BASE EXCITATION &

VIBRATION ISOLATION
BASE EXCITATION
 INTRODUCTION

• Often, machines, or parts of machines, are harmonically excited

through elastic mountings, which may be modelled by springs and
dashpots.

• Such systems can be modelled by considering the system to be

excited by the motion of its support.

• This forms the base-excitation or support-motion problem

modelled in figure below
FBD of SDOF for base excitation is

x(t) m
m
k c

k ( x - y ) c(x - y)
y(t) base

å F = - k(x - y) - c(x - y) = mx
mx + cx + kx = cy + ky (1)
Summing the relevant forces on the mass, m, Figure 1
yields (i.e., the inertial force 𝑚𝑥ሷ is equal to the sum of the
two forces acting on m, and the gravitational force is
balanced against the static deflection of the spring as
before)

𝑚𝑥ሷ + 𝑐 𝑥ሶ + 𝑦ሶ + 𝑘 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 0 Eqn. 1
• Here note that the spring deflects a distance 𝑥 − 𝑦
• The damper experiences a velocity of 𝑥ሶ + 𝑦ሶ
• For the base-excitation problem it is assumed that the base
moves harmonically, that is:

𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑌sin𝜔𝑏 𝑡

Substituting y into Eqn. 1 yields:

𝑚𝑥ሷ + 𝑐 𝑥ሶ + 𝑘𝑥 = 𝑘𝑦 + 𝑐𝑦ሶ = 𝑘𝑌 sin𝜔𝑡 + cos 𝜔𝑡

= A sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝛼) Eqn. 2
 where:
A = Y 𝑘 2 + (𝑐𝜔)2

𝑐𝜔
𝛼= tan−1 −
𝑘

• This shows that giving excitation to the base is equivalent to

applying a harmonic force of magnitude A to the mass.

• By using the solution indicated in harmonic excitation lecture:

• the steady-state response of the mass, 𝑥𝑝(𝑡) can be expressed as

 Eqn. 3

Where:

• Using trig, Eqn. 3 can be rewritten in a more convenient form as

𝑥𝑝 𝑡 = 𝑋 sin (𝜔𝑡 − 𝜙) Eqn. 4

where 𝑋 and 𝜙 are given by

Eqn. 5
 Eqn. 6

• The ratio of the amplitude of the response 𝑥𝑝(𝑡) to that of the base
𝑋
motion 𝑦 𝑡 , , is called the displacement transmissibility.
𝑌
𝑋
• The variations of ≡ 𝑇𝑑 and ∅ given by Eqns.5 and 6 are shown in
𝑌
Figs. 2 (a) and (b), respectively, for different values of 𝑟 and 𝜁
• Note that if the harmonic excitation of the base is expressed in
complex form as

𝑦 𝑡 = Re (𝑌𝑒 𝑖𝜔𝑡 )
the response of the system can be expressed

Eqn. 7
• The displacement transmissibility is expressed as

Eqn. 7

Where:

Figure 2: Variations of 𝑇𝑑 and ∅ with r.

From Fig. 2(a), the following aspects of displacement transmissibility,
can be noted

a. The value of 𝑇𝑑 is unity at 𝑟 = 0 and close to unity for small

values of 𝑟.
b. For an undamped system, 𝜁 = 0 , 𝑇𝑑 → ∞ at resonance (𝑟 =
1)
c. The value of 𝑇𝑑 is less than unity (𝑇𝑑 < 1) for values of 𝑟 >
√2 (for any amount of damping )
d. The value of 𝑇𝑑 is unity for all values of 𝜁 at 𝑟 = √2
e. For 𝑟 > √2 smaller damping ratios lead to larger values of 𝑇𝑑 . On
the other hand, for 𝑟 > 2, smaller values of damping ratio lead
to smaller values of 𝑇𝑑
f. The displacement transmissibility, 𝑇𝑑 , attains a maximum for 0 <
𝜁 < 1 at the frequency ratio 𝑟 = 𝑟𝑚 < 1
Where:
 Force Transmitted to the base or foundation

• In Fig.1, a force, 𝐹, is transmitted to the base or support due to

the reactions from the spring and the dashpot.
• This force can be determined as

Eqn. 8

• From Eqn. 4, 𝑥𝑝 𝑡 = 𝑋 sin (𝜔𝑡 − 𝜙), we can re-write Eqn.

