Module manager: Professor M Levesley
Email: M.C.levesley@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Vibration control is the management of vibration energy to improve the performance and stability of mechanical devices and structures. This module will introduce students to the nature and significance of free and forced vibrations in machines and their frequency response. The module will also cover examples of open loop and feedback control, and briefly Introduce digital control systems. Students can expect extensive use of practical and computer simulation of control systems.
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- derive differential equations of motion for single and multi-degree of freedom mechanical systems;
- derive transfer function models of electro/mechanical systems and manipulate block diagrams; appreciate the relationship between transfer functions and step/impulse/ramp responses;
- calculate and plot frequency response for single and multi -degree of freedom mechanical systems;
- express vibration in terms of modal properties;
- interpret plots of power spectral density;
- specify main control system performance criteria in the time and frequency domain;
- design controllers such as P, PD, PI, PID and phase compensation;
- calculate and interpret Polar and Bode diagrams for main control systems;
- use computer simulation to assess controller performance;
- appreciate problems of digital implementation of controllers.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1- generate and solve differential equations of motion for single and multi-degree of freedom mechanical systems
2- derive transfer function models of electro/mechanical systems and manipulate block diagrams;
3- analyse the relationship between characteristic equation roots and step/impulse/ramp responses;
4- determine the characteristic equation from measured transient performance criteria
5- calculate and plot frequency responses for single and multi-degree of freedom mechanical systems;
6- understand the link between natural frequencies and mode shapes;
7- specify system performance criteria in the time and frequency domain;
8- produce and interpret Polar and Bode diagrams for control systems;
9- create solutions to vibration problems using vibration isolation and vibration absorption;
10- design anti-vibration mounting systems and vibration absorbers;
11- design controllers such as P, PD, PI, PID and phase compensation;
12- use computer simulation to assess system and controller performance;
13- collect, produce and submit data accurately and reliably using modern data analysis and capture techniques and software.
These module learning outcomes contribute to the following AHEP4 learning outcomes:
14- Apply knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to broadly-defined problems. Some of the knowledge will be informed by current developments in the subject of study. [C1]
15- Analyse broadly-defined problems reaching substantiated conclusions using first principles of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles. [C2]
16- Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model broadly-defined problems, recognising the limitations of the techniques employed. [C3]
17- Function effectively as an individual, and as a member or leader of a team. [B16]
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills:
a- Teamwork & collaboration
b- Problem solving & analytical skills
c- laboratory practice
Vibration
- Nature and significance of vibration in machines;
- Free motion of first order single-degree-of-freedom systems;
- Free vibration of second order single-degree-of-freedom systems;
- Forced vibrations of single-degree-of-freedom systems: Transient and steady state part;
Frequency response
- magnitude and phase;
- Vibration isolation: Types of excitation: reciprocating and rotary machines;
- Transmissibility ratio;
- Design for vibration isolation;
- Vibration measurement: Vibrations in two-degree of freedom systems;
- Vibrations in multi-degree of freedom systems;
Control
- Simple examples of open loop and feedback control systems;
- Modelling: transfer functions and block diagrams;
- Response: step impulse and ramp response;
- Controller design and performance using time domain;
- Sinusoidal transfer function, Bode and Polar diagrams;
- Control system performance in the frequency domain;
- Design of phase compensation controllers;
- Computer simulation of control systems;
- Brief Introduction to Digital Control.
Methods of assessment
The assessment details for this module will be provided at the start of the academic year
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Lecture | 30 | 1 | 30 |
| Practical | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Seminar | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Independent online learning hours | 12 | ||
| Private study hours | 136 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 52 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Worked solutions to lecture based examples and example sheets.
Minerva/TopHat quizzes during each topic.
Online discussion board monitored by PGR.
FAQs answered via Minerva announcements.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team