CEE490b Jan.

14, 2002

Topic 2

Free Vibration of Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Systems - II

We can obtain an approximate solution to the fundamental natural frequency

through an approximate formula developed using energy principles by Lord
Rayleigh. As with single-degree-of-freedom systems, MDOF systems can also use
this approximation:

2
∑Q ui i ∑m ui i
ω =g i
=g i

∑Q u ∑m u
1 2 2
i i i i
i i

where u i = the static deflection under the dead load of the structure Qi , acting in the
direction of motion, and g = the acceleration due to gravity. Thus, the first mode is
approximated in shape by the static deflection under dead load. For a building, this
can be applied to each of the X and Y directions to obtain the estimates of the
fundamental sway modes.

Fig. 5.4a) Deflection for Rayleigh’s Formula Applied to Buildings

Likewise for a bridge, by applying the dead load in each of the vertical and horizontal
directions, the fundamental lift and drag modes can be obtained. The torsional mode
can also be approximated by applying the dead load at the appropriate radius of
gyration and determining the resulting rotation angle.

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CEE490b Jan. 14, 2002

Fig. 5.4b) Deflection for Rayleigh’s Formula Applied to Bridges

Even when performing a detailed dynamic analysis using computer software like
SAP, ANSYS or ALGOR, a check using Rayleigh’s method is advisable. Often, for
most preliminary designs, a detailed dynamic analysis is not required and a first-
order analysis using Rayleigh’s method is all that is required.

Generalized Coordinates

Generalized coordinates are a means of simplification of a multi-degree-of-freedom

system into a series of equivalent single-degree-of-freedom systems.

ai cos ω i t
External Load Distribution
P ( z, t ) (kN/m)

y ( z, t ) = ai cos ω i tφ i ( z )

m(z)

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CEE490b Jan. 14, 2002

Continuous Structures can be idealized mode-by-mode in Generalized Parameters :

EQUIVALENT SDF SYSTEM

ai cos ω i t
*
K i

M i*
Pi * (t )

Di*

Generalized Mass:

H
M i* = ∫ m( z )φ i2 ( z )dz
0
Generalized Stiffness:

K i* = ω i2 M i*
Di* = Di = not generalized
ω i* = ω i = not generalized

Generalized Force:

H
Pi * (t ) = ∫ P ( z, t )φ i ( z )dz
0

The response of the actual structure in mode “i” is the same as that of its equivalent
SDF system in mode “i” when defined by its Generalized Properties – Stiffness,
Mass and Force.

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CEE490b Jan. 14, 2002

Orthogonality of Modes

Orthogonality of modes is a very important relationship between any two modes of

free vibration. It means that each mode is truly independent of another.

Mode 1 Mode 2

Recall that we found that the natural frequencies ω j and corresponding modes can
be determined algebraically:

 u1 ( j ) 
u ( j )
 2 
( )
[k ] − ω j [m] {u j }= 0, where {u j }=  .  the Eigenvectors or Mode Shapes
2

 . 
 
u n ( j )
Eigenvalues
or Natural Frequencies

Writing this equation for two modes j and k, (for example the 1st and 3rd mode):

ω 2j [m ]{u j } = [k ]{u j } (1)

ω k2 [m ]{u k } = [k ]{u k } (2)

Now, transpose equation (1), and postmultiply by {u k }

(ω [m]{u }) {u } = ([k ]{u }) {u }

2
j j
T
k k
T
k

Then, because of the “Reversal Law”, ({[a][b]}

T T T
)
= [b ] [a ] , then this is also equal to:

ω 2j {u j } [m ] {u k } = {u j } [k ] {u k }
T T T T
(3)

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CEE490b Jan. 14, 2002

Matrices [m ] and [k ] are symmetric and so [m ] = [m ] and [k ] = [k ] . If we then

T T

premultiply equation (2) by {u j } :

T

ω k2 {u j } [m ]{u k } = {u j } [k ]{u k }
T T
(4)

We notice now that the right hand sides of equations (3) and (4) are equal and
therefore subtracting equation (4) from (3) yields:

(ω 2
j )
− ω k2 {u j } [m ]{u k } = 0
T

Since ω j ≠ ω k , then {u j } [m ]{u k } = 0 for j ≠ k

T
(5)

This is the Orthogonality Condition for mode shapes {u j }and {u k } including the mass
matrix. Then examining equation (4) using the orthogonality condition that results
from equation (5), we see that:

{u } [k ]{u } = 0 for
j
T
k j ≠k

This is the second Orthogonality Condition including the stiffness matrix.

Equation (5) when expanded, is of the form:

m1 0 0 0   u1 
0 m 0 0  u 2 
{u1 u2 ... u n }j  2
  =0
0 0 . 0  . 
 
0 0 0 m n  u n  k

And if one carries out the multiplication, the orthogonality condition involving mass is
obtained in the form:

∑m u u
i =1
i ij ik =0 for j ≠ k (6a)

Multiplying Equation (6a) by the natural frequency ω 2j and realize that ω 2j mi u ij is the
inertia force associated with mode j and hence ω 2j mi u ij u ik is force x displacement or
work. Then, equation (6a) suggests that the total work done by inertia forces of one
mode on displacements of any other mode vanishes.

