What is Mechanical systems: Definition and 25 Discussions

A machine is a human-made device that uses power to apply forces and control movement to perform an action. Machines can be driven by animals and people, by natural forces such as wind and water, and by chemical, thermal, or electrical power, and include a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement. They can also include computers and sensors that monitor performance and plan movement, often called mechanical systems.
Renaissance natural philosophers identified six simple machines which were the elementary devices that put a load into motion, and calculated the ratio of output force to input force, known today as mechanical advantage.Modern machines are complex systems that consist of structural elements, mechanisms and control components and include interfaces for convenient use. Examples include: a wide range of vehicles, such as automobiles, boats and airplanes; appliances in the home and office, including computers, building air handling and water handling systems; as well as farm machinery, machine tools and factory automation systems and robots.

View More On Wikipedia.org
Recent contents Top users
  1. P

    I Does Lagrangian Mechanics Handle Variable Mass System?

    How to handle a variable mass system with Lagrangian mechanics? As far as I understand Newtonian mechanics fails, because the object is not constant anymore, it is updated every moment to a new object with different physical properties. I don't immediately see how Lagrangian mechanics can do better.
  2. Ahmed1029

    I Constraints of a mechanical system

    I'm studying theoretical mechanics and I kind of find the notion of a "mechanical system" very slippery, especially when it comes to constraints. Take an example : I know that when a system consists of N particles and p constraints, it has 3N-p degrees of freedom; this is the definition. Then I...
  3. T

    Vibrations, Modal Analysis and Mechanical Systems

    Hello I have used and enjoyed the textbook: "Theory of Vibrations with Applications," by William Thomson However, many of the examples there are more civil engineering than mechanical. There are many good examples of "buildings" under vibrations (good examples, but civil, nonetheless) The few...
  4. D

    Rigid body simulation of complex mechanical systems

    Greetings, I'd like to simulate a complex mechanical automaton with lots of gears, cams, levers and springs. Most of the parts are going to be 3D printed except for some metal springs, rods and bearings. I want to make sure everything fits together and works as expected. Here is just a small...
  5. C

    System of two particles: Prove motion along connecting line

    Homework Statement Given an isolated system of 2 particles in space, we can express the motion of both particles as follows: $$m_1\ddot{\vec{x_1}}=-\frac\partial{\partial \vec{x_{1}}} V(\vec{x_1},\vec{x_2})\\ m_2\ddot{\vec{x_2}}=-\frac\partial{\partial \vec{x_2}} V(\vec{x_1},\vec{x_2}),$$ where...
  6. V

    Mass-spring-damper system "shock absorber"

    Homework Statement Find equations of motion for mechanical system given by picture, where m = 1kg, k1 = 10, k2 = 25, b = 3 and natural lengths of springs are a1 = 1m, a2 = 2m. The whole system is in a gravitational field g = 9.81m/s^2 Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I came up with...
  7. zwierz

    An article by Martin Swaczyna -- Several examples of nonholonomic mechanical systems

    I would like to discuss here some points from the article Martin Swaczyna Several examples of nonholonomic mechanical systems Communications in Mathematics, Vol. 19 (2011), No. 1, 27--56 This article is available at https://eudml.org/doc/196963 Let us open page 37: This is a classical problem...
  8. M

    Approach for determining jerk in a mechanical system

    Hello all, I require your expertise on building an approach or a framework to identify and measure the jerk or vibration in a mechanical system with a slider. What I have is a slider (S) with a vertical link (L1) attached to it and another horizontal link (L2) attached at the tip of the link...
  9. I

    Help with spring stiffness calculation (k)

    Hi I was given the following problem in my coursework: Homework Statement "A spring is initially compressed by 50mm when a steel ball of mass 2kg is released from just being in contact with the uncompressed spring. Determine the spring stiffness (k) of the spring." Homework Equations F = mg...
  10. S

    MHB Combined Buoyancy and Dynamics of Moving Mechanical Systems

    Hi All, So glad to have come across this amazing site and resource. I am a mature student completing an engineering degree with the Open University and I am after some guidance and help with creating a way to plot forces from a moving mechanical system. The images on the attached drawing are...
  11. M

    Engineering Design of Mechanical Systems

    I'm looking for a textbook on designing mechanical systems with multiple machine components. I'd like to study both rigid and non rigid dynamic systems. I'm open to studying systems composed of any mechanical component. In particular, I'd like to learn 1. draw accurate Free Body(FBD) and...
  12. ltkach2015

    Homogenous Solution Represents the Transient Response Right?

