Machine Vibration Control in Structural Design
Mandeep Singh Kohli, PMP?
Energy | EPC | Project Management | Oil & Gas | Green Hydrogen | SAF | Civil & Structural | Modularization
Machine vibrations can be catastrophic for plant & people operating the machines. Proper structural design is essential to mitigate the effects of machine vibration & ensure the safety & reliability of the plant.???
??Engineering Codes & Specifications??
Several engineering codes & specifications provide guidance on the design of structures for machine vibration control, viz: ??
These codes & specifications provide criteria for limiting vibration levels in structures, as well as design requirements for foundations, vibration isolators, & other vibration control measures.?
??Structural Design Principles
?Frequency separation:?
The frequency of the structure should be separated from the frequency of the machine by as much as possible. This helps to reduce resonance & to reduce the transmission of vibration to the structure.
?Damping
Damping is a property of materials that helps to absorb & dissipate energy. Damping materials can be used to reduce vibration in structures.
?Mass loading
Mass loading is a technique that involves adding mass to a structure to reduce vibration. The added mass helps to increase the inertia of the structure, making it more resistant to vibration.
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?Dynamic isolation
Dynamic isolation is a technique that involves isolating a structure from its surroundings to reduce vibration transmission. Dynamic isolators are typically made of materials with high damping & low stiffness.
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??Foundation Design
The foundation is a critical component of any structure designed to control machine vibration. The foundation must be designed to support the weight of the structure & to resist the dynamic forces generated by machine vibration.
?A thorough soil investigation is essential for proper foundation design. The soil investigation should determine the soil properties, such as bearing capacity, shear strength, & modulus of elasticity. This information is used to develop an accurate analytical model of the soil behavior.
?The analytical model of the soil behavior is used to analyze the foundation system & to predict its response to vibration. The model should establish upper & lower bounds of soil parameters to account for uncertainty.
?The foundation frequency should be separated from the machine operating frequency by as much as possible. A minimum separation of 25% is desirable.
?The amplitudes of vibrations at all points of the foundation should be within limits. These limits are typically specified by the machine manufacturer. The foundation system should be designed to ensure that these limits are not exceeded at any operating speed of the machine.
??Conclusion
Proper structural design is essential to mitigate the effects of machine vibration & ensure the safety & reliability of the plant. By following the principles outlined above, engineers can design structures that are able to withstand the expected vibration loads & to perform safely & reliably.
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