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CEE490b Jan. 14, 2002

In further considerations we will denote the modal displacements by φ ij and all

modes listed as columns of a square matrix [φ ],

φ11 φ12 φ13 . φ1n 

φ φ 22 φ 23 . φ 2n 
 21
[φ ] =  . . . . . .
 
 . . . . . 
φ n1 φn2 φn3 . φ nn 
mode: 1st 2nd 3rd … nth

The modes are Orthogonal or Independent. We can examine some standard

trigonometric functions and their integrals for an analogy to the Orthogonality
Condition.

∫ cos jx cos kxdx 


∫ sin jx sin kxdx  Integrals involving products of harmonic functions.

∫ sin jx cos kxdx 
The trigonometric identities of sums are:

a) cos( x + y ) = cos x cos y − sin x sin y

b) cos( x − y ) = cos x cos y + sin x sin y

Adding a) and b) we obtain:

cos x cos y = 1
2
(cos( x − y ) + cos( x + y )) , so for x = y,
cos jx cos kx = 1
2
(cos( j − k )x + cos( j + k )x )
and for j ≠ k (analogous to different modes):

2π 2π
1 1 1 
∫0 cos jx cos kxdx = 2  ( j − k ) sin( j − k )x + j + k sin( j + k )x  0 = 0
or, orthogonal.

and for j = k (analogous to the same mode):

2π 2π

∫ cos jxdx = ∫
2 1
2
(1 + cos 2 jxdx ≠ 0 or, finite
0 0

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CEE490b Jan. 14, 2002

Generalization of Orthogonality Conditions

It was found that between two different modes, where j ≠ k and ω j ≠ ω k that the
Orthogonality Condition is:

{φ } [m]{φ } = 0
j
T
k or ∑m φ φ i ij ik =0 (7)
i

∑ m φ ≠ 0 , because m > 0 and φ > 0 . Thus:

2 2
Now for j = k, i ij i ij
i

{φ } [m]{φ }= ∑ m φ = M , the generalized mass of the j th mode.

j
T
j i ij
2 *
j
i

The Generalized Mass, recall, is the equivalent “mass” of mode j if treated as a

single-degree-of-freedom system. More generally, for all modes:

[φ ]T [m][φ ] = [M* ], the diagonal matrix of Generalized Masses (8)

This can be verified by re-writing [φ ] in terms of partitioned matrices and treating the
sub-matrices that are created by this partitioning as elements if they are
conformable, as follows:

[φ ]T [m][φ ] symbolizes the following triple matrix product:

1st mode {φ1}T 
 
2nd mode {φ2 }T 
 
 .  [m ] [{φ1} {φ2 } . . {φn }]
 . 
 
nth mode {φn }T 
nx1 1x1 1xn and is conformable, i.e.: n x n

{φ1}T [m ] M1* 0 0 0  0
 T   
{φ2 } [m ] 0 M 2* 0 0  0
 
 . [{φ1} {φ2 } . . {φn }] =  0 0 . 0  0
   
 .  0 0 0 .  0
{φn }T [m ] 0
 0 *
0 0 Mn 

nx1 1xn

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CEE490b Jan. 14, 2002

The second Orthogonality Condition involves the stiffness matrix:

{φ } [k ]{φ } = 0,
j
T
k when j ≠ k , or ∑k φ φ i ij ik =0
i
(9)

{φ } [k ]{φ }= K
j
T
j
*
j , when j = k , or ∑k φ i ij
2
≠0
i

Where K *j is the Generalized Stiffness (a 1 x 1 matrix or a scalar quantity). Using

Equation (9), a relation can be derived involving all modes, written as columns in [φ ]:

[φ ]T [k ][φ ] = [K * ] = [ω 2j ][M * ] (10)

and if we look at equation (4), then K * [ ] is the Generalized Stiffness Matrix; ω j is

the j th natural frequency. To prove equation (10), [φ ] and [φ ] can be partitioned
T

according to the modes and then the matrices multiplied:

{φ1}T 
 T 
{φ 2 } 
[φ ]T [k ][φ ] =  .  [k ] [{φ1} {φ2 } . . {φn }]
 . 
 
{φ n }T 

nx1 1x1 1xn

{φ1}T [k ] K 1* 0 0 0 0
   
{φ 2 } [k ]
T
0 K 2* 0 0 0

 .

[{φ1 } {φ 2 } . . {φ n }] =  0 0 . [ ] [ ][ ]
0 0  = K = ωj M
* 2 *

 .   
  0 0 0 . 0
{φ n }T [k ] 0
 0 0 0 K n* 

nx1 1xn

With respect to equation (3), written for j = k:

K *j = {φ j } [k ]{φ j } = ω 2j {φ j } [m ]{φ j } = ω 2j M *j
T T

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