    CONCEPTUAL QUESTIONS: -Does the Homogenous Solution represent the Transient Response? Let me specify. For a N-DOF spring, mass, and damper mechanical system: -Does the Homogenous Solution represent the Transient Response for given mechanical system? MY ANSWER: Yes. ASSUMPTIONS: -only...
  13. K

    Engineering Book on Dynamics (Mechanical systems)

    I'm looking for a book that has problems and explanations (not necessarily background theory) about mechanical systems. Consider the picture below for reference. The idea is I want to get a hold of energy and impulse methods for solving problems like this, eventually the book would have a...
  14. F

    What is the link between chaos and ergodicity in mechanical systems?

    There are many formal definitions of an ergodic mechanical system. 1) A system whose time average equals the ensemble (space) average. 2) A system that visits every point in its phase space. Etc. What are some actual, real examples of an ergodic mechanical system? Also, since a chaotic...
  15. Borek

    Simulation of mechanical systems - FLOPS required?

    I suppose some of you know the game called "Bridge Builder" (or Pontifex, or clones). I need some help determining how many FLOPS are required during the simulation and how do they scale with the bridge size (number of elements). Some of these bridges contain hundreds of elements and tens of...
  16. P

    Rotational mechanical systems and electrical analogs.

    Hi, Homework Statement Upon converting rotational mechanical components into their electrical analogs, one thing in particular baffles me. When is a rotational component converted into two sets of dependent sources and when is it converted into a single set? Let me try and clarify my question...
  17. K

    Exploring Oscillations in Mechanical Systems

    Homework Statement Oscillation in mechanical structures can often be described by the function: y(t)=(e^(-t/τ))*sin(ωt+θ) Where t is time , ω is oscillation frequency in radians per unit time. The oscillations have a period of 2*π/ω and their amplitudes decay in time at a rate...
  18. H

    Mind blown by mechanical systems (2nd order)

    Homework Statement B, K, M Homework Equations 1. xs(t) -----spring ----mass-----damper-----fixed, derive DE for x of mass given :2. F - > M -----spring-------damper ---- fixed in series, derive the DE for velocity of spring The Attempt at a Solution 1. ma = -k(x-xs) -...
  19. K

    Control and Vibration of mechanical systems

    Homework Statement So I have this question given to me, basically there is a aero simulator which makes the ground shake so the data logger gets false readings, now to solve this problem a vibration absorption system has been added. Please see the attached System A.png file for the complete...
  20. S

    Linux Package to Simulate Mechanical Systems

    I want to start modeling mechanical systems, something say on the order of a motor, input torque only needed, driving a crankshaft that drives a piston. I'm looking to examine the forces generated in the crank, connecting rod and piston. I was wondering what open source Linux packages are...
  21. B

    Oscillating mechanical systems. find maximum velocity and acceleration ?

    Oscillating mechanical systems. find maximum velocity and acceleration !? A mass of 0.3 kg is suspended from a spring of stiffness 200 N m–1. If the mass is displaced by 10 mm from its equilibrium position and released, for the resulting vibration A) Calculate maximum velocity B) Calculate...
  22. W

    Quantum Mechanical systems considered in old QM

    Hello, I know that blackbody radiation was one phenomenon whose study contributed to the conceptual development of QM early on. My first question is, what other such systems were considered? I want to know this because I'm closely following the actual order of development of QM concepts, the...
  23. E

    How Do You Calculate Forces and Motion for Loaded and Unloaded Lorries?

    Mechanical systems - Please help me with this question! :( Person_Number M (kg) D (m) R (m/s2) <431383> 2700 60 1.4 Mechanical Systems Engineering Assignment 1 An unloaded lorry of mass M kg accelerates from rest and reaches a velocity of 30mph in 10 seconds. It...
  24. K

    Oscillating Mechanical Systems

    1. If anyone is able to cast an eye over my work and comment would be appreciated. Q. A mass attached to the lower end of a vertical spring causes the spring to extend by 25mm to its equilibrium position. The mass is then displaced a further 20mm and released. A trace vibration and time...
  25. M

    Books about Designing Building Mechanical Systems

    Hi... I've been seeing a lot of job postings looking for engineers for designing and engineering mechanical building systems such as: HVAC systems, refrigeration systems, fire protection systems, plumbing and piping systems for some new commercial building developments. I am about to complete my...
Back
Top