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# Velocity and Acceleration

The analysis of velocity and acceleration in a range of mechanisms including Klein's Construction for piston acceleration.
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## Introduction

The Theory of Machines is concerned with the Motion of parts of machines and the forces which act on those parts. In most cases these forces are not constant and their calculation demands that we know the velocities and accelerations which occur in the various components.

The concept of Instantaneous Centres of Velocity was covered in the section on Mechanisms. In this section the Analysis of Velocity and Acceleration are considered with particular reference to Cranks and Pistons. Klien's Construction for Piston Acceleration is introduced and a description of the Coriolis Component is given.

## Analysis Of Velocity And Accelerations Components

### Velocity

In the diagram the point moves in the plane . The length and the .

Velocity is the measurement of the rate and direction of change in the position of an object. It is a vector physical quantity; both magnitude and direction are required to define it.

Then:

And,

Differentiating with respect to time :

The radial component of Velocity ( i.e. in the direction of ) is given by:

And using equations (2) and (3)

Which is the rate of increase of

The tangential component of velocity (i.e. Perpendicular to in the direction of increasing)

Where = angular velocity of

### Acceleration

Acceleration is the time rate of change of velocity with respect to magnitude or direction; the derivative of velocity with respect to time.

Differentiating (2) and (3)

And from equation (4)

The Tangential component of acceleration

By substitution:

(Note = Angular acceleration of )

Of these four terms in equations (5) and (6)

• is the rate of change of radial velocity
• is the centripetal acceleration due to the rotation of
• is due to the change in angular velocity.
• is called the compound supplementary acceleration or Coriolis Component. Notice that the direction of this is the same as when is radially outwards.

## The Velocity And Acceleration Of A Piston By Analysis

In the following analysis is the uniform angular velocity of the crank. The positive direction of velocity and acceleration is away from the crankshaft.

And,

From the above three equations:

Thus Piston velocity,

And Piston acceleration,

Normally can be neglected in comparison with and equations (7) and (8) can be reduced as follows:

## Instantaneous Centre Method For Velocities.

This has been covered in the section on Mechanisms.

## The Vector Method For Velocity And Acceleration

The Law of addition of velocities states that:

Velocity of = Velocity of + Velocity of relative to

i.e.

Absolute velocities (or accelerations) are given from to the corresponding point on the diagram.

For Velocities

• The relative velocity between two points and on the same link of a mechanism must be perpendicular to the line joining the points and is equal to (Equation (3))since is constant and is zero.
• The relative velocity for two points sliding over one another is along the common tangents of their paths and represents the component , is zero since
For Acceleration

The relationships for acceleration are similar to those given for velocity:

• Acceleration of = Acceleration of + Acceleration of relative to
• Equations (5) and (6) are the general expressions for the radial and tangential components of relative acceleration.
• For two points on the same link leaving centripetal component (which can be calculated when the velocities are determined) and the tangential component
• For a uniformly rotating Crank leaving the centripetal as the only term.
• The Coriolis component arises when a point on one link is sliding along another link which is itself rotating.

If ,,, are three points on the same link of a mechanism and ,,, are the corresponding points on the velocity (or acceleration) diagram, it can be shown that the triangles and are similar. is called the Velocity (or acceleration) image of the link.

## Klein's Construction For Piston Acceleration

The above is a diagramatic sketch of a piston, connecting rod, and crank assembly where,

• is the connecting rod with the Crank Pin.
• is the crank.
• is the line of stroke.
• is the gudgeon pin

The Construction is as follows:

• Extend to meet the line through perpendicular to the line of stroke. Let the point of intersection be .
• Draw a circle centre and radius .
• Draw a circle with as diameter.
• Let the common cord cut the line at and the line of stroke at .

Then the quadrilateral represents, to a certain scale, the acceleration diagram for . It can be shown that this scale is .

• The Centripetal acceleration of the crank pin is
• The piston acceleration is
• is the Centripetal component and the Tangential component of the acceleration of relative to , so that is the acceleration image of .
• For any point on draw a line parallel to cutting in . The acceleration of is in magnitude and direction.
Example:
[imperial]
##### Example - Example 1
Problem
An aeroplane  flying at 180 m.p.h. in a direction  North of West sights another  due North of . After 30 seconds flying  is seen to be in a North-Easterly direction from  and after a further 45 seconds  is directly astern of . If  is flying at a constant speed in a direction due South, find:
• a) The speed of 
• b) For how long  is within 2 miles of 
Workings
In the following diagram the Paths of  and  are shown. Their three particular positions are  and  respectively.

 (30 seconds flying)

By scaling or by calculation  and occupies 45 seconds of flying time.

Hence, Speed of  = 

Relative displacement of  to  = displacement of  - displacement of 

i.e. 

In the first 30 seconds 

Assuming that A is at rest at  , the relative path of  is  produced and a circle centre  and of radius 2 miles cuts this path at 1 and . Between 1 and ,  lies within 2 miles of .



But 

This represents 30 seconds of relative displacement

But, Time corresponding to 1 mile = 
Solution
• a) The speed of  is 
• b)