Chapter 12

Transient Structural Simulations

12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics
12.2 Lifting Fork
12.3 Two-Story Building
12.4 Ball and Rod
12.5 Guitar String
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics 2

Section 12.1
Basics of Structural Dynamics

Key Concepts
• Viscous Damping
• Lumped Mass Model
• Material Damping
• Single Degree of Freedom Model
• Coulomb Friction
• Undamped Free Vibration
• Modal Analysis
• Damped Free Vibration
• Harmonic Response Analysis
• Damping Coefficient
• Transient Structural Analysis
• Damping Mechanisms
• Explicit Dynamics
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics 3

Lumped Mass Model: The Two-Story Building

[4] Lateral stiffness [5] Lateral

of the first-floor's stiffness of the [3] Total mass
beams and [2] Total mass second-floor's lumped at the roof
columns. lumped at the beams and floor.
first floor. columns.

k1 m1 k2 m2 [1] A two-degrees-of-
freedom model for finding
the lateral displacements
of the two-story building.
c1 c2

[6] Energy dissipating [7] Energy dissipating

mechanism of the first mechanism of the
floor. second floor.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics 4

Single Degree of Freedom Model

x

m
∑ F = ma k

p − kx − cx = mx p

mx + cx + kx = p c

• We will use this single-degree-of-freedom lumped mass model to

explain some basic behavior of dynamic response.
• The results can be conceptually extended to general multiple-
degrees-of-freedom cases.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics 5

Undamped Free Vibration

If no external forces exist, the equation for the

2π
T=
one-degree-of-freedom system becomes ω
mx + cx + kx = 0

Displacement (x)
If the damping is negligible, then the equation
becomes
mx + kx = 0
The solution
(
x = Asin ω t + B ) time (t)

k ω
Natural frequency: ω = (rad/s) or f = (Hz)
m 2π
1
Natural period: T =
f
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics 6

Damped Free Vibration

mx + cx + kx = 0 2π
Td = Td
ωd
If the damping c is smaller than a critical value
cc , then the general solution is

(
x = Ae −ξω t sin ω d t + B )

Displacement (x)
where
c
ω d = ω 1− ξ 2 , ξ = , c = 2mω
cc c

The quantity cc is called the critical damping

coefficient and the quantity ξ is called the time (t)

damping ratio.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics 7

Damping Mechanisms

• Damping is the collection of all energy dissipating mechanisms.

• In a structural system, all energy dissipating mechanisms come down
to one word: friction. Three categories of frictions can be identified:
• friction between the structure and its surrounding fluid, called
viscous damping;
• friction in the connection between structural members, called dry
friction or Coulomb friction;
• and internal friction in the material, called material damping, solid
damping, or elastic hysteresis.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics 8

Analysis Systems

The foregoing concepts may be generalized to multiple-

degrees-of-freedom cases,

{} {}
M D + C D + K D = F { } {}
Where {D} is the nodal displacements vector, {F} is the
nodal external forces vector, [M] is called the mass
matrix, [C] is called the damping matrix, and [K] is the
stiffness matrix.
Note that when the dynamic effects (inertia effect
and damping effect) are neglected, it reduces to a static
structural analysis system,

{ } {}
K D = F
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics 9

Modal Analysis

{} {}
M D + C D + K D =0 { }
For a problem of n degrees of freedom, it has at most n solutions, denoted by
{Di },i =1,2,...,n . These solutions are called mode shapes of the structure. Each mode
shape {Di } can be excited by an external excitation of frequency ω i , called the natural
frequency of the mode.
In a modal analysis, since we are usually interested only in the natural frequencies
and the shapes of the vibration modes, the damping effect is usually neglected to
simplify the calculation,
{}
M D + K D =0 { }
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics 10

