Direct resonators

Fundamental mode of resonance for a mechanical oscillatory system at varying damping conditions.

All mechanical vibrating systems possess a natural frequency f_n, which is presented as the following in its most basic form.

${\displaystyle f_{n}={1 \over 2\pi }{\sqrt {k \over m}}}$

When an external forcing is applied directly (parallel to the plane of the oscillatory displacement) to the system around the frequency of its natural frequency, then the fundamental mode of resonance can be achieved. The oscillatory amplitude outside this frequency region is typically smaller than the resonant peak and the input amplitude. The amplitude of the resonant peak and the bandwidth of resonance is dependent on the damping conditions and is quantified by the dimensionless quantity Q factor. Higher resonant modes and resonant modes at different planes (transverse, lateral, rotational and flexural) are usually triggered at higher frequencies. The specific frequency vicinity of these modes depends on the nature and boundary conditions of each mechanical system. Additionally, subharmonics, superharmonics or subsuperharmonics of each mode can also be excited at the right boundary conditions.^[7]

“As a model for a detector we note that if you hang a weight on a spring and then move the upper end of the spring up and down, the amplitude of the weight will be much larger than the driving amplitude if you are at the resonant frequency of the mass and spring assembly. It is essentially a mechanical amplifier and serves as a good candidate for a sensitive detector."^[8]

Parametric resonators

Parametric resonance is the physical phenomenon where an external excitation, at a specific frequency and typically orthogonal to the plane of displacement, introduces a periodic modulation in one of the system parameters resulting in a buildup in oscillatory amplitude. It is governed by the Mathieu equation. The following is a damped Mathieu equation.

${\displaystyle {\ddot {x}}+c{\dot {x}}+[\delta -2\varepsilon \cos {2t}]x=0}$

where δ is the squared of the natural frequency and ε is the amplitude of the parametric excitation.

Swing is essentially a pendulum, which can be driven into either direct or parametric resonance depending on the nature of excitation and boundary conditions.

The first order or the principal parametric resonance is achieved when the driving/excitation frequency is twice the natural frequency of a given system. Higher orders of parametric resonance are observed either at or at submultiples of the natural frequency. For direct resonance, the response frequency always matches the excitation frequency. However, regardless of which order of parametric resonance is activated, the response frequency of parametric resonance is always in the vicinity of the natural frequency.^[9] Parametric resonance has the ability to exhibit higher mechanical amplification than direct resonance when operating at favourable conditions, but usually has a longer build up/transient state.^[10]

“The parametric resonator provides a very useful instrument that has been developed by a number of researchers, in part because a parametric resonator can serve as a mechanical amplifier, over a narrow band of frequencies.”^[11]

Other resonators/oscillators

Other means of signal enhancement, applicable to both mechanical and electrical domains, exist. This include chaos theory, stochastic resonance and many other nonlinear or vibrational phenomena. No new energy is created. However, through mechanical amplification, more of the available power spectrum can be utilised at a more optimal efficiency rather than dissipated.

Lever

A lever can amplify either displacement or force.

Lever can be used to change the magnitude of a given mechanical signal, such as force or displacement.^[1] Levers are widely used as mechanical amplifiers in actuators and generators.^[12]

It is a mechanism that usually consist of a rigid beam/rod fixed about a pivot. Levers are balanced when there is a balance of moment or torque about the pivot. Three major classifications exist, depending on the position of the pivot, input and output forces. The fundamental principle of lever mechanism is governed by the following ratio, dating back to Archimedes.

${\displaystyle {\frac {F_{B}}{F_{A}}}={\frac {a}{b}}}$

where F_A is a force acting on point A on the rigid lever beam, F_B is a force acting on point B on the rigid lever beam and a and b are the respective distances from points A and B to the pivot point.

If F_B is the output force and F_A is the input force, then mechanical advantage MA is given by the ratio of output force to input force.

${\displaystyle MA={\frac {F_{B}}{F_{A}}}}$

Gear train

Two meshing gears transmit rotational motion. With different number of teeth between the input and output gears, torque and velocity can be either amplified or reduced.

Gear trains^[13] are usually formed by the meshing engagement of two or more gears on a frame to form a transmission. This can provide translation (linear motion) or rotation as well as mechanically alter displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration, direction and torque depending on the type of gears employed, transmission configuration and gearing ratio.

The mechanical advantage of a gear train is given by the ratio of the output torque T_B and input torque T_A, which is also the same ratio of number of teeth of the output gear N_B and the number of teeth of the input gear N_A.

${\displaystyle MA={\frac {T_{B}}{T_{A}}}={\frac {N_{B}}{N_{A}}}.}$

Therefore, torque can be amplified if the number of teeth of the output gear is larger than that of the input gear.

The ratio of the number of gear teeth is also related to the gear velocities ω_A and ω_B as follows.

${\displaystyle {\frac {T_{A}}{T_{B}}}={\frac {\omega _{B}}{\omega _{A}}}.}$

Therefore, if the number of teeth of the output gear is less than that of the input, the output velocity is amplified.

Others

The above-mentioned mechanical quantities can also be amplified and/or converted either through a combination of above or other iterations of mechanical transmission systems, such as, cranks, cam, torque amplifiers, hydraulic jacks, mechanical comparator such as Johansson Mikrokator and many more.