8 as:

Eqn. 9

• where 𝐹𝑇 is the amplitude or maximum value of the force

transmitted to the base given by

Eqn. 10
 Fig. 3: Force transmissibility.

• The ratio is known as the force transmissibility.

• Note that the transmitted force is in phase with the motion of the
mass 𝑥(𝑡)
• The variation of the force transmitted to the base with the frequency
ratio r is shown in Fig. 3 for different values of 𝑟.
 Relative Motion

If 𝑧 = 𝑥 − 𝑦 denotes the motion of the mass relative to the base, the

equation of motion, Eqn. 1 can be rewritten as

Eqn. 11

The steady-state solution of Eqn. 11 is given by

Eqn. 12

where 𝑍, the amplitude of 𝑧(𝑡), can be expressed as

Eqn. 13
 EXAMPLE 1

Consider the base-excitation problem with the following data: 𝑚 =

100 kg, 𝑐 = 30 kg/s, 𝑘 = 2000 N/m, 𝑌 = 0.03 m, and 𝜔𝑏 = 6 rad/s.
• Compute the magnitude of the transmissibility ratio and then the
force transmissibility ratio.
• What happens when 𝑐 is increased to 300 kg/s
Solution
First, we compute the usual vibration properties

We then use Eqn. 5 to compute the magnitude of the particular

solution:
 = 0.557

The force transmissibility ratio (Eqn. 10) becomes:

= 1.003

• Note that if the damping value is changed to 𝑐 = 300 kg/s, the

force transmissibility ratio is 1.203 and the transmissibility is
0.669

• So increasing the damping increases both the force and the

displacement transmissibility
 EXAMPLE 2

A heavy machine, weighing 3000 N, is supported on a resilient

foundation. The static deflection of the foundation due to the weight of
the machine is found to be 7.5 cm. It is observed that the machine
vibrates with an amplitude of 1 cm when the base of the foundation is
subjected to harmonic oscillation at the undamped natural frequency
of the system with an amplitude of 0.25 cm.

Compute the following:

a. the damping constant of the foundation,
b. the dynamic force amplitude on the base, and
c. the amplitude of the displacement of the machine relative to the
base.
 Solution

(a) The stiffness of the foundation can be found from its static
deflection:
𝑘 = weight of machine/𝜕𝑠𝑡
3000
= = 40,000 N/m
0.075

𝑋
At resonance (𝜔 = 𝜔𝑛 or 𝑟 = 1), is:
𝑌

𝑋 0.010
𝑌
= =4
0.0025

Also,

Thus, 𝜁 = 0.1291
 The damping constant is:

(b) The dynamic force amplitude on the base 𝑟 = 1 is

= 𝑘𝑋 = 40,000 × 0.01
= 400 N
 c. The amplitude of the relative displacement of the machine at 𝑟 =
1 can be obtained from Eqn.13:

• It can be noticed that 𝑋 = 0.01 m, 𝑌 = 0.0025 m and 𝑍 =

0.00968, therefore 𝑍 ≠ 𝑋 − 𝑌.

• This is due to the phase differences between 𝑥, 𝑦, and 𝑧.

VIBRATION ISOLATION
• Vibration isolation is a procedure by which the undesirable
effects of vibration are reduced

• Basically, it involves the insertion of a resilient member (or

isolator) between the vibrating mass (or equipment or
payload) and the source of vibration so that a reduction in the
dynamic response of the system is achieved under specified
conditions of vibration excitation.

• An isolation system is said to be active or passive depending on

whether or not external power is required for the isolator to
perform its function.

• A passive isolator consists of a resilient member (stiffness) and

an energy dissipator (damping).
• Vibration isolation can be used in two types of situations

• In the first type, the foundation or base of a vibrating machine is

protected against large unbalanced forces

• In the second type, the system is protected against the motion of

its foundation or base.
• The first type of isolation is used when a mass (or a machine) is
subjected to a force or excitation.

