Rotational Inertia: Calculate & Plot Function w/ Sinus Decay

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on calculating and plotting the function of a rotating disc influenced by two springs, modeled as a damped harmonic oscillator. The governing equation is derived from the damped harmonic oscillator formula: \(\frac{d^2x}{dt^2} + 2 \zeta \omega_0 \frac{dx}{dt} + \omega_0^2 = 0\). The solution for the displacement function is given by \(x(t) = x_0 e^{-\zeta \omega_0 t} \left( \cos(\omega t) + \frac{\zeta \omega_0}{\omega} \sin(\omega t) \right)\), where \(\omega = \omega_0 \sqrt{1-\zeta^2}\). Key parameters include the damping ratio \(\zeta\) and the natural frequency \(\omega_0\), which must be determined to achieve the desired oscillation characteristics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of damped harmonic oscillators
  • Familiarity with differential equations
  • Knowledge of sinusoidal functions and their properties
  • Basic experience with mathematical modeling and plotting
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the torsional harmonic oscillators article for parameter determination
  • Learn about the effects of varying the damping ratio \(\zeta\) on oscillation decay
  • Explore numerical methods for solving differential equations
  • Investigate software tools for plotting mathematical functions, such as Python's Matplotlib
USEFUL FOR

Engineers, physicists, and students involved in mechanical systems, particularly those studying rotational dynamics and oscillatory motion.

JPGraphX
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Hi,

I would like to calculate the function of a rotating disc that has 2 spring slowing it down. (look at my pictures to understand)

Let say I turn my disc 90 degrees clockwise and release it, it is going to oscillate a certain moment than stop.

discrotating.png


I want to plot that function and to have a sinus function decreasing to 0 after a "x" number of period.

Thanks for your help,
Jean-Philippe
 
Last edited:
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Doesn't work quite like that. A torsion spring pendulum is typically described by damped harmonic oscillator equation. For the equation of the following form.

[tex]\frac{d^2x}{dt^2} + 2 \zeta \omega_0 \frac{dx}{dt} + \omega_0^2 = 0[/tex]

And for initial conditions [itex]x(t) = x_0[/itex], [itex]x'(0) = 0[/itex], the general solution has the following form.

[tex]x(t) = x_0 e^{-\zeta \omega_0 t} \left( cos(\omega t) + \frac{\zeta \omega_0}{\omega} sin(\omega t) \right)[/tex]

Where the angular frequency is [itex]\omega = \omega_0 \sqrt{1-\zeta^2}[/itex]. To figure out the parameters [itex]\omega_0[/itex] and [itex]\zeta[/itex], you can follow prescription in the torsional harmonic oscillators article. But basically, you want [itex]0 < \zeta < 1[/itex] if you want decaying sinusoidal motion. Higher value will result in faster decay, but there is no way to say that it will make N oscillations. Each oscillation will be smaller than the last by a fixed ratio, but it never goes perfectly to zero. And, of course, once you figured out [itex]\zeta[/itex], you can find [itex]\omega_0[/itex] that gives you desired frequency of oscillations.
 
This is my project, it is not a pendulum.

2013_10_02_09_55_32.jpg
 

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