Four Problems

Thursday March 12, 2020

1 Free Response
A 1 storey building can be considered a SDOF system. Its top is displaced by means
of a hydraulic jack, the applied force is 90kN, and the measured displacement is
𝑥0 = 5.0mm.
The applied force is istantaneously released, so that the building oscillates in
free response, starting from initial conditions 𝑥(0) = 𝑥0 , 𝑥(0)
̇ = 0. Note that 𝑥0
is a maximum, as the velocity at time 𝑡 = 0 is equal to zero.
The maximum displacement after the irst cycle of oscillation is measured, and
it is found that 𝑥1 = 4.0mm, at time 𝑡 = 1.40s.
We want to determine the dynamical parameters of the system, and in partic‑
ular its damping ratio.

1.1 Determination of the Dynamical Parameters

First, we can derive the elastic stiffness relating the applied force and the initial
displacement,
𝐹 90, 000N MN
𝑘= = = 18.0 .
𝑥0 0.005m m
Next, with the understanding that the damped period is 𝑇𝐷 = 1.4s, we ind the
damped frequency,

2𝜋 6.2832rad r𝑎𝑑
𝜔𝐷 = = = 4.488 .
𝑇𝐷 1.40s s

The logarithmic decrement equation, when written for two consecutive max‑
ima of the response, is
𝑥𝑛 2𝜋𝜁
log( )=𝛿= .
𝑥𝑛+1 1 − 𝛽2

Solving for 𝜁 and substituting 𝛿 = log 1.25 gives

𝛿
𝜁= = 3.54920237062%.
(2𝜋)2 + 𝛿2

1
 𝑖 𝜔𝑖 (rad/s) 𝜌𝑖 (𝜇m) 𝜗𝑖 (deg) cos 𝜗𝑖 sin 𝜗
1 16.0 183. 15.0 0.966 0.259
2 25.0 368. 55.0 0.574 0.819

Table 1: Experimental data

As an alternative, one can use an iterative solution, starting with 𝜁0 = 0 and

writing
𝛿
𝜁𝑖+1 = 1 − 𝜁𝑖2 .
2𝜋
Using this procedure, the successive approximations are

𝜁1 =3.55143992107%
𝜁2 =3.54919954758%
𝜁3 =3.54920237420%
𝜁4 =3.54920237064%

Of course, from an engineering point of view the result 𝜁1 = 3.55% is good enough.

2 Dynamic Testing
We want to measure the dynamical characteristics of a SDOF building system, i.e.,
its mass, its damping coef icient and its elastic stiffness.
To this purpose, we demonstrate that is suf icient to measure the steady‑state
response of the SDOF when subjected to a number of harmonic excitations with
different frequencies.
The steady‑state response is characterized by its amplitude,𝜌 and the phase
delay, 𝜗, as in 𝑥S𝑆 (𝑡) = 𝜌 sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝜗).
E.g., we excite our stucture with a vibrodyne that exerts a harmonic force 𝑝(𝑡) =
𝑝0 sin 𝜔𝑡, with 𝑝0 = 2.224kN, and measure the steady‑state response parameters
for two different input frequencies, as detailed in table 1.

2.1 Determination of the Dynamical Parameters

We start from the equation for steady‑state response amplitude,
𝑝0 1
𝜌=
𝑘 (1 − 𝛽 2 )2 + (2𝜁𝛽)2

where we collect (1 − 𝛽 2 )2 in the radicand in the right member,

𝑝0 1 1
𝜌=
𝑘 1 − 𝛽2 1 + [2𝜁𝛽/(1 − 𝛽2 )]2

2
 L

Figure 1: vertical pro ile of bridge surface

2𝜁𝛽
but the equation for the phase angle, tan 𝜗 = , can be substituted in the radi‑
1−𝛽2
cand, so that, using simple trigonometric identities, we ind that

𝑝0 1 1 𝑝0 cos 𝜗
𝜌= = .
𝑘 1 − 𝛽2 2
1 + tan 𝜗 𝑘 1 − 𝛽2

𝜔2
With 𝑘(1 − 𝛽 2 ) = 𝑘 − 𝑘 = 𝑘 − 𝜔2 𝑚 and using a simple rearrangement, we
𝑘/𝑚
have
𝑝0
𝑘 − 𝜔2 𝑚 = cos 𝜗.
𝜌
Substituting the data from table 1 into the previous equation for 𝑖 = 1, 2 we can
write, using matrix notation, a system of two algebraic equations in the unknown
𝑘 and 𝑚,
0.966
1 −162 𝑘 183×10−6 ,
= 𝑝 0.574
1 −252 𝑚 0
−6
368×10
that once solved gives us the values 𝑘 = 17.48 MN/m and 𝑚 = 22415 kg, while
the natural frequency is 𝜔 = 𝑘/𝑚 = 27.924rad/s.
Using the previously established relationship for cos 𝜗, we can write cos 𝜗 =
𝜌
𝑘(1−𝛽2 ) , from the equation of the phase angle (see above), we can write cos 𝜗 =
𝑝0
1−𝛽2
sin 𝜗, and inally
2𝜁𝛽

𝜌𝑘 sin 𝜗 𝑝0 sin 𝜗
= , hence 𝜁 = ,
𝑝0 2𝜁𝛽 𝜌𝑘 2𝛽

and substituting the values for, e,g„ 𝑖 = 1 gives 𝜁 = 15.7%. Substituting the values
for 𝑖 = 2 offers a result that is equivalent from an engineering point of view.

