ABSTRACT
The foundations of machinery installations have the combined function of transmitting the dead loading from the machinery to the supporting soil and of absorbing or transmitting to the soil in an attenuated form the vibrations caused by impacting, reciprocating, or rotating machinery. In the case of impacting machinery or equipment such as forging hammers or presses, and reciprocating machines, piston compressors and diesel engines, the dynamic loads transmitted to the soil take the form of thrusts in a vertical, horizontal or inclined direction. Rotating machinery, such as gas and steam turbines, creates a torque on the shaft, resulting in lateral loads or moments applied to the foundation block. Rock crushers and metal shredders produce random dynamic loads as a result of rotating imbalances depending on the particular operation. Dynamic loading from hammers or presses, or from low-speed reciprocating engines has a comparatively low frequency of application, but the vibrations resulting from out-of-balance components in high-speed rotating machinery can have a high frequency.
