ADDIS ABABA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

CE 6505 - STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS
Assignment 2 Problems
1. For the rigid body system shown in Figure P1
(a) Formulate the equation of motion using the displacement of right end of the rigid bar as a
generalized coordinate Z(t).
(b) Determine the natural vibration frequency and damping ratio

Figure P1

2. The column shown in the Figure P2 is to be treated as a SDOF system by defining its displaced
shape as
2
 x 3 x 
u ( x, t )   ( x) Z (t ) where  ( x)      
 L   2 2L 
Denoting the uniformly distributed mass per unit length by 𝑚, the uniform stiffness by EI, and
the uniformly distributed load per unit length by p(𝑡), evaluate the generalized physical
properties m* and k* and the generalized loading p*(t).

Figure P2
3. Three-story shear frame (rigid beam and flexible column) in structural steel (E = 200,000 MPa)
is shown in Figure P3; m = 50,000 kg, I = 60,000 cm4; and the damping ratio is 5 %. Assuming
that the shape function is given by deflections due to lateral forces that are equal to the floor
weights, formulate the equation of motion for the system and determine the natural frequency
and period of the frame.

Figure P3

4. Figure P4(a) shows a uniform slab supported on four columns rigidly attached to the slab and
clamped at the base. The slab has a total mass m and is rigid in plane and out of plane. Each
column is of circular cross section, and its second moment of cross-sectional area about any
diametrical axis is as noted. With the DOFs selected as ux , uy, and uθ at the center of the slab,
and using influence coefficients:
(a) Formulate the mass and stiffness matrices in terms of m and the lateral stiffness k = 12EI/h3
of the smaller column; h is the height.
(b) Formulate the equations of motion for ground motion in
(i) the x-direction, (ii) the y-direction, and (iii) the direction d–b.
(c) Repeat (a) and (b) using the second set of DOFs shown in Figure P4(b).

(a) (b)
Figure P4
5. The sketch in Figure P5 shows a planar frame structure that has a mezzanine slab twice as heavy
as its roof slab. The structure is supported by an array of columns with stiffness values as shown
on Figure P5. Assume that the slabs are rigid and the axial deformations in the columns are
negligible; ignore damping.
(a) What is the minimum number of coordinates, i.e. degrees of freedom, you need to express
the dynamic behavior of this structure properly?
(b) Write the differential equation(s) of motion when a lateral load F(t) is acting on the structure
as shown above.
(c) Find the natural period(s) of the system.
(d) Find and sketch the mode shape(s) of the system.
(e) A lateral point load is applied quasi-statically (i.e. the loading is increased from zero to its
maximum value very slowly) at the roof level such that the roof reaches a displacement of
unit amount relative to the ground. At that instant, what will be the displacement of the
mezzanine level relative to the ground?
(f) If the structure is released from the final displaced shape it has acquired in part (e), what will
be the expressions for the displacements of the mezzanine and the roof levels while they are
vibrating freely? Assume that at the time of the release, the structure was not moving (i.e. the
slabs were not moving).

Figure P5

6. A single-story warehouse (labeled as “original structure” in Figure P6) has been converted to an
artist’s loft after installing a mezzanine level (see “renovated structure” shown in Figure P6).
Assume that both the roof slab (mass 5M) and mezzanine level slab (mass M) are rigid and are
the only elements with substantial mass in the structure. Consider response in flexure only;
ignore axial and shear deformations in the columns. Note that the mezzanine slab is connected to
the columns rigidly, i.e. it prevents them from rotating at the mezzanine slab level. The relative
values of modulus of elasticity for the steel columns are shown on the sketch. Note that the new
column that has modulus of elasticity I has a pin-support at its ground level end.
(a) Find the natural periods of the renovated structure. How much has the fundamental mode
period changed from the original structure?
(b) Find and sketch the mode shapes of the renovated structure.
 Figure P6

7. A two DOF system is shown in Figure P7. Mass m1 and m2 are the same and equal to 10 kg.
Stiffness k1 = 100 kN/m, while stiffness k2 is unknown. A vibration test was conducted to
determine stiffness k2: the shape of the fundamental vibration mode is shown in the figure.
(a) Determine the second mode shape, using the form shown in the figure
(b) Determine stiffness k2
(c) Compute the natural periods of both vibration modes.

Figure P7

8. A four-story shear building shown in Figure P8 is subjected to a harmonic excitation applied at

the top story:
a) Using the Rayleigh's method estimate the fundamental period of vibration assuming the
shape function to be defined by a linear function and compare with obtained in (b)
b) Determine the four natural frequencies and four natural modes of the system
c) Determine the four modal masses Mn, modal stiffness Kn and modal force Pn(t)
d) Determine the expressions for the steady state response qn(t)
e) Determine the expression for the displacement of the first mode u4(t)
 f) Prepare a table showing the amplitude of u4(t) using the contribution of 1st, 2nd and 3rd
mode for the excitation frequencies  = 0,  = 0.81 and  = 1.23; also determine u4(t)
using contribution of all modes
g) From the results tabulated in (e) what conclusion can you draw concerning truncation to one
mode, two modes or three modes?
Use m = 100 tons, k = 40 MN/m, h = 3 m Pocost 3m u4
h k
2m
u3
h k
2m
u2
h 2k
m
u1
h 2k

2h
Figure P8

9. Using the general equation of motion of systems with distributed mass and elasticity find the first
five natural vibration frequencies and modes of a uniform beam clamped at one end and simply
supported at the other as shown in Figure P9.

EI, m

Figure P9

10. Determine the natural vibration frequencies and modes of the uniform beam of Figure P9
idealized as an assemblage of four finite elements of the same length, using
a. The consistent-mass matrix, and
b. The lumped-mass matrix.
c. Compare the results with the exact solution obtained in problem 7 and comment.