3 Vibration Insulation, Displacements

A vehicle with mass 𝑚 = 1800kg travels at constant velocity 𝑣 = 72km/h over
a very long bridge; the bridge has a constant span 𝐿 = 12m and, due to viscous
displacements, its surface is no more horizontal (see igure 1). The vertical pro ile
of the bridge surface can be approximated by a trigonometric function,
2𝜋𝑥
𝑦𝑔 = 𝑦𝑔0 cos( ),
𝐿

3
 m

k c

Figure 2: simpli ied model of the vehicle

𝛿
where 𝑦𝑔0 = max = 3.0cm, 𝛿 = 6.0cm being the maximum de lection measured
2
between the supports and the midspan.
The vehicle can be considered as a single mass, connected to the road surface
by a suspension system composed by a spring and a viscous damper . The stiffness
is 𝑘 = 225kN/m, and the damping ratio is 𝜁 = 40%.
It is required the maximum value of the total vertical displacement of the ve‑
hicle body at steady state.

3.1 Determination of the total steady state displacement

The point of contact between the suspension and the road, assuming a constant
vehicle velocity, goes up and down with a period 𝑇 that is equal to the time that
the vehicle uses to go from one maximum to the successive maximum, that is the
time it takes to travel 𝐿 = 12m.
The vehicle velocity is
72000m
𝑣= = 20m/s,
3600s
and the excitation period is hence
12m
𝑇= = 0.6s.
20m/s

The natural period of excitation of the suspension‑vehicle system is

2𝜋 2𝜋
𝑇𝑛 = = = 0.562s
𝜔𝑛 𝑘/𝑚

and the excitation frequency ratio is

𝑇𝑛
𝛽= = 0.9366
𝑇
.

4
 The transmittance ratio, 𝑇𝑅, is de ined as

𝑦TOT 1 + (2𝜁𝛽)2
𝑇𝑅 = = = 1.647,
𝑦𝑔0 (1 − 𝛽 2 )2 + (2𝜁𝛽)2
so that the maximum displacement is
𝑦TOT = 1.647 × 3.0cm = 4.9371cm.
For 𝜁 = 0.0, 𝑇𝑅 is equal to?

4 Vibration Insulation, Transmitted Forces.

A rotating machine has a total mass 𝑚 = 90, 000kg; when it is in operation the
machine transmits to its rigid support a harmonic force
𝑝(𝑡) = 𝑝0 sin(2𝜋𝑓0 𝑡), with 𝑝0 = 2kN and 𝑓0 = 40Hz.
Due to the excessive level of vibrations induced in the building in which the
machine is housed, it is required that the transmitted force is reduced to a maxi‑
mum value of 400N. This will be achieved by means of a suspension system that
will consist of four equal springs of elastic constant 𝑘.

4.1 Maximum stiffness of the damping system

In this case the required maximum value of the transmissibility ratio is
𝑓𝑇 400N
𝑇𝑅 = = = 0.20,
𝑝𝑜 2000N
and the required insulation ef iciency is
𝐼𝐸 = 1 − 𝑇𝑅 = 0.80
From the design chart in igure 3, for an excitation frequency of 40Hz and 𝐼𝐸 =
0.80, we see the following requirement for the static displacement,
Δstatic = 𝑊/𝑘total ≥ 0.095cm = 0.00095m.
Solving for 𝑘 = 𝑘total /4,
90, 000 × 9.81
𝑘≤ N/m = 232.34MN/m.
4 × 0.00095
Using a different approach, for an undamped system one can write

1 1 + 𝑇𝑅
𝑇𝑅 = , hence 𝛽 = = 2.45
𝛽2 − 1 𝑇𝑅
deriving 𝜔𝑛 = (2𝜋𝑓0 )/2.0 = 102.64rad/s, and
𝑘total 1 90, 000 × 10, 527.6 MN
𝑘= = 𝑚𝜔𝑛2 = = 236.87
4 4 4 m

5
 50
IE=0.00
45 IE=0.50
40 IE=0.60
IE=0.70
35 IE=0.80
IE=0.90

6
30 IE=0.95
25 IE=0.98

Figure 3: IE design chart

IE=0.99
20
15

Input frequency [Hz]

10
5
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
∆st [cm]