LECTURE 12
BALANCING OF ROTARING MASSES
REVISION
Balancing of a Single Rotating Mass By a
Single Mass Rotating in the Same Plane
Consider a disturbing mass m1 attached to a shaft rotating at ω rad/s as shown in
Fig. Let r1 be the radius of rotation of the mass m1.
• We know that the centrifugal force exerted by the mass m1 on the shaft,
Balancing of a Single Rotating Mass By Two
Masses Rotating in Different Planes
• Two balancing masses are placed in two different planes, parallel to the plane of
rotation of the disturbing mass, in such a way that they satisfy the following two
conditions of equilibrium.
1. The net dynamic force acting on the shaft is equal to zero i.e. the centre of the
masses of the system must lie on the axis of rotation. This is the condition for
static balancing.
2. The net couple due to the dynamic forces acting on the shaft is equal to zero i.e.,
the algebraic sum of the moments about any point in the plane must be zero.
The following two possibilities may arise while attaching the two balancing masses :
3. The plane of the disturbing mass may be in between the planes of the two
balancing masses, or
4. The plane of the disturbing mass may lie on the left or right of the two planes
containing the balancing masses.
When The Plane Of The Disturbing Mass Lies In
Between The Planes Of The Two Balancing Masses
• Consider a disturbing mass m lying in a plane A to be balanced by two
rotating masses m1 and m2 lying in two different planes L and M as
shown in Fig. Let r, r1 and r2 be the radii of rotation of the masses in
planes A, L and M respectively.
When the plane of the disturbing mass lies on
one end of the planes of the balancing masses
• As discussed previously, the following conditions
must be satisfied in order to balance the system, i.e.
BALANCING OF SEVERAL MASSES ROTATING IN
THE SAME PLANE
Analytical method
1. First of all, find out the centrifugal force exerted by each mass
on the rotating shaft.
2. Resolve the centrifugal forces horizontally and vertically and find
their sums, i.e. ΣH and ΣV, and sum of vertical components of the
centrifugal forces.
3. Magnitude of the resultant centrifugal force
4. . If θ is the angle, which the resultant force makes with the
horizontal, then
5. The balancing force is then equal to the resultant force, but in
opposite direction.
6. Now find out the magnitude of the balancing mass, such that
Example-1
• 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.
BALANCING OF SEVERAL MASSES
ROTATING IN DIFFERENT PLANES
• When several masses revolve in different planes, they may be
transferred to a reference plane.
• In order to have a complete balance of the several revolving
masses in different planes, the following two conditions must be
satisfied;
1. The forces in the reference plane must balance, i.e. the
resultant force must be zero.
2. The couples about the reference plane must balance, i.e. the
resultant couple must be zero.
Consider four masses m1, m2, m3 and m4 revolving in planes 1,
2, 3 and 4 respectively as shown in Fig. (a). The relative angular
positions of these masses are shown in the end view [Fig. (b)].
The magnitude of the balancing masses and in planes L and M
may be obtained as discussed below :
1. Take one of the planes, say L as the reference plane (R.P.). The
distances of all the other planes to the left of the reference plane
may be regarded as negative, and those to the right as positive.
2. Tabulate the data as shown in Table. The planes are tabulated in
the same order in which they occur, reading from left to right
3. couple vectors are drawn radially outwards for the masses on one
side of the reference plane and radially inward for the masses on
the other side of the reference plane
4. Now draw the couple polygon as shown in Fig. (e). The vector d’o′
represents the balanced couple. Since the balanced couple is
proportional to .., therefore;
5. From this expression, the value of the balancing mass in the plane
M may be obtained, and the angle of inclination φ of this mass may
be measured from Fig. (b).
6. Now draw the force polygon as shown in Fig. ( f ). The vector eo (in
the direction from e to o ) represents the balanced force. Since the
balanced force is proportional to ., therefore,
Example-2
• 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.
