Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing

S K Mondal’s Chapter 5

5. Balancing of Rigid Rotors

and Field Balancing

Theory at a glance (IES, GATE & PSU)

Balancing
A machine consists of a number of moving part. The motion of moving parts may be of rotary
or reciprocating type. These m/c parts are subjected to different forces.

1. Static Force: The static forces acting on the machine components are due to the weight of
components.

2. Inertia or Dynamic force: The inertia force is due to acceleration of various components
or members of the m/c.

In comparison with the static forces, the dynamic forces are very large in magnitude.

Balancing is the process of correcting or eliminating, either partially or completely. The

effects due to resultant inertia forces and couples acting on the machine parts.

Static balancing
The system is said to be statically balanced if the centre of mass (C. Cx. Of the system of
masses lies on the axis of rotation.

For the system to be statically balanced, the resultant of all the dynamic forces (centrifugal
forces) acting on the system during rotation must be zero.

Dynamic Balancing
The system is said to be dynamically (complete) balanced, if it satisfies following two condition.
(i) The resultant of all the dynamic forces acting on the system during rotation must be zero.
(ii) The resultant couples due to all the dynamic forces acting on the system during rotation,
about any plane must be zero.

Balancing of Rotating Masses

In any rotating system, having one or more rotating masses, if the centre of mass of the
system does not lie on the axis of rotation, then the system is unbalanced.
The unbalanced in rotating system is mainly due to the following factors.

(i) Errors and tolerances in manufacturing and assembly.

(ii) Non-homogeneity of material
(iii) Unsymmetrical shape of the rotors due to functional requirement.
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5

Fig. Case of Dynamic Unbalance

Fig. Thin Rotor on a knife edge. Illustration

of Static Unbalance

Balancing of mass rotating in single plane

1. Balancing of single rotating mass

mrw 2

Bearing
r

Shaft
Consider a single mass m attached to a shaft which is rotating with an angular velocity ‘ Z ’.
Let r be the distance of C.G of mass m from the axis of rotation.

During the rotation of shaft a dynamic force equal to mrw2 acts in radial outward direction.
This dynamic force can be balanced by either of the following two methods.

(i) Balancing by single mass rotating in same plane (Internal balancing):

To balance the single rotating mass, a counter mass m b is placed in the plane of rotation at a
radius rb and exactly opposite to it, such that centrifugal force due to the two masses is equal
and opposite.
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
mrw 2

rb

mb
mrw 2

? mrZ2 = m brbZ2
or, mr m b rb

(ii) Balancing by two masses rotating in different planes (External Balancing):

If the balancing mass cannot be placed in the plane of rotation of the disturbing mass then
it is not possible to balance the disturbing mass by single balancing mass.

If a single balancing mass is placed in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of disturbing
mass, the dynamic force can be balanced, while it will produce an unbalanced couple.
In order to achieve the complete balancing of the system, at least two balancing masses are
required to be placed in two planes parallel to the plane of disturbing mass.
The balancing masses may be arranged in one of the two ways.

Case I: Balancing masses are placed in two different planes on opposite side of the plane of
rotation of disturbing mass.

mrw 2

Plane B Plane
l1
r

l2
A
rb
1 rb
2
mb
1

m1 , r1 ,w 2 mb
2

m2 , r2 ,w 2
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5

Balancing mass m b1 are at radius rb1 from shaft axis at plane B from distance l1 to
disturbing mass, and balancing mass mb2 at radius rb2 from shaft axis at plane C from
distance to disturbing mass. To achieve complete balancing following two conditions must
satisfy
(i) Centrifugal force of disturbing mass ‘m’ must be equal to the sum of the centrifugal forces
of the balancing masses m b1 and mb2 .
2
? mrZ = mb1 rb1 Z2  mb2 rb2 Z2

Or mr m b1 rb1  m b2 rb2
(ii) The sum of moments due to centrifugal forces about any point must be zero. Thus taking
moments about plane A,
mb1 rb1 Z2l1 = mb2 rb2 Z2l2
? mb1 rb1 l1 mb2 rb2 l 2

Case II: Balancing mass is placed opposite to each other in two difference planes.
mrw 2
mb , rb ,w 2
2 2
m
rb
2
r l1
B

