EXPERIMENTAL TITLE

Bifilar and Trifilar Suspensions

 absract

In this experiment a bifilar and trifilar suspension methods are

applied to determine the mass momentum of inertia of a beam, platform,
cylindrical mass and a body with an irregular mass.

First with the bifilar method a body was suspended by two

parallel cords with the same length and by displacing the system through a
small angle and using few equations which will be given further in the report
we get the time period and then calculating the mass moment of inertia.

Moreover, and for the trifilar method a platform was

suspended by three cords having the same length and also by getting the
time period and the moment of inertia of the platform we calculated the
moment of inertia of a cylindrical mass and a body with an irregular mass.
 introduction

1.1 Bifilar suspension method

The bifilar suspension method is a way to determine the mass
momentum of inertia. (Fig. a) shows a uniform rod of mass M and length L
suspended horizontally by two vertical strings. The length of each string is l
and they are attached symmetrically about the center O, a distance R apart. If
the bat is now twisted horizontally, it will undergo SHM. We wish to
analyze this motion, and in particular to find the period.

B’
φ

l A O B
A B
R
L θ
A’

And by calculating
Figure 1:the time
Bifilar period we can calculate the mass
suspension.
moment of inertia by using some formulas we will provide later in the report
 1.2Trifilar suspension method
The trifilar suspension method is a way to determine the mass
moment of inertia for a bodies especially a body with an irregular mass, as
you can see in figure(c) a platform is suspended with three cords and three
cords have the same length and they are spaces around the platform center,
now if we want to determine the mass of inertia we put the object or the
body at the platform in the centroidal axis. And by displacing the platform
through a small angel we can calculate the mass time period and then using
some formulas we will provide later we can determine the mass moment of
inertia
 objectives

The objectives of this experiment are to introduce the

bifilar and trifilar suspension methods as options for determining the
mass moment of inertia of a rigid body or group of rigid bodies. this
should lead to the capability of designing experiments for determining
moments of inertia of rigid bodies using either bifilar or trifilar
pendulum systems.

The other objective is to compare theoretical results

obtained from pendulum modelling with experimental results and
determining accuracy.
 Theoritacal backgroud

Inertia Determination

Mass- moment of inertia I, about an axis of rotation is theoretically can be

determined by:

I¿ ∫ r 2 dm
M

(1)

Where:

r : Distance between the location of mass element, dm, and the axis of
rotation

The integration is performed over the entire mass of the body if the axis of
rotation coincides with the body centroidal axis, the moment of inertia is
given by Ī.

The parallel axis theorem is given by:

I= Ī + m · d 2
(2)
Where:

I: The inertia of the body about the axis of rotation.

Ī: the inertia of the body about its own centroidal axis.

m: Mass of the body.

d: the perpendicular distance from the centroidal axis of the body to the axis
of rotation.

Bifilar suspension:
 Figure 2: (a) Bifilar suspension, (b) Trifilar suspension.

In figure1 (a) shows the Bifilar suspension and the body is

suspended by two parallel cords of length L at a distance R=d apart, the
tensions in the cords are respectively:

d2
T 1=mg and
d

d1
T 2=mg (4)
d
d 1 +d 2=d and
T 1+T 2=mg(5)

If the system is displaced through a small angle θ about its central

axis, then angular displacement Φ 1and Φ 2 will result at the supporting chords.
If both angles are small, then:

Lϕ 1=d Ɵ1 and Lϕ 2=d Ɵ

2

(6)

d1
ϕ 1= Ɵ and ϕ 2=
L
d2
Ɵ (7)
L

The horizontal restoring forces at the points of attachment with the plate are:

F 1=¿ T sinΦ ¿
1 1

(8)

F 2=¿ T sinΦ ¿
2 2

(9)

And using equation (7) to substitute into (8) and (9) and then get:
 M R= ¿ (10)

Where the minus sign is related to the restoring effect.

Using equation (4), the restoring moment is rewritten as:

d1d
M R = -mg 2
Ɵ
L
(11)

Trifilar suspension:

The trifilar maybe more useful when the shape is highly

irregular, and a third suspension is required to give a more stable and
consistent oscillation. Figure1 (b) outlines the trifilar suspension in detail.

Where the platform is suspended by three cords of equal length

and is equally spaced about the platform centre. And the round platform
serves as triangular one. The part whose moment of inertia is to be
determined, is carefully placed on the platform so that its centroidal axis
coincides with that of platform.
 The platform is then made to oscillate and the number of oscillate
is counted over a specific period of time.

The sum of moment ∑M about a vertical axis coinciding with the

centroidal axis of the body is:
 Procedure

This section of this chapter is divided into two parts. First, the procedure related
to the bifilar apparatus is illustrated. Secondly, the procedure for the trifilar apparatus is
discussed briefly.

