Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
Mode Superposition

Module 6
Module 6
Mode Superposition Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
A. Define mode superposition.
B. Learn how to use the mode superposition method.
C. Work on a mode superposition exercise.

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Mode Superposition
A. Definition & Purpose Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
• A solution technique for transient, harmonic analyses. It
sums factored mode shapes from a modal analysis to
calculate the dynamic response.
• A fast, efficient method that can be used for linear dynamics
problems.
• The alternative is to use the direct integration method which
can be time consuming. The two methods are compared
next.

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Mode Superposition
… Definition & Purpose Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
• General equation of motion:

Mu  Cu  Ku  f (t )

• Mode superposition assumes that U(t) can be represented as

a linear combination of mode shapes of the structure.

u (t )  [ ]{ y}
where [is the matrix of mode shapes 

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Mode Superposition
… Definition & Purpose Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
• The general equation of motion can be premultiplied by [T
and written as:

[] T M []{y}  []T C[ ]{ y }  []T K [ ]{ y}  []T f (t )

• However due to orthogonality of the mode shapes,

[ ] iT M [ ]J  [ ] iT C[ ]J  [ ] iT K [ ]J  0 i  j
and

[ ] M [ ]J  1
T
J

[ ]TJ C[ ]J  2 J J
2
[  ] K [  ]J   J
T
J
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Mode Superposition
… Definition & Purpose Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
• This reduces the problem to ‘m’ single dof system equations ( m is the number of modes) as
below:

yJ  2 J J y J   J yJ  [] f (t ) 2 T
J
• Each of these equations are solved for yi(t).
• The final solution is then a computed as:

u (t )  1 y1 (t )  2 y2 (t )  ...  m ym (t )  []{ y}

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Mode Superposition
… Definition & Purpose
Mode Superposition
+ Equation of motion is uncoupled.
Solution is very fast.
+ Effective when only a few modes
are needed to describe response.
± Requires eigenvectors from a
modal solution.
– Linear only, no nonlinearities.
– Deciding how many modes to use
may be difficult. Too few modes
may give good displacements but
poor stresses.
Training Manual
DYNAMICS 5.6
Direct Integration
– Fully coupled equation of motion.
Solution can be time
consuming.
+ Effective for most problems.
± No eigenvectors required.
However, most dynamic analyses
begin with a modal solution.
+ Nonlinearities allowed in
transient analysis.
+ Easier to determine t, the
integration time step, than
number of modes.
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Mode Superposition
B. Procedure Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
Five main steps:
• Build the model
• Obtain the modal solution
• Switch to harmonic or transient analysis
• Apply loads and solve
• Review results

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Mode Superposition
Build the Model Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
Model
• Same considerations as a modal analysis.
• Linear elements and materials only. Nonlinearities are
ignored.
• Remember density! Also, if material-dependent damping is
present, it must be defined in this step.
• See also Modeling Considerations in Module 1.

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Mode Superposition
Obtain the Modal Solution Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
 Build the model

Obtain the modal solution

• Same procedure as a normal modal analysis.
• A few differences, discussed next.

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Mode Superposition
… Obtain the Modal Solution Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
• Mode extraction:
– Only valid methods are Block Lanczos, subspace, reduced or
powerdynamics.
– Extract all modes that may contribute to the dynamic response.
– Mode expansion is needed to view mode shapes but not
required for the mode superposition solution.

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Mode Superposition
… Obtain the Modal Solution Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
• Loads and BC’s:
– All displacement constraints must be applied in this step. Zero valued
only; non-zero displacements are not allowed.
– If element loads (pressures, temperatures, and accelerations) are to be
applied in the harmonic or transient analysis, they must be specified in
this step.

The solver ignores

the loads for the
modal solution, but
writes a load vector
to the .mode file.

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Mode Superposition
Switch to Harmonic or Transient Analysis Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
 Build the model
 Obtain the modal solution

Switch to harmonic or transient analysis

• Exit and re-enter Solution
• New analysis: Harmonic or Transient
• Analysis options: Discussed next
• Damping: Discussed next

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Mode Superposition
… Switch to Harmonic or Transient Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
Analysis options - same as for a full harmonic or transient except:
• Solution method: Mode superposition
• Maximum mode number: Highest mode number to be used for
solution. Defaults to highest mode extracted.
• Minimum mode number: Lowest mode number. Defaults to 1.
• Also for harmonic analysis:
– Solution clustering option for a smooth response curve.
– Option to print mode contributions at each frequency.