A l1 C

rb
1

mb
1

m1 , r1 ,w 2

The balancing mass are m b1 and mb2 at radius rb1 and rb2 from shaft axis and distance. l1 And
l 2 from plane A.
In order to achieve the complete balancing of the system the following two conditions must
satisfied.
(i) mrZ2  mb2 rb2 Z2 = mb1 rb1 Z2
Or, mr  mb2 rb2 m b1 rb1
(ii) mb1 rb1 Z2l1 = mb2 rb2 Z2l2
Or, mb1 rb1 l1 mb2 rb2 l 2
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
2. Balancing of several masses rotating in same plane
Consider the number of masses (say four) m1 , m2 , m3 and m4 attached to a shaft at a
distance of r1 , r2 , r3 and r4 from the axis of rotation of shaft.
The masses are at angular position T1 , T2 , T3 , and T4 with horizontal line OX. The angular
position is measured in anticlockwise direction.

*Since Z2 is same for all masses, the magnitude of centrifugal force for each mass is
proportion to the product of mass and radius of rotation. Hence in subsequent section, the
centrifugal force is taken as term ‘mr’, kg-m and the couple due to centrifugal force is taken
as term ‘mrl’, kg-m2.
Such type of balancing can be done by the following two methods.

1. Graphical Method
m3
Fc m2
r
m1
r2
r3 T3 T2 r1
T4 T1
x

r4 Tb rb
mb
m4
Fc = m4r4
4

Fc = mbrb
b
T4
Fc
3
Fc c
4 T3
b
Tb
d Fc
2

T2
a
Fc
T1 1
O

Force polygon

(i) First draw configuration diagram with given position.

(ii) Calculate centrifugal force by individual masses on the rotating shaft.
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
FC1 = m1r1 , FC2 = m2 r2
FC3 = m3 r3 , FC4 = m4 r4
—o
(iii) Draw the force polygon such that o a represent the centrifugal force exerted by the
—o —o —o
mass m1 m given direction with some suitable scale. Similar draw ab, bc , and cd .
–o
(iv) The closing side of the force polygon do represents the balancing centrifugal force.

(v) Determine the magnitude of balancing mass m b at a given radius of rotation ' rb ' such
—o
that balancing centrifugal force = m b rb = do u scale

2. Analytical Method
Refer configuration diagram.
(i) Resolve the centrifugal force horizontally and vertically and find their sums.
6FH = m1r1 cos T1  m2 r2 cos T2  m2 r3 cos T3  m4 r4 cos T4
and
6FV = m1r1 sin T1  m2 r2 sin T2  m3 r3 sin T3  m4 r4 sin T4
(ii) Calculate the magnitude of resultant centrifugal force.
FCr = ( 6FH )2  ( 6FV )2
(iii) Calculate the angle made by the resultant centrifugal force with horizontal OX.
6FV
tan Tr =
6FH
(iv) The balancing centrifugal force FCb should be equal to magnitude of the FCr but opposite
in direction ( Tb ).
(v) Determine the magnitude and radius of rotation of balance mass by using relation
m b rb = FCr

Balancing of several masses rotating in different plane

Consider mass m1 , m2 , m3 and m4 revolving in planes A, B, C and D respectively. The relative
angular position shown in fig.
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
–ve
R.P +Ve
m3
mL
C mM m4
L m2
M D
m1 B
A rL r2 r3 rM r4
r1

l1 l2
l3

lM
l4

Such system is balanced by two masses m L and m M which are put in planes L and M
respectively.

Position of Planes of Masses

m3

r3 m2
r2
T3

T2
TL T1 m1
r1
T4 TM

rL rm

mL r4 mb

mM
m4

The complete balancing of such system can be done by following two methods:

1. Graphical Method
(i) Take one of the planes from balancing plane. Say ‘L’ as reference plane (R.P). The
distance of other planes to the right of R.P are taken as positive and the left of R.P are
taken as negative.
(ii) Tabulate the centrifugal forces and couples due to centrifugal forces.
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
Plane Mass Radius C.F y Z2 Dist. from Couple y Z2
(kg) (m) (kg- m) R. P. l (kg- m 2 )
(m)
A m1 r1 m1r1 l1 m1r1l1
L(R.P) ML rL m L rL O O
B m2 r2 m 2r2 l2 m 2r2l 2
C m3 r3 m3r3 l3 m3r3l 3
M mM rM m M rM lM m M rM l M
D m4 r4 m 4 r4 l4 m 4 r4 l 4

