MECHENG 722 : Engineering Vibrations
Engineering
2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course presents how we can model, analyse, design and measure responses of vibrating systems. Most engineering structures, including machines, cars, planes, and buildings, experience vibrations. Hence, we need to be able to model, design, analyse, understand and treat vibrating systems. We aim to provide you with a sound understanding of the fundamentals and knowledge of how to analyse vibrating systems and an introduction to practical vibration measurement and treatment methods. The course comprises lectures, laboratories, projects and an exam.
We have 18 two-hour lectures in total in this course. Each student attends two 2-hour labs on vibration measurement and testing.
This course shares lectures and other content with MECHENG 719; completing this course will prevent future enrolments in MECHENG 719.
Course Requirements
Capabilities Developed in this Course
Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse single degree-of-freedom (SDOF) vibration to predict the performance and characteristics (natural frequency, damping, effective mass and stiffness) of an SDOF system, and multiple degree-of-freedom (MDOF) vibration to predict the response of a MDOF system. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Perform modal analysis for a uniform 1D continuous vibrating system (for example a beam) and predict the free and forced responses of such a system using modal and wave-based approaches. (Capability 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Apply Rayleigh's method to estimate the fundamental natural frequency of discrete and continuous vibrating systems and apply Rayleigh-Ritz method to estimate a few natural frequencies of continuous systems. (Capability 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Apply Lagrange's equations to formulate the equation of motion of a vibrating system, estimate the equilibrium positions and check their stability, and linearize the equation of motion around stable equilibrium positions. (Capability 3.2 and 4.1)
- Perform proper vibration measurement and testing based on the understanding of the working principles of accelerometers, force sensors and excitation and measurement systems (spectrum analysers, shakers, controllers) used in vibration testing systems, and estimate system parameters (natural frequencies, damping and mode shapes) from experimental measurements. (Capability 3.2 and 4.2)
- Evaluate vibration treatment approaches critically and explain why the various vibration treatment approaches are effective in some applications and not in others. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.2 and 5.1)
- Develop and perform finite element analysis to predict the natural frequencies, mode shapes and frequency response of a simple 1D vibrating structure. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.2)
Assessments
Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
---|---|---|
Projects | 35% | Individual Coursework |
Lab Reports | 15% | Individual Coursework |
Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
3 types | 100% |
Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||||
Projects | ||||||||||
Lab Reports | ||||||||||
Final Exam |
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures, 4 hours of two labs, 50 hours in total of work on projects and lab reports, and 60 hours of reading and thinking about the content.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings.
The course will include online discussions via Ed Discussion.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
The SET survey (response ratio 33.3%) indicated strong satisfaction of the class with the quality of the course in 2024, with 100% agreement. The changes in 2025, as compared to 2024, will be related to reduced weighting of the exam (from 60% to 50%) and increased weighting of the lab reports (from 10% to 15%) and project reports (from 30% to 35%). Also, more context information about the standards of vibration measurement and treatment in New Zealand will be added to the lecture notes and assessments.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.