Exercise 4.

2, Module 4 (Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, CE 412)

Problem 1

What is the required column stiffness of single one-story structure to limit its acceleration amplitude to 3 m/s2
during an earthquake whose acceleration amplitude is 1.5 m/s2 at a frequency of 50 rad/s? The mass of structure is
1800 kg. Assume a damping ratio of 0.01.

 𝑢̈ = 3 m/s , 𝑢̈ = 1.5 m/s

 𝜔 = 50 rad/s, 𝑚 = 180 kg, 𝜁 = 0.01
 k=?

Solution

𝑢̈ 1 + (2𝜁𝑟 ) 1 + (2 ∗ 0.01𝑟 )
𝑇𝑅 = = =
𝑢̈ [1 − 𝑟 ] + [2𝜁𝑟 ] [1 − 𝑟 ] + [2 ∗ 0.01𝑟 ]

3 1 + 0.0004𝑟 1 + 0.0004𝑥
⇒ = =
1.5 [1 − 𝑟 ] + 0.0004𝑟 [1 − 𝑥 ] + 0.0004𝑥

By expanding and re-arranging, we get x2-1.99997x+0.75 ⇒ x=𝑟 =1.5,0.5

𝜔 𝜔 𝑘 𝜔 𝜔 180 ∗ 50 4.5 ∗ 10
𝑟 = = ⇒ = ⇒ 𝑘=𝑚 = =
𝜔 𝑘 𝑚 𝑟 𝑟 𝑟 𝑟
𝑚

4.5 ∗ 10 4.5 ∗ 10
⇒ 𝑘= 𝑎𝑛𝑑 = 3 ∗ 10 𝑁/𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 9 ∗ 10 𝑁/𝑚
1.5 0.5

Problem 2

A vibration isolation block is to be installed in a laboratory so that the

vibration from adjacent factory operations will not disturb certain
experiments. If the isolation block weighs 2000 lb and the surrounding
floor and foundation vibrate at 1500 cycles per minute, determine the
stiffness of the isolation system such that the motion of the isolation
block is limited to 10% of the floor vibration; neglect damping
 W = 2000 lb,
𝑢̈
 𝑓 = 1500 = 25
rad 𝑢̈
⇒ 𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓 = 2𝜋 ∗ 25 = 50𝜋
s
̈
 𝑢̈ = 0.1 𝑢̈ ⇒ ̈
= 𝑇𝑅 = 0.1

 ζ=0, k=?
Exercise 4.2, Module 4 (Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, CE 412)

Solution

𝑢̈ 1 + (2𝜁𝑟 ) 1+0 1
𝑇𝑅 = = ⇒ 0.1 = ⇒ 0.1 =
𝑢̈ [1 − 𝑟 ] + [2𝜁𝑟 ] [1 − 𝑟 ] + 0 |1 − 𝑟 |

⇒ |1 − 𝑟 | = 10 ⇒ 𝑟 = −9 or 11

Negative value of 𝑟 has no physical meaning, hence 𝑟 = 11

𝜔 𝜔 𝜔 2000 lb (50𝜋) lb k
𝑟 = = ⇒ 𝑘=𝑚 = . = 139435 = 11.62
𝜔 𝑘 𝑟 32.2ft/s 11 ft in.
𝑚

Problem 3
A 10-kg laser flow-measuring device is used on a table in a laboratory. Because of operation of other equipment,
the table is subject to horizontal vibration. Accelerometer measurements in horizontal direction show that the
dominant component of the table vibrations is at 300 Hz and has an amplitude of 4.3 m/s2 at the base. For effective
operation, the laser, mounted on the table’s top, can be subject to an acceleration amplitude of 0.7 m/s2.
(a)\ Design an undamped isolator to reduce the transmitted acceleration, to an acceptable amplitude.
(b) Design the isolator such that it has a damping ratio of 0.04.
0.7 m/s2
 m = 10 kg ,
 𝑓 = 300 Hz ⇒ ω = 2𝜋𝑓 = 2𝜋 ∗ 300 = 600𝜋
 𝑢̈ = 4.3 m/𝑠 , 𝑢̈ = 0.7 m/𝑠
𝑢̈
⇒ 𝑇𝑅 = 𝑢̈ = 0.7/4.3 = 0.163 4.3 m/s2
Solution
(a) ζ = 0