Since Z2 is same for all masses, the centrifugal forces and centrifugal couple are taken
as terms (mr) and (mr l) respectively.
(iii) Draw the couple polygon, taking some suitable scale. Closing vector dcoc represent the
couple mM rM l M which is called balancing couple.
T4 cc

l
m 3r 3 3
r 4l 4
m4
T3
dc bc
TM
l
rM M
mM
T2 m2r2l2
ac m1r1l1 oc

Couple polygon
4

c
l
m4r4l4 m 3r 3 3

3
M d
mMrMlM b

e L r2l2
mLrLlL

2
O a o
m1r1

Force polygon

—o
(iv) Now draw force polygon, eo is balancing force.

2. Analytical Method
Refer previous table
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
(i) 6(couples) = 0
i.e. 6(m r l) = 0
Now resolve the couple horizontally and vertically and find their summation.
6(m r l)H = 0
And find mM rM l M cos TM … (i)
6(m r l)V = 0
and find mM rM l M sin TM … (ii)
by the use of (i) and (ii)
m M rM Can be finding and also TM can be find.
Similarly above process can be done for centrifugal forces, and mL rL , TL can be find.

Objective Questions (IES, IAS, GATE)

Previous 20-Years GATE Questions

GATE-1. A cantilever type gate hinged at Q is shown in the figure. P and R are the
centers of gravity of the cantilever part and the counterweight
respectively. The mass of the cantilever part is 75 kg. The mass of the
counterweight, for static balance, is [GATE-2008]

Balancing of a single rotating mass by a single mass

rotating in a same plane
GATE-2. A rotating disc of 1 m diameter has two eccentric masses of 0.5 kg each at
radii of 50 mm and 60 mm at angular positions of 0°and 150°, respectively.
a balancing mass of 0.1 kg is to be used to balance the rotor. What is the
radial position of the balancing mass? [GATE-2005]
(a) 50 mm (b) 120 mm (c) 150 mm (d) 280 mm
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
GATE-3. A rigid body shown in the Fig. (a)
has a mass of 10 kg. It rotates
with a uniform angular velocity
'ω'. A balancing mass of 20 kg is
attached as shown in Fig. (b).
The percentage increase in mass
moment of inertia as a result of
this addition is
(a) 25% (b) 50%
(c) 100% (d) 200%
[GATE-2004]

Previous 20-Years IES Questions

IES-1. What is the condition for dynamic balancing of a shaft-rotor system?
(a) ¦ M = 0 and ¦ F = 0 (b) ¦ M = 0 [IES 2007]
(c) ¦ F = 0 (d) ¦ M + ¦ F = 0

IES-2. Assertion (A): A dynamically balanced system of multiple rotors on a shaft can
rotate smoothly at the critical speeds of the system. [IES-2002]
Reason (R): Dynamic balancing eliminates all the unbalanced forces and couples
from the system.
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false

IES-3. A system in dynamic balance implies that [IES-1993]

(a) the system is critically damped
(b) there is no critical speed in the system
(c) the system is also statically balanced
(d) there will be absolutely no wear of bearings.

Balancing of a single rotating mass by a single mass

rotating in a same plane
IES-4. Consider the following statements for completely balancing a single
rotating mass: [IES-2002]
1. Another rotating mass placed diametrically opposite in the same plane
balances the unbalanced mass.
2. Another rotating mass placed diametrically opposite in a parallel plane
balances the unbalanced mass.
3. Two masses placed in two different parallel planes balance the
unbalanced mass.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 3

Balancing of a single rotating mass by two masses

rotating in different planes
IES-4. If a two-mass system is dynamically equivalent to a rigid body, then the
system will NOT satisfy the condition that the [IES-1999]
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
(a) Sum of the two masses must be equal to that of the rigid body
(b) Polar moment of inertia of the system should be equal to that of the rigid body
(c) Centre of gravity (c.g.) of the system should coincide with that of the rigid body
(d) Total moment of inertia about the axis through c.g. must be equal to that of the
rigid body

IES-5. A system of masses rotating in different parallel planes is in dynamic

balance if the resultant. [IES-1996]
(a) Force is equal to zero
(b) Couple is equal to zero
(c) Force and the resultant couple are both equal to zero
(d)Force is numerically equal to the resultant couple, but neither of them need
necessarily be zero.

