
Eqs. (d) and (e), respectively, into Eq. (3.44), make use of Eq. (f), and note
that the generalized force Q
1
0. Thus,
(g)
where
From the inertia and stiffness terms of Eq. (g), we find that the system
natural frequency is given by
(h)
An experimentally determined value for the natural frequency of a typical
system is 2,400 Hz. If the rod connecting the mass m
1
to the bar were not as-
sumed rigid and weightless, one would need to consider additional coordi-
nates to describe the system of Figure 3.14. Systems with more than one de-
gree of freedom are treated in Chapters 7 to 9.
EXAMPLE 3.16
Equation of motion of a slider mechanism
16
We revisit the slider mechanism system of Example 2.2 and obtain the equa-
tion of motion of this system by using Lagrange’s equation. Gravity loading
is assumed to act normal to the plane of the system shown in Figure 3.15. The
mass m
s
slides along a uniform bar of mass m
l
that is pivoted at the point O.
A linear spring of stiffness k restrains the motions of the mass m
s
. Another
uniform bar of mass (m
b
m
e
) is pivoted at O, which is attached to a linear
spring of stiffness k
d
at one end and attached to the mass m
s
at the other end.
An excitation d(t) is imposed at one end of the spring with stiffness k
d
.
We choose the angular coordinate w as the generalized coordinate, and
we will determine the equation of motion in terms of this coordinate. The
geometry imposes the following constraints on the motion of the system:
(a)
At a first glance, although the slider mechanism appears to be a system that
would need more than one coordinate for its description, due to the con-
straints given by Eqs. (a), the system is single degree-of-freedom system that
can be described by the independent coordinate w.
a r1w2 cos b b cos w
r 1w2 sin b b sin w
r
2
1w 2 a
2
b
2
2ab cos w
v
n
B
k
e
m
e
B
k
t
kL
2
2
m
2
g 1L
2
L
1
2/2
J
o
m
1
L
2
2
k
e
k
t
kL
2
2
m
2
g1L
2
L
1
2/2
m
e
J
o
m
1
L
2
2
m
e
f
$
cL
1
2
f
#
k
e
f kL
2
x
o
1t 2
3.6 Lagrange’s Equations 109
16
J. Pedurach and B. H. Tongue, “Chaotic Response of a Slider Crank Mechanism,” J. Vibration
Acoustics, Vol. 113, pp. 69–73 (January 1991).
a
O
r
l
O'
e
m
e
m
l
Spring end
fixed to m
l
m
b
m
s
b
k
k
d
d(t)
FIGURE 3.15
Slider mechanism.