3.2.1 Bifilar apparatus procedure:

In order to perform this case of this experiment sufficiently and achieve the needed
results with a great possibility to eliminate the human errors as much as possible, a specific set of
procedures should be followed and is illustrated as follows:

1. Measure the dimension and the mass of the beam.

2. Suspend the beam by the cords and adjust their common length L.

3. Displace the beam by small angle, release it and determine the periodic time of free
oscillations by timing 20 oscillations.

4. Repeat step 3 for three different values of L.

5. Measure the dimensions of the cylindrical masses.

6. Place the cylindrical masses of known weight either side of the center of gravity of the
beam, maintaining a specified distance between the masses.

7. Repeat the procedure with an irregularly shaped body that can be fixed on the beam.

8. In each test, record L, time period and the mass of the beam. Then use equation (13) and
(14) to calculate the mass-moment of inertia and radius of gyration of the beam alone and
of the beam with masses placed on it.

3.2.2 Trifilar apparatus procedure:

1. Measure the mass and radius of the plate. Suspend the plate by the wires and
adjust their common length L very accurately.

2. Displace the plate with a small angle, release it and determine the periodic time of
free oscillations by timing 30 oscillations.

3. Repeat step 2 for different values of L.

4. Find the mass of the body then place it on the plate so heir centers of gravity
coincide. Repeat steps 2 and 3.

5. Apply equation (22) to determine the mass-moment of inertia of the body and
radius of gyration in each case. Estimate the error involved.
 Resulst and calculations

Bifiller
For the file plate
Length Radius Time Diameter Moment of Polar
(m) (m) (s) (m) inertia moment of
(m^4) inertia

100 0.085 78 0.17 4.1×10^-5 7.8×10^4

80 0.085 70.67 0.17 4.1×10^-5 6.4×10^4
60 0.085 60.67 0.17 4.1×10^-5 4.7×10^4

Mass=2.79kg
I=πd^4/64
J=wa^2t^2/2π^2I
T(avg)=T1+T2+T3

Table of result
Length T1 T2
(m) (s) (s)

100 81 80
 80 70 71
60 62 62

Length(m) Radius(m) Diameter(m) Moment of Time Polar

inertia(m^3) (avg) moment
of inertia

100 0.025 0.05 3.07×10^-7 80.5 1.8×10^

6
80 0.025 0.05 3.07×10^-7 70.5 1.4×10^
6
60 0.025 0.05 3.07×10^-7 62 1.1×10^
6

J1= polar moment of inertia for the total weight

J2= polar moment of inertia for the file plate

Length J1 J2 J1- J2
(m)
100 1.8×10^6 7.8×10^4 1.7×10^6
80 1.4×10^6 6.4×10^4 1.3×10^6
60 1.1×10^6 4.7×10^4 1.1×10^6
 Mass=9.24kg

Length T1 T2
(m) (s) (s)

100 82 82
80 73 72
60 63 63

Length Radius Diameter Moment of T(avg) Polar

(m) (m) (m) inertia (s) moment of
(m^4) inertia

100 0.05 0.1 4.9×10^-6 82 1.6×10^6

80 0.05 0.1 4.9×10^-6 72.5 1.2×10^6

60 0.05 0.1 4.9×10^-6 63 0.9×10^6

Length J1 J2 J1-J2
(m)
100 1.6×10^6 7.8×10^4 1.5×10^6
80 1.2×10^6 6.4×10^4 1.1×10^6
60 0.9×10^6 4.7×10^4 0.8×10^6
Mass=1.76kg
Length T1 T2
(m) (s) (s)
100 81 81
80 72 71
60 60 61

Length Radius Diameter Moment of T(avg) Polar

(m) (m) (m) inertia (s) moment
(m) of inertia

100 0.125 0.25 1.9×10^-4 81 4.8×10^4

80 0.125 0.25 1.9×10^-4 71.5 3.7×10^4

60 0.125 0.25 1.9×10^-4 60.5 2.7×10^4

Length J1 J2 J1-J2
(m)
100 4.8×10^4 7.8×10^4 -3.7×10^4
80 3.7×10^4 6.4×10^4 -2.7×10^4
60 2.7×10^4 4.7×10^4 -2×10^4
 Trifiller
Table of result
For the blanket
Length Radius T(avg) Diameter Moment Polar
(m) (m) (m) of inertia moment of
 (m^4) inertia
100 0.085 79 0.17 4.1×10^-5 8.0×10^4
80 0.085 70.5 0.17 4.1×10^-5 6.4×10^4
60 0.085 60.5 0.17 4.1×10^-5 4.7×10^4

Length T1 T2
(m) (s) (s)

