Vibration Terminology

Vibration Vibration is an oscillating motion of machine or a structure about its static

equilibrium position under both free and forcing conditions.
The frequency and amplitude, i.e., severity of vibration depends on the
combination of structural mechanics and forcing conditions.

Mass Mass is an inertial element or inherent property of a vibrating system. The

[m] (kg) mass vibrates or accelerates under the unbalance of forces on the mass. It
can gain or loss kinetic energy. Mass and acceleration together forms
inertial forces on the system.
Larger mass will result in lower vibration acceleration. It must also be noted
that mass of some vibrating system changes with time.
e.g. mass of rocket during launch.

Spring Spring is an elastic element or restoring element of a vibrating system. It

[K] (N/m) restores the vibrating mass to its original position because of its elastic
nature.
Restoring forces in the vibration system are indispensable, fundamental
force to be considered in modeling vibration system. They are proportional
to displacement. Its property is described by spring constant or stiffness.
In physical system, there might not be physical spring in the system and
still system can be represented by equivalent stiffness.

Damper Damper is an energy absorbing element or dissipating element of a vibrating

[c] (N.s/m) system. The damper release vibration energy into heat energy or sound
energy and its property is described by damping factor [c].
Damping forces are proportional to velocity. Generally, the larger the
damping, the more effective in absorbing vibration energy.
Some types of damping are viscous damping (fluid inside cylinder, fluid
film in journal bearing), viscoelastic damping (rubber plate), hysteretic
damping (damping in structural materials) and Coulomb damping (friction
between rubbing surfaces).
Combination of inertial, restoring and dissipating elements, i.e., mass, spring
and damper form a vibration system. Its characteristics depend on the
magnitude of those three elements.

Degree of Degree of freedom is an independent coordinate of motion that a body can

Freedom translate or rotate. It should not be confused with the number of masses.
(DOF) Number of degree of freedom is number independent coordinate of motions.
Therefore, if a mass of body can both translate and rotate, the body
possesses two degrees of freedom. The choice of number DOFs to be
analyzed, depends on effects that would like to be considered.
Free Vibration and Forced Vibration
Free If a system is left to vibrate on its own, after an initial disturbance, the
Vibration vibration is called free vibration and it will decay after some time due to
damping.

Forced If a system is subjected to repeating external force, the resulting vibration is

Vibration called forced vibration and it will not decay after some time because
external forces are always acting upon system.

Periodic and Non-Periodic motion

Periodic Motion Any oscillatory motion repeating itself, over a certain period of time is
called periodic motion.
e.g. motion of a simple pendulum and vibration of rotating machines.

Non-periodic Any motion, which does not repeat over a certain period of time, is
motion called non-periodic motion.
e.g. ground motion during earthquake.

Deterministic and Random Motion

Deterministic If magnitude or level of excitation force or motion is known at a given
Motion time, the motion is said to be deterministic motion.

Random If magnitude or level of excitation force or vibration could not be

motion determined at a given time, the motion is said to be random motion.
If the excitation is random, the value of excitation at a given time cannot
be predicted. So, a large collection of records of the excitation may
exhibit some statistical regularity. It is possible to estimate averages such
as the mean of mean square values of excitation.
e.g. wind velocity, road roughness, ground motion during earthquakes.

Linear and Non-Linear Vibration

Linear If all the basic components of a vibratory system, such as the spring, the
Vibration mass and the damper, behave linearly, it is known as linear vibration.
It can apply the principle of superposition.

Non-linear All the basic components of a vibratory system, such as the spring, the
Vibration mass and the damper, does not behave linearly, it is known as non-linear
vibration.