IES-6. A rotor supported at A and

B, carries two masses as
shown in the given figure.
The rotor is
(a) dynamically balanced
(b) statically balanced
(c) statically and dynamically
balanced
(d) not balanced.

[IES-1995]
IES-7. A statically-balanced system
is shown in the given
Figure. Two equal weights
W, each with an
eccentricity e, are placed
on opposite sides of the
axis in the same axial
plane. The axial distance
between them is 'a'. The [IES-1997]
total dynamic reactions at
the supports will be

W 2 a 2W 2 a W 2 L
(a)zero (b) Ze (c) Ze (d) Ze
g L g L g a

Balancing of several masses rotating in a same plane

IES-8.
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5

(W = Weight of reciprocating parts per cylinder) [IES 2007]

For a three-cylinder radial engine, the primary and direct reverse cranks are as
shown in the above figures.
Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched in this regard?
3W 2
(a) Primary direct force… Z .r (b) Primary reverse force… Zero
2g
(c) Primary direct crank speed… Z (d) Primary reverse crank speed…2 Z

Balancing of several masses rotating in different planes

IES-9. What is the number of nodes in a shaft carrying three rotors? [IES-2006]
(a) Zero (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4

IES-10. Which one of the following can completely balance several masses
revolving in different planes on a shaft? [IES-2005]
(a) A single mass in one of the planes of the revolving masses
(b) A single mass in any one plane
(c) Two masses in any two planes
(d) Two equal masses in any two planes.

IES-11. Ans. (c)28. Masses

B1, B2 and 9 kg
are attached to
a shaft in
parallel planes
as shown in the
figure. If the
shaft is rotating
at 100 rpm, the
mass B2 is
(a) 3 kg
(b) 6 kg
(c) 9 kg
(d) 27 kg [IES-2000]

IES-12. Which one of the following can completely balance several masses
revolving in different planes on a shaft? [IES-1993]
(a) A single mass in one of the planes of the revolving masses
(b) A single mass in a different plane
(c) Two masses in any two planes
(d) Two equal masses in any two planes
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
Previous 20-Years IAS Questions
IAS-1. The figures given on right
show different schemes
suggested to transmit
continuous rotary motion
from axis A to axis B. Which
of these schemes are not
dynamically balanced?
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 2and3 [IAS-2004]
(c) 1 and 2 (d) 1, 2 and 3

IAS-2. Static balancing is satisfactory for low speed rotors but with increasing
speeds, dynamic balancing becomes necessary. This is because, the
(a) Unbalanced couples are caused only at higher speeds [IAS 1994]
(b) Unbalanced forces are not dangerous at higher speeds
(c) Effects of unbalances are proportional to the square of the speed
(d) Effects of unbalances are directly proportional to the speed

Balancing of a single rotating mass by two masses

rotating in different planes
IAS-3. Which of the following conditions are to be satisfied by a two-mass system
which is dynamically equivalent to a rigid body? [IAS-1997]
1. The total mass should be equal to that of the rigid body.
2. The centre of gravity should coincide with that of the rigid body.
3. The total moment of inertia about an axis through the centre of gravity
must be equal to that of the rigid body.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Codes:
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) 1 and 3

IAS-4. Consider the following necessary and sufficient conditions for replacing a
rigid body by a dynamical equivalent system of two masses: [IAS-2002]
1. Total mass must be equal to that of the rigid body.
2. Sum of the squares of radii of gyration of two masses about the c.g. of
the rigid body must be equal to square of its radius of gyration about the
same point.
3. The c.g. of two masses must coincide with that of the rigid body.
4. The total moment of inertia of two masses about an axis through the c.g.
must be equal to that of the rigid body.
Which of the above conditions are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1, 3 and 4 (c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 4
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
IAS-5. A rigid rotor consists of a
system of two masses
located as shown in the
given figure. The system is
(a) statically balanced
(b) dynamically balanced
(c) statically unbalanced
(d) both statically and
dynamically unbalanced

