Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 7.

Structural Vibration and Dynamics

1999 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 172
VI. Transient Response Analysis
(Dynamic Response/Time-History Analysis)
Structure response to arbitrary, time-dependent loading.
f(t)
t
u(t)
t
Compute responses by integrating through time:
t
0
t
1
t
2
t
n
t
n+1
u
1
u
2
u
n
u
n+1
t
Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 7. Structural Vibration and Dynamics
1999 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 173
Equation of motion at instance
n
t , n = 0, 1, 2, 3, :
. n n n n
f Ku u C u M + + & & &
Time increment: t=t
n+1
-t
n
, n=0, 1, 2, 3, .
There are two categories of methods for transient analysis.
A. Direct Methods (Direct Integration Methods)
Central Difference Method
Approximate using finite difference:
) 2 (
) (
1
), (
2
1
1 1
2
1 1
+
+
+

n n n n
n n n
t
t
u u u u
u u u
& &
&
Dynamic equation becomes,
, ) (
2
1
) 2 (
) (
1
1 1 1 1
2
n n n n n n n
t t
f Ku u u C u u u M +
1
]
1

+
1
]
1

+ +
which yields,
) (
1
t
n
F Au
+
where
( )
( ) ( )

'

1
]
1

1
]
1

.
2
1 1 2
) (
,
2
1 1
1 2 2
2
n n n
t t t
t
t t
u C M u M K f F
C M A
Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 7. Structural Vibration and Dynamics
1999 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 174
u
n+1
is calculated from u
n
& u
n-1
, and solution is
marching from
,
, 1 , , 1 , 0
L L
+ n n
t t t t
until convergent.
This method is unstable if t is too large.
Newmark Method:
Use approximations:
[ ]
[ ], ) 1 (
) ( , 2 ) 2 1 (
2
) (
1 1
1 1
2
1
+ +
+ + +
+ +
+

+ +
n n n n
n n n n n n
t
t
t
u u u u
u u u u u u
& & & & & &
L & & & & & & &


where & are chosen constants. These lead to
) (
1
t
n
F Au
+
where
). , , , , , , , , ( ) (
,
) (
1
1
2
n n n n
t f t
t t
u u u M C f F
M C K A
& & &

+
+

This method is unconditionally stable if

4
1
,
2
1
., . e
.
2
1
2




g
which gives the constant average acceleration method.
Direct methods can be expensive! (the need to
compute A
-1
, often repeatedly for each time step).
Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 7. Structural Vibration and Dynamics
1999 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 175
B. Modal Method
First, do the transformation of the dynamic equations using
the modal matrix before the time marching:
), ( 2
, ) (
1
t p z z z
t z
i i i i i i i
m
i
i i
+ +

& & &

z u u
i = 1,2,, m.
Then, solve the uncoupled equations using an integration
method. Can use, e.g., 10%, of the total modes (m= n/10).
Uncoupled system,
Fewer equations,
No inverse of matrices,
More efficient for large problems.
Comparisons of the Methods
Direct Methods Modal Method
Small model
More accurate (with small t)
Single loading
Shock loading

Large model
Higher modes ignored
Multiple loading
Periodic loading

Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method Chapter 7. Structural Vibration and Dynamics
1999 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati 176
Cautions in Dynamic Analysis
Symmetry: It should not be used in the dynamic analysis
(normal modes, etc.) because symmetric structures can
have antisymmetric modes.
Mechanism, rigid body motion means = 0. Can use
this to check FEA models to see if they are properly
connected and/or supported.
Input for FEA: loading F(t) or F() can be very
complicated in real applications and often needs to be
filtered first before used as input for FEA.
Examples
Impact, drop test, etc.