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Mode Superposition
… Switch to Harmonic or Transient Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
Damping
• Damping in some form should be
specified in most cases.
• All four forms are available for
mode superposition:
– Alpha (mass) damping
– Beta (stiffness) damping
• both global and material
dependent
– Constant damping ratio
– Frequency dependent damping ratio
(modal damping)

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Mode Superposition
Apply Loads and Solve Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
 Build the model
 Obtain the modal solution
 Switch to harmonic or transient analysis

Apply loads and solve

• Only forces and accelerations, no displacements.
• Load vector from modal analysis (discussed next).
• Conditions for initial static solution in a transient analysis
(discussed next).
• Integration time step is constant throughout transient.
• Start solution calculations (SOLVE).

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Mode Superposition
… Apply Loads and Solve Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
Load vector
• Gives a way to apply element
loads (pressures, accelerations,
and temperatures) in a mode
superposition analysis.
• Calculated during the modal
solution based on loads
specified in the modal analysis.
• Can be applied with a scale
factor (which defaults to 1.0).

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Mode Superposition
… Apply Loads and Solve Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
Initial static solution in a transient analysis
• The initial solution (at time = 0) in a mode superposition
transient analysis is always a static solution (using the
frontal solver).
• Can take a long time and much disk space for large models.
• To avoid it (and get {U}t=0 = {0}), do not apply any loads at
time = 0.

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Mode Superposition
… Apply Loads and Solve Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
Solve
• Same procedure as for a full transient or harmonic analysis.
• Only displacement results are calculated during solution (no
stresses or reaction forces). The displacement solution is
written to:
jobname.rdsp for a transient analysis
jobname.rfrq for a harmonic analysis

• Next step is to review results.

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Mode Superposition
Review Results Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
 Build the model
 Obtain the modal solution
 Switch to harmonic or transient analysis
 Apply loads and solve

Review results. Three steps:

• Review the displacement solution
• Expand the solution
• Review the expanded solution

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Mode Superposition
… Review Results Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
Review displacement solution
• Enter POST26, the time-history postprocessor.
• First identify the results file - jobname.rdsp or jobname.rfrq.
TimeHist Postpro > Settings > File or FILE command

• Define displacement variables at specific points in the model and

obtain displacement-versus-time (or frequency) plots.

Using graphs and

listings, identify the
critical time-points
(or frequencies and
phase angles).

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Mode Superposition
… Review Results Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
Expand the solution
• A process in which derived data (stresses, reaction forces,
etc.) are calculated from the primary data (displacement
solution).
• Three steps:
1. Enter Solution and activate the expansion pass.
• Solution > Expansion Pass... or EXPASS,ON

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Mode Superposition
… Review Results Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
2. Specify the solution or range of solutions to be expanded.
For harmonic analysis, remember to specify the phase
angle(s) or request expansion of both real and imaginary
parts (which can then be combined in POST1 using the
HRCPLX command).
– Solution > Expansion Pass >

3. Start expansion pass solution

– Solution > -Solve-Current LS or SOLVE
– Results are written to the .rst file (jobname.rst) and can then
be reviewed using POST1, the general postprocessor.

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Mode Superposition
… Review Results Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
Review the expanded solution
• Use POST1, the general postprocessor.
• Procedure is the same as for a full transient or harmonic
analysis.
– Read the desired results set from the results file, then plot
deformed shape, stress contours, etc.
– For a harmonic analysis, if you chose to expand both real and
imaginary parts, use the HRCPLX command to combine them at
the desired phase angle. (No need to do this if you chose to
expand the displacement solution at a specified phase angle.)

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Mode Superposition
Review Results Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
 Build the model
 Obtain the modal solution
 Switch to harmonic or transient analysis
 Apply loads and solve
 Review results

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C. Workshop
Mode Superposition Training Manual

DYNAMICS 5.6
• In this workshop, you will run the Galloping Gertie example
again, but this time follow and understand each step as you
go.
• See your Dynamics Workshop supplement for details.

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