[IAS-2000]
IAS-6. For the rotor system shown
in figure, the mass
required for its complete
balancing is
(a) 1.5 kg at 2 m radius and at
2250 from reference
(b) 3 kg at 1m radius and at
[IAS-2004]
450
from reference
(c) 8 kg at 1 m radius and at
2250 from reference
(d) 4 kg at 2 m radius and at
450
from reference

IAS-7. Balancing of a rigid rotor can be achieved by appropriately placing

balancing weights in [IAS-1995]
(a) a single plane (b) two planes (c) three planes (d) four planes

IAS-8. The shaft-rotor system

given above is
(a) Statically balanced only
(b) Dynamically balanced
only
(c) Both statically and
dynamically balanced
(d) Neither statically nor
dynamically balanced
[IAS-2007]
IAS-9. Consider the following statements: [IAS-2003]
Two rotors mounted on a single shaft can be considered to be equivalent to
a geared shaft system having two rotors provided.
1. The kinetic energy of the equivalent system is equal to that of the
original system.
2. The strain energy of the equivalent system is equal to that of the
original system.
3. The shaft diameters of the two systems are equal
Which of these statements are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1and 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 3
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
IAS-10. Two rotors are mounted on a shaft. If the unbalanced force due to one
rotor is equal in magnitude to the unbalanced force due to the other rotor,
but positioned exactly 1800 apart, then the system will be balanced
(a) statically (b) dynamically [IAS-1999]
(c) statically as well as dynamically (d) neither statically nor dynamically

Balancing of several masses rotating in a same plane

Balancing of several masses rotating in different planes
IAS-12. The balancing weights are introduced in planes parallel to the plane of
rotation of the disturbing mass. To obtain complete dynamic balance, the
minimum number of balancing weights to be introduced in different
planes is [IAS-2001]
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4

Answers with Explanation (Objective)

Previous 20-Years GATE Answers

GATE-1. Ans. (d) Taking Moment about ‘Q’ 75 u 2.0 R u 0.5 or R 300 kg
GATE-2. Ans. (c)
Along x-axis, 0.5(-60 u 10-3 cos30o + 50 u 10-3)Z2 = 0.1Z2 u x u 10-3
? x = -9.8076 mm
Along y-axis, 0.5(60 u 10-3 sin30o) )Z2 = 0.1Z2y
? y = 150 mm
? r= x 2  y2 150.32 mm
GATE-3. Ans. (b)
10 u  0.2 
2
I1 0.4kgm2
10 u  0.2   20 u 0.12
2
I2 0.6kg  m2
I2  I1
%Increase u 100 50%
I1

Previous 20-Years IES Answers

IES-1. Ans. (a)
IES-2. Ans. (b)
IES-3. Ans. (c) A system in dynamic balance implies that the system is also statically
balanced.
IES-3(i). Ans. (d)
IES-4. Ans. (d)
IES-5. Ans. (c)
IES-6. Ans. (b)
IES-7. Ans. (c)
Moment about A
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5
W 2  L  2 W 2  L  2
Ÿ eZ u  eZ
g 2 g 2
 RB u L 0
W eZ2
L u RB ªL  a   L  a  º¼
g 2 ¬
W 2a
RB eZ
g L
W 2a
RA eZ
g L
Total dynamic force  magnitude  R A  RB
2W 2 a
eZ
g L
IES-8. Ans. (d)
IES-9. Ans. (b)
IES-10. Ans. (c)
IES-11. Ans. (a)
IES-12. Ans. (c)

Previous 20-Years IAS Answers

IAS-1. Ans. (a)
IAS-2. Ans. (c)
IAS-3. Ans. (d) A is false. The centre of gravity of the two masses should coincide with that of
the rigid body.
IAS-4. Ans. (b)
IAS-5. Ans. (a) As centre of masses lie on the axis of rotation.
IAS-6. Ans. (a) 10 u1 and 2 u 5 are
balanced each other
Unbalance mass is 3 kg at 450
? Balanced system given in
figure

IAS-7. Ans. (b) An unbalance rigid rotor behaves as if several masses are there in different
planes. Such a situation can be handled by fixing balancing weights in two planes.
IAS-8. Ans. (a)
IAS-9. Ans. (b)
IAS-10. Ans. (a)
IAS. 12. Ans. (b)
 Balancing of Rigid Rotors and field Balancing
S K Mondal’s Chapter 5