Mechanical Vibration and Friction Vocabulary
Acceleration: A measure of the rate of change of velocity over a given time.
Amplitude: The distance extended during a single complete vibratory cycle, or the difference between the maximum and minimum values in a vibratory cycle.
Coefficient of Restitution: The relative rebound energy in a collision between two objects.
Coefficient of Sliding Friction: The ratio of the frictional force to the normal force between two sliding surfaces.
Damping: The process by which the amplitude of a vibrating system is gradually reduced.
Dynamic Vibration Absorber: A device designed to reduce the vibratory motion of a system.
Frictional Force: The force developed at the interface of two moving surfaces that resists motion and causes wear.
Frequency: The number of vibrations per unit time.
Law of Universal Gravitation: The law that states that the force of attraction between any two particles is inversely proportional to the square of their distance apart.
Modal Analysis: A method of analyzing vibratory systems by studying the effects of different frequencies on the vibration behavior of the system.
Pinpoint Testing: A type of modal testing used to find the source of a vibration.
RMS Velocity: The root-mean-square velocity of a vibrating body.
Self-Excited Vibration: Vibration that results from the interaction of components or subsystems within a system.
Shock Mounts: Devices used to isolate vibration-causing machinery from the structure of the building or vehicle in which it is installed.
Stiffness: The resistance to deflection caused by a force applied to a vibrating system.
Sub-Frequency Vibration: Low-amplitude vibrations that occur at a rate below the natural frequency of the system.
Surface Texture: The 3D shape of the contacting surfaces of two objects.
Thermal Expansion: The expansion of a material due to the rise in its temperature.
Threshold Friction: The minimum force required to initiate sliding.
Torsional Vibration: Vibrations caused by the rotation of a component along its longitudinal axis.
Tuned Mass Damper: A device designed to control the magnitude of vibrations in a system.
Wear: Damage to a surface due to sliding contact with another surface.