100 79 78
80 71 70
60 61 62

Length Radius Diameter Moment of T(avg) Polar

(m) (m) (m) inertia (s) moment of
(m^4) inertia

100 0.025 0.5 3.07×10^ 78.5 1.8×10^6

-7

80 0.025 0.5 3.07×10^ 71 1.5×10^6

-7
60 0.025 0.5 3.07×10^ 61.5 1.1×10^6
-7

Length J1 J2 J1-J2
(m)
100 1.8×10^6 8.0×10^4 9.2×10^6
80 1.5×10^6 6.4×10^4 1.4×10^6
60 1.1×10^6 4.7×10^4 1.1×10^6

Mass=9.24kg
Length T1 T2
(m) (s) (s)
100 79 79
 80 70 71
60 60 61
Length Radius Diameter Moment of T(avg) Polar moment
(m) (m) (m) inertia (s) of inertia
(m^4)
100 0.05 0.1 4.9×10^-6 79 1.5×10^6
80 0.05 0.1 4.9×10^-6 70.5 1.2×10^6
60 0.05 0.1 4.9×10^-6 60.5 0.9×10^6

Length J1 J2 J1-J2
(m)
100 1.5×10^6 8.0×10^4 1.4×10^6
80 1.2×10^6 6.4×10^4 1.1×10^6
60 0.9×10^6 4.7×10^4 8.5×10^5

mass=1.76kg

Length T1 T2
(m) (s) (s)
100 80 81
80 71 72
 60 60 60

Length Radius Diameter Moment T(avg) Polar

(m) (m) (m) of inertia (s) moment of
(m) inertia

100 0.125 0.25 1.9×10^-4 80.5 5.2×10^4

80 0.125 0.25 1.9×10^-4 71.5 3.7×10^4

60 0.125 0.25 1.9×10^-4 60 2.6×10^4

Length J1 J2 J1-J2
(m)
100 5.2×10^4 8.0×10^4 -2.8×10^3
80 3.7×10^4 6.4×10^4 -2.7×10^3
60 2.6×10^4 4.7×10^4 -2.6×10^3

From the formula MD^2/8

J=8.7×10^-4
J=1.2×10^-2

J=1.4×10^-2
 comments

When investigating the previous experimentally and theoretically results that were
tabulated, it is obvious that the theoretical and experimental results of the mass-moment of inertia
for the bifilar and trifilar suspension are somehow close and the error involved is not large.
 In other words, the human errors involved in this experiment such as while recording
the length of the cords and weighting the parts are acceptable.

In addition, as noticed from the tabulated data for the bifilar and trifilar suspensions,
the relationship between the mass-moment of inertia of the body and the periodic time on log
scale is linear.

But, it should be kept in mind that this linear relation involves some errors. In other
words, this relation is very close to be perfectly linear due to the errors generated while
performing this experiment.
4.3 Uncertainty Analysis

In this part of this chapter, it is important to evaluate the error involved in obtaining the
mass-moment of inertia in order to ensure the accuracy related to it. These errors occur due to the
human errors such as measuring the lengths of the cords and the time of oscillations by the stop
watch.

This can be achieved by performing the uncertainty analysis as shown below for the first
case of the bifilar suspension:

md 1 d 2 g τ 2
I=
4 π2L

0.5
u L= =0.00104
480

0.005
ut = =0.00035
14.32

∂I (m )d1 d2 g τ2
=¿
∂L 2
( 4 π L)
2
∂I ( m ) d1 d2 g τ
=¿
∂t 2π2L

2 2
L ∂I t ∂I
u I=
+ ¿¿
− ¿¿ √ ( .
I ∂L
. uL ) +( .
I ∂t
. ut )

As noticed from the uncertainty analysis, the error involved is not large and is acceptable. In
other words, and for an instance, the values of the error involved in calculating the viscosities of the
given oils indicate that the human error due to the usage of the stop watch was somehow acceptable.
 Sources of error

 Erratic error from improper inclination angle

 Zero error from pointer instrument
 Random error from experimental procedure
 Systematic error from experimental setup
 precautions

 Erratic error was avoided by ensuringproper inclination angle

 Zero error from pointer instrument was avoided by taking repeated
reading
 Random error was avoided by following experimental procedure duely
 CONCLUTION

The conclusion for this experiment is that the bifilar and trifilar suspension methods for determining
the mass-moment of inertia can be considered as successful methods applied for that purpose.

Moreover, the errors involved in this experiment whether in the case of bifilar or trifilar
suspensions are not large which can be considered as a good indicator of how successful this
experiment was.

Finally, when this experiment was performed, some recommendations and notices should be
taken in mind for the purpose of improving the obtained results such as:

 Being careful while changing the length of the wires and make sure they are on the same level
(exactly having the same length).

 Using an electronic scale for weighting parts to increase the accuracy.

 Using the stop watch properly and carefully while recording the time of oscillation.
 REFERENCES

1. Mechanical Engineering Fundamentals Laboratory Sheet. “Lab A”. Prepared by: Prof.Ahmed H.
Elkholy
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