𝑢̈ 1 + (2𝜁𝑟 ) 1+0 1
𝑇𝑅 = = ⇒ 0.163 = ⇒ 0.1 =
𝑢̈ [1 − 𝑟 ] + [2𝜁𝑟 ] [1 − 𝑟 ] + 0 |1 − 𝑟 |

⇒ |1 − 𝑟 | = 6.14 ⇒ 𝑟 = −5.14 or 7.14

Negative value of 𝑟 have no physical interpretation, hence 𝑟 = 7.14
𝜔 𝜔 𝜔 (600𝜋)
𝑟 = = ⇒ 𝑘=𝑚 = (10 kg) ∗ = 4.98 ∗ 10 N/m
𝜔 𝑘 𝑟 7.14
𝑚
ζ = 0.04

𝑢̈ 1 + (2𝜁𝑟 ) 1 + (2 ∗ 0.04𝑟 )
𝑇𝑅 = = ⇒ 0.163 =
𝑢̈ [1 − 𝑟 ] + [2𝜁𝑟 ] [1 − 𝑟 ] + [2 ∗ 0.04𝑟 ]

1 + 0.00064 𝑟 1 + 0.00064 𝑥
⇒ 0.163 = ⇒ 0.0266 =
[1 − 𝑟 ] + 0.00064 𝑟 [1 − 𝑥] + 0.00064 𝑥

⇒ 𝑥 − 2.235𝑥 − 36.6 = 0
Exercise 4.2, Module 4 (Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, CE 412)

𝜔 (600𝜋)
𝑥 = 7.27, −5.03 ⇒ 𝑟 = 7.27 ⇒ 𝑘 = 𝑚 = (10 kg) ∗ = 4.89 ∗ 10 N/m
𝑟 7.27
By comparison results it is observed that adding damping has little effect on decreasing stiffness

Problem 4
A sensitive computer is being transported by rail in a boxcar. Accelerometer measurements indicate that when the
train is travelling at its normal speed of 85 m/s the dominant component of the boxcar’s vertical acceleration is
8.5 m/s2 at a frequency of 36 rad/s. The crate in which the computer is being transported is tied to the floor of the
boxcar. What is the required stiffness of an isolator with a damping ratio of 0.05 such that the acceleration
amplitude of the 60 kg computer is less than 0.5 m/s2? With this isolator, what is the displacement of the computer

 v = 85 m/s, 𝜔 = 36 rad/s,
 m = 60 kg, ζ = 0.05
 𝑢̈ = 8.5 m/𝑠 , 𝑢̈ = 0.5 m/𝑠
 𝑘 =? , 𝑢 =?
Solution

𝑢̈ 1 + (2𝜁𝑟 ) 0.5 1 + (2 ∗ 0.05𝑟 )

𝑇𝑅 = = ⇒ =
𝑢̈ [1 − 𝑟 ] + [2𝜁𝑟 ] 8.5 [1 − 𝑟 ] + [2 ∗ 0.05𝑟 ]

1 + 0.01𝑟 1 + 0.01𝑥
⇒ 0.0035 = =
[1 − 𝑟 ] + 0.01 𝑟 [1 − 𝑥] + 0.01 𝑥

⇒ 𝑥 − 4.85𝑥 − 285 = 0
𝜔 (36)
𝑥 = 19.48, −14.63 ⇒ 𝑟 = 19.48 ⇒ 𝑘 = 𝑚 = (60 kg) ∗ = 3992 N/m
𝑟 19.48

uo=?
𝑢 1 1
= or 𝑢 = (𝑢 )
(𝑢 ) [1 − 𝑟 ] + [2𝜁𝑟 ] [1 − 𝑟 ] + [2𝜁𝑟 ]

𝑝 1
⇒ 𝑢 = ……… 𝟏
𝑘 [1 − 𝑟 ] + [2𝜁𝑟 ]

