Can Damping Values for Aluminum Cantilever Beams Be Easily Found?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on estimating damping values for aluminum cantilever beams in the context of robotic vibrations. The user is developing an Excel program to calculate the time it takes for a robotic arm to stop vibrating after movement. They reference the equation of motion for damped systems, mx''+cx'+kx=F, and express the need for a damping coefficient specific to aluminum. The user discovers that finding these damping values is more complex than anticipated, as indicated by a NASA paper and an experimental determination linked in the discussion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of mechanical vibrations and damping systems
  • Familiarity with the equation of motion for damped systems
  • Knowledge of cantilever beam dynamics
  • Basic proficiency in using Excel for engineering calculations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the damping coefficients for aluminum materials in engineering literature
  • Study the experimental methods for determining damping values in cantilever beams
  • Explore the implications of air damping on robotic systems
  • Learn about advanced modeling techniques for dynamic systems in MATLAB or Simulink
USEFUL FOR

Mechanical engineers, robotics designers, and anyone involved in the analysis of vibrations in structural systems will benefit from this discussion.

Feodalherren
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Hi fellow mechanical engineers,

I am designing a rather simple excel program for work that deals with vibrations in robots. Imagine a robot that is made up of linear axes that can move in x,y,z sort of like a 3D printer, take a look at this picture:
https://pasteboard.co/8hvV5vf.png

Focusing on the part that is highlighted in pink, imagine that it is a solid beam. Now imagine that it picks up some mass and then starts moving in the x direction and then stops before it starts moving in the y direction. I need to find a quick and dirty way of estimating the amount of time that it takes for the arm to stop vibrating.

I'm planning on going back to my systems and vibrations textbook for this, more precisely the following equation:

mx''+cx'+kx=F

My hope is to get a rather simple solution of the form

x(t)=e^(-ζωt)[Asin(ωt)+Bcos(ωt)]+C

which I can use to find the the time constant and then use that to find an approximate time for when the vibrations are small enough for the robot to start moving again.

Have I simplified this problem too much? I'm starting to think so since I can't find any information regarding a damping coefficient as a material property, which I just assumed that it was. I was going to ignore damping from air and model the beam as a cantilever beam.

I found this NASA paper on it:
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19650021096.pdf

which seems to suggest that it's far more complicated than I originally thought. So my question is, is it possible to find the damping values for a cantilever beam made out of aluminium anywhere?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Thank you, that was very helpful!
 

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