Student: Aljhun A. Avila Instructor: Rodolfo A. Chua, Jr.

, MEng
Course and year: MSCE - STRE 1 Subject: MCE 612 - Dynamics of Structures

ASSIGNMENT NO.1 - ANALYSIS OF FREE VIBRATION

Problem 1.1
The weight W of the building is 200 kips and the building is set into free vibration by releasing
it (at time t = 0) from a displacement of 1.20 in. If the maximum displacement on the return
swing is 0.86 in at time t = 0.64 sec, determine:
a. the lateral spring stiffness k
b. the damping ratio
c. the damping coefficient c

Solution:

in
W 200 kip g 386
2
T 0.64 s s

W
T2
gk 2
2 W kip
Therefore, (a) spring stiffness k = 49.939
T g in

1.20 in
logarithmic displacement: ln = 0.333
0.86 in

(b) Damping ratio: = 0.053
2

(c) Damping coefficient: c cc

2W 2 s
c = 0.539 kip
g T in

Reference: Dynamics of Structures by R.W. Clough, J. Penzien December 24, 2016

 Student: Aljhun A. Avila Instructor: Rodolfo A. Chua, Jr., MEng
Course and year: MSCE - STRE 1 Subject: MCE 612 - Dynamics of Structures

Problem 1.2
Assume that the mass and stiffness of the structure of figure below are as follows: m = 2kips-
sec2/in., k = 40 kips/in. if the system is set into free vibration with the initial conditions y(0)
= 0.7 in. and y(0) = 5.6 in./sec, determine the displacement and velocity at t = 1.0 sec,
assuming:

(a) c = 0 (undamped system)

(b) c = 2.8 kips-sec/in.

Solution:(a) considering c = 0 (undamped system)

2
s
m 2 kip Initial Conditions:
in
kip y(0) = 0.7 in
k 40
in y(0) = 5.6 in/sec

2
k 1
= 4.472
m s
y (0)
y (t) y (0) cost + sint

40 5.6
40
y (t) 0.7 cos t + sin t
2
40 2

2

Displacement after 1 sec:

40 5.6 in
40
y (t) 0.7 in cos + sin = 1.383 in
2
40 2

2

Velocity after 1 sec:

Reference: Dynamics of Structures by R.W. Clough, J. Penzien December 24, 2016

 Student: Aljhun A. Avila Instructor: Rodolfo A. Chua, Jr., MEng
Course and year: MSCE - STRE 1 Subject: MCE 612 - Dynamics of Structures

Velocity after 1 sec:

40 in
40 in in
y' (t) 0.7 sin
20 + 5.6 cos = 1.708
2 s 2 s s

(b) considering c = 2.8 kips-sec/in.

kip s
cc 2 m = 17.889 r
in remarks = Undercritically Damped System

c
= 0.157
cc
1
D
2
1 = 4.417
s

using eqn. 2-49

y (0) + y (0)
y (t) y (0) cos Dt + sin Dt exp (t)
D

and diffferentiating we obtain

y (0)) + y (0))
y' (t)) y (0)) cos Dt + sin Dt exp (t)) + y (0)) D sin Dt + (y (0)) + y (0)) )) cos Dt exp (t))

D

evaluatjng both equations at t =1 sec results to a displacement and velocity of:

in
y (1) 0.756 in y' (1) 1.118
s

Reference: Dynamics of Structures by R.W. Clough, J. Penzien December 24, 2016