ME 425: Mechanical Vibrations Spring 2008
Instructor: Dr. Eşref Eşkinat (M4375), Tel: 359 7176
Class Hours: M M W 34 6 M2200 M2200 M3100
Goals and Objectives:
To understand fundamental concepts of mechanical vibrations. To model mechanical systems and determine natural
frequencies, damping ratios, and response to periodic forcing functions. To model multi degree of freedom systems and
determine natural frequencies, mode shapes, and forced response. To understand the use of numerical methods in the
solution of vibrations problems.
Text: Rao , Mechanical Vibrations, 4th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2004.
Course Coverage:
WEEK
DATE
TOPIC
READING
1
Feb 20
Introduction, modeling, harmonic motion
1.1-1.10
2
Feb 25
One-DOF Free Vibrations
2.1-2.6
3
Mar 3
Harmonically excited vibration
3.1-3.7
4
Mar 10
Response to periodic forcing, Fourier series
4.1-4.3
5
Mar 17
Response to non-periodic forcing, response spectrum
4.4-4.8
6
Mar 24
2-DOF Free and Forced Vibrations.
5.1-5.8
7
Mar 31
Midterm 1
8
Apr 7
Vibration Suppression and Multi-DOF Systems
9.6-9.10
9
Apr 14
Multi-DOF Systems
6.1-6.3
10
Apr 21
Lagrange equations
6.5-6.8
11
Apr 28
Spring Break
12
May 5
Eigenvalue problem
6.9-6.13
13
May12
Midterm 2
14
May 19
Modal analysis
6.14
15
May 26
Modal analysis (cont.)
6.15
Grading : Your final grade for the course will be based on:

Two Midterm Exams (2 X 30% = 60%)

Final Exam (40%)
Midterm dates :
1st midterm: April 2nd 2007 Monday
2nd midterm: May 14th 2007 Monday
Make-ups
Make-up exams are not given automatically if you have a medical report. Talk to the instructor before the exam if
you have a valid excuse. The make-up test will not be the same test taken by the rest of the class. You will have
had more time to prepare, so expect the test to be more difficult.
Class Attendance
Attendance is expected for all lectures during the semester. You will be held responsible for all material presented
in lecture. The instructor and teaching assistant(s) will not provide copies of notes for any missed lectures.