For a SDOF system with base excitation, 𝑝 = 𝑚𝑢̈ = (60 kg) ∗ (8.5 m/s ) = 510 N

510 N 1
𝐄𝐪𝐧 𝟏: 𝑢 = = 0.00034m = 0.34 mm
3992 N/m [1 − 19.48 ] + [2 ∗ 0.05] ∗ 19.48
 Exercise 4.2, Module 4 (Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, CE 412)

Problem 5
A 150 kg engine operates at speeds between 1000 and 2000 rpm. It is desired to
achieve at least 85 percent isolation at all speeds. The only readily available isolator has a stiffness of 5 × 105 N/m.
How much mass must be added to the engine to achieve the desired isolation
 m = 150 kg , k= 5 × 105 N/m , ζ = 0
 ω = 1000 to 2000 rev/min = 1000*2π/60 to 2000*2π/60 rad/s = 104.8 to 209.6 rad/s
 TR= 1-85/100= 0.15
Solution

1 + (2𝜁𝑟 ) 1+0 1
𝑇𝑅 = ⇒ 0.15 = ⇒ 0.15 =
[1 − 𝑟 ] + [2𝜁𝑟 ] [1 − 𝑟 ] + 0 |1 − 𝑟 |

⇒ |1 − 𝑟 | = 6.67 ⇒ 𝑟 = −5.67 or 7.67 ⇒ 𝑟 = 2.77

𝜔 𝜔 𝑘𝑟 5 × 10 ∗ 7.67 38.35 × 10
𝑟 = = ⇒ 𝑀= ⇒ 150 + 𝑚´ = =
𝜔 𝑘 𝜔 𝜔 𝜔
𝑀
38.35 × 10
⇒ 𝑚´ = − 150
𝜔
38.35 × 10 38.35 × 10
𝑚´ = − 150 𝐭𝐨 − 150 = 99 kg to − 62.7 kg
104.8 209.6
Conclusion: Detaching 62.7 kg is not possible. On the hand adding 99 kg mass, while engine is running at 2000
.
rpm, results in 𝑟 = = = = 5.54. Increasing 𝑟𝜔 beyond 2.77will further reduce TR . Hence adding 99
×

kg mass will work for given range of speed

Problem 6
A vehicle can be idealized as a SDOF spring-mass-dashpot system. Mass of vehicle when loaded is 1000 kg.
The suspension stiffness is 280 kN/m and the damping ratio is 0.15. The vehicle travels over a terrain that is
approximately sinusoidal with a distance between peaks of 8 m and the distance from peak to valley is 10
cm. Calculate the speed of vehicle at which the passengers will experience maximum discomfort. How we
canmcope with
= 1000 kgthis
, k=issue
280 × 103 N/m , ζ = 0.15

𝑢̈
𝑝 𝑚𝑢
̈

ugo = 5 cm

𝑢̈
𝑢̈ = 0
Exercise 4.2, Module 4 (Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, CE 412)

ugo = 5 cm
𝑢 (𝑡) −cm

𝑢̈
𝑢̈ (𝑡) −cm/s2

𝑝
= −𝑚𝑢̈ (𝑡) 𝑁

Forcing time period, 𝑇

𝑝

Passengers will feel most uncomfortable when the exciting frequency of Effective force becomes equal
to car’s resonant frequency in vertical direction. For lower values of damping ratios, resonant
frequency=𝜔 1 − 2𝜁 ≈ 𝜔

(1000 kg)
Thus at resonance; 𝜔 = 𝜔 𝑜𝑟 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 2𝜋 𝑚 𝑘 = 2𝜋 N = 0.376 𝑠
280,000 m

1
𝐿 𝐿 8m 1000 𝑘𝑚
𝑇= 𝑜𝑟 𝑣 = = = 21.3 m/s = 21.3 ∗ 1
𝑣 𝑇 0.376 s
3600 ℎ𝑟
𝑣 = 76.6 𝑘𝑚/ℎ𝑟
How we can cope with this issue ?

One of the easiest options is to increase frequency ratio

by decreasing ωn (Higher the frequency ratio, lesser
will be the transmissibility). ωn can be reduced by
reducing the stiffness of suspension system or in the
other words using flexible suspension system