Harmonic Response Analysis

{} {}
M D + C D + K D = F { } {}
Harmonic Response analysis solves a special form of the equation, in which
the external force on ith degree of freedom is of the form
Fi = Ai sin(Ωt + φi )
where Ai is the amplitude of the force, φi is the phase angle of the force, and Ω is
the angular frequency of the external force. The steady-state solution of the
equation will be of the form
Di = Bi sin(Ωt + ϕ i )
The goal of the harmonic response analysis to find the magnitude Bi and the phase
angle ϕ i , under a range of frequencies of the external force.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics 11

Transient Structural Analysis

{} {} { } {}
M D + C D + K D = F

Transient Structural analysis solves the general form of the equation. External
force {F} can be time-dependent forces. All nonlinearities can be included. It uses a
direct integration method to calculate the dynamic response.
The direct integration method used in Transient Structural analysis is
called an implicit integration method.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.1 Basics of Structural Dynamics 12

Explicit Dynamics

{} {} { } {}
M D + C D + K D = F

Similar to Transient Structural, Explicit Dynamics also solves the general

form of equation. External force {F} can be time-dependent forces. All
nonlinearities can be included. It also uses a direct integration method to
calculate the dynamic response.
The direct integration method used in Explicit Dynamic analysis is called
an explicit integration method.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.2 Lifting Fork 13

Section 12.2
Lifting Fork

Problem Description

During the handling,

the fork accelerates
upward to a velocity
of 1.5 m/s in 0.3
second, and then
decelerates to a full
stop in another 0.3
second, causing the
glass panel to
vibrate.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.2 Lifting Fork 14

Static Structural Simulation

The maximum
static deflection.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.2 Lifting Fork 15

Transient Structural Simulation

Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.3 Two-Story Building 16

Section 12.3
Two-Story Building

Problem Description Harmonic loads

apply on this
floor deck.

Two scenarios are investigated:

• Harmonic load of magnitude of 10 psf
due to the dancing on the floor.
• Harmonic load of magnitude of 0.1 psf
due to rotations of a machine.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.3 Two-Story Building 17

Modal Analysis

[1] The first

mode (1.52 Hz).

[2] The sixth

mode (9.59 Hz).

[3] The eighth

mode (10.3 Hz)
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.3 Two-Story Building 18

• The dancing frequency is close to the fundamental mode

(1.55 Hz), that's why we pay attention to this mode, which
is a side sway mode (in X-direction).
• For the rotatory machine, we are concerned about the
floor vibrations in vertical direction. That's why we pay
attention at the sixth and eighth modes.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.3 Two-Story Building 19

Side Sway Due to Dancing

At dancing frequency of
1.52 Hz, the structure is
excited such that the
Amplitude of side sway
maximum X-displacement due to harmonic load of
magnitude of 1 psf.
is 0.03642 in (0.925 mm).
This value is too small to
be worried about.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.3 Two-Story Building 20

Vertical Deflection of the Floor Due to Rotatory

Machine
Although high frequencies do excite the floor, but the values are
very small. At frequency of 10.3 Hz, the excitation reaches a
maximum of 0.0061933 in (0.1 times of 0.061933 in), or 0.157 mm.
The value is too small to cause an issue.

Amplitude of vertical
deflection of the floor
due to harmonic load of
magnitude of 1 psf.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.4 Disk and Block 21

Section 12.4
Disk and Block

Problem Description
[1] Before the
impact, the block
rests on the
surface.

[3] Both the disk and the

block are made of a very
soft polymer of Young's
modulus of 10 kPa,
Poisson's ratio of 0.4, and
mass density of 1000 kg/m3.
[2] Right before the
impact, the disk moves
toward the block with a
velocity of 0.5 m/s.
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.4 Disk and Block 22

Results
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.4 Disk and Block 23

Solution Behavior
Chapter 12 Transient Structural Simulations Section 12.5 Guitar String 24

Section 12.5
Guitar String
The main purpose of this exercise is to demonstrate how to use the
results of a static simulation as the initial condition of a transient
dynamic simulation