• The impacts from machines are transmitted to the base or

foundation of which can damage not only the base or foundation
but also the surrounding or nearby structures and machines.
• The force transmitted to the base, varies harmonically, and the
resulting stresses in the foundation bolts also vary harmonically,
which might lead to fatigue failure

• Even if the force transmitted is not harmonic, its magnitude is to

be limited to safe permissible values.

• In these applications, an isolator is inserted (in the form of

stiffness and/or damping) between the mass being subjected to
force or excitation and the base or foundation to reduce the force
transmitted to the base or foundation.

• This is called force isolation.

• The second type of isolation is used when a mass to be protected
against the motion or excitation of its base or foundation.

• When the base is subjected to vibration, the mass m will

experience not only a displacement 𝑥(𝑡) but also a force 𝐹𝑡 (𝑡)

• The displacement of the mass 𝑥(𝑡) is expected to be smaller than

the displacement of the base 𝑦(𝑡).
• The force experienced by the instrument or mass m (same as the
force transmitted to mass m) is given by

Eqn. 1

• where y(t) is the displacement of the base, 𝑥(𝑡) − 𝑦(𝑡) is the

relative displacement of the spring, and 𝑥(𝑡)
ሶ − 𝑦(𝑡)
ሶ is the
relative velocity of the damper.
 • In such cases, an isolator is inserted (which provides stiffness
and /or damping) between the base being subjected to force or
excitation and the mass to reduce the motion and/or force
transmitted to the mass.

Reduction of the Force Transmitted to Foundation

• When a machine is bolted directly to a rigid foundation or floor,

the foundation will be subjected to a harmonic load due to the
unbalance in the machine in addition to the static load due to the
weight of the machine.

• Hence an elastic or resilient member is placed between the

machine and the rigid foundation to reduce the force transmitted to
the foundation.

• The system can then be idealized as a single-degree-of-freedom

system, as shown in Fig. 1 (a)
• The resilient member is assumed to have both elasticity and
damping and is modelled as a spring k and a dashpot c, as shown
in Fig. 1 (b).

Fig. 1: Machine and resilient member on rigid foundation.

• It is assumed that the operation of the machine gives rise to a
harmonically varying force 𝐹 𝑡 = 𝐹0 cos 𝜔𝑡

• The equation of motion of the machine (of mass m) is given by

Eqn. 2

• Since the transient solution dies out after some time, only the
steady-state solution will be left.
• The steady-state solution of Eqn. 2 is given as:

Eqn. 3

where

Eqn. 4
 Eqn. 5

• The force transmitted to the foundation through the spring and the
dashpot, 𝐹𝑡 (𝑡) is given by

Eqn.6

The magnitude of the total transmitted force 𝐹𝑇 is given by

Eqn.7
The transmissibility or transmission ratio of the isolator 𝑇𝑓 is defined
as the ratio of the magnitude of the force transmitted to that of the
exciting force:

Eqn.8

• The variation of with the frequency ratio is shown in Fig. 2.

• In order to achieve isolation, the force transmitted to the
foundation needs to be less than the excitation force.
• It can be seen, from Fig. 2, that the forcing frequency has to be
greater than 2 times the natural frequency of the system in order
to achieve isolation of vibration.
Fig. 2: variation of transmission ratio 𝑇𝑓 with r.
• For small values of damping ratio 𝜁 and for frequency ratio r >
1 the force transmissibility, given by Eqn. 8, can be approximated
as

Eqn.9

1. The magnitude of the force transmitted to the foundation can be

reduced by decreasing 𝜔𝑛 the natural frequency of the system
2. The force transmitted to the foundation can also be reduced by
decreasing the damping ratio. However, since vibration isolation
requires 𝑟 > √2 the machine should pass through resonance during
start-up and stopping. Hence, some damping is essential to avoid
infinitely large amplitudes at resonance.
3. Although damping reduces the amplitude of the mass (X) for all
frequencies, it reduces the maximum force transmitted to the
foundation (𝐹𝑡) only if 𝑟 < √2. Above that value, the addition of
damping increases the force transmitted

4. If the speed of the machine (forcing frequency) varies, we must

compromise in choosing the amount of damping to minimize the
force transmitted. The amount of damping
should be sufficient to limit the amplitude X and the force
transmitted while passing through the resonance, but not so much to
increase unnecessarily the force transmitted
at the operating speed.