type of isolators is generally used to isolate small mechanical and electrical equipment from high-forcing frequencies. Isolation pads are also good vibration isolators. They may include felt, fiberglass, and cork. These isolators are offered in sheets, and they are easy to mount and use.

Vibration Testing provides detailed information on Random Vibration Testing, Shock And Vibration Testing, Vibration Analysis, Vibration Control and more. Vibration Testing is affiliated with Wire EDM Machines.