Two marks question bank – Basics of dynamics – Unit I , II Compiled : N.

Sampath

Units I and II:

1. Define degree of freedom

Any mass can undergo six possible displacements in space – three translations and three rotations about
an orthogonal axis system. The minimum number of coordinate systems required to indicate the position
of the mass at any instant of time is referred to as the degrees of freedom
2. Define Free vibration and Forced Vibration

Any system that is initiated with a vibration and not subjected to further applied dynamic force is called
free vibration.

Any system that is excited externally continuously to undergo vibration is called forced vibration.

3. Define Damping

The resistance encountered during vibration is called damping. The amplitude of free vibration will go on
reducing with time due to damping. Damping in a system arises due to the internal friction of the
material, or due to drag effects of surrounding air or other fluids in which the structure is immersed.

The resistance offered by a damping is usually assumed to be proportional to velocity.

4. Distinguish between static and dynamic problem

A structural dynamic problem differ from it’s static loading part in following respects

Static problem Dynamic problem

The behavior is not time varying.
The solution is single solution irrespective of time
and less complex.
If a simple beam is subjected to a static load p, its
internal moments and shears and deflected shape
depend only upon this load and they can be
computed by force equilibrium.
All the behavior are time-varying in nature. Both
the loads and response vary with time.
The dynamic problem does not have single
solution and complex compared to static analysis.
If the load p(t) is applied dynamically, the resulting
displacements of the beam depend not only upon
this load but also upon inertial forces from the
beam which opposes the accelerations producing
them.

5. Explain D’Alembert’s principle ( or Enumerate dynamic equilibrium )

Consider an object of mass ‘m’ connected to a spring of stiffness ‘ k ‘ which is at rest. If a force of P is
applied and the mass starts moving with an acceleration of a, It experiences an inertia force which is
equal to mass times the acceleration in the opposite direction to the direction of force. The free body
diagram is shown below.
Two marks question bank – Basics of dynamics – Unit I , II Compiled : N.Sampath

m*a
k
M
k*x m P

This is in a state of dynamic equilibrium.

The application of force (m*a) in to the free body diagram in the opposite direction of force is known as
D’Alembert’s principle which reduces the dynamic problem as static problem.
6. Explain resonance. What is the effect of damping?
Each vibrating system has its own natural frequency 𝜔𝑛 based on its stiffness k ( based on geometry)
and its mass m.
When the external exciting frequency 𝜔 matches the natural frequency 𝜔𝑛 , the system undergoes
infinite displacement and will eventually collapse. This is called resonance.

Even a small amount of damping can stop resonance and reduce the displacement to sufficient extent.
7. What is equivalent stiffness for springs parallel and series cases.
The equivalent stiffness is

Springs in series 1 1 1 1
= + +
𝑘 𝑘1 𝑘2 𝑘3
k1 k2 k3
Sprins in parallel
𝑘 = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2

8. List the type of damping.

The damping is of the following types:
• Structural damping  Due to internal properties of member
• Viscous damping  Due to viscous flow
• Coulomb damping (dry friction)  Due to friction offered by two surfaces that are moving
• Negative damping  This is hypothetical , damping adds energy instead of reducing

9. Draw the free body diagram for SDOF system for damped and undamped system

Undamped free vibration

m*a
M
k*x m P

Damped free vibration

m*a
k*x
k
M m P
x
c c 𝑥̇
Two marks question bank – Basics of dynamics – Unit I , II Compiled : N.Sampath

10. Write down the equation of motion of a structure in SDOF system for free vibration

Equation of motion for free vibration:

x(t) = x0 cos pt + 𝑥̇ 0 /p sin pt

where,

x is the displacement of the mass at any time t

x0 is the initial displacement,

p is the natural circular frequency

11. Define critical damping and draw the graph of motion at critical damping.

Critical damping is the minimum damping required for which the system will not undergo oscillatory
motion. The displacement of the mass reaches zero asymptotically with time as shown in the graph of
the motion.

t
12. Write down equation of motion for forced harmonic vibration

Equation of motion for harmonic forced vibration:

The steady state equation of motion is given as,

𝐹0 /𝑚
𝑥𝑝 = sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝜑)
�(𝑝2 − 𝜔 2 )2 + (2𝑛𝜔)2

where,

F0 is amplitude of harmonic load

ω is the angular frequency of forcing function

ϕ is the phase difference

m is the mass, n = c/2m

13. What is meant by frequency response curve for damped system?

Tuning ratio η is defined as the ratio between forcing frequency and natural frequency i.e. η = ω/ ωn.
A response curve is drawn using tuning ratio in X axis and magnification factor in Y axis for various
damping ratio as shown below. When the ratio η=1, which means that forcing frequency and natural
frequency is equal and the amplitude is maximum here. This initiates resonance in the system but due
to damping the structure does not undergo infinite amplitude but amplitude is maximum here.
Two marks question bank – Basics of dynamics – Unit I , II Compiled : N.Sampath

xmax

Magnification
factor

f=1 η ( tuning ratio = ω/ ωn) 

14. Define Equivalent viscous damping and give formula if maximum amplitude at the resonant frequency is
known.

The mechanism by which structures dissipate energy during vibratory motion is usually assumed to be
viscous. So an equivalent viscous damping can be estimated for a structure using frequency response
curve of the structure for a harmonic loading.

xmax

Magnification
factor

f=1 η ( tuning ratio = ω/ ωn) 

Damping ratio, ρeq = 1 / (2 xmax)

15. What is impulsive force?

An impulse loading is a load which is applied during a short duration of time. The corresponding
impulse of this type of load is defined as the product of the force and the time of its duration.
16. Write the duhamel’s integral equation and explain.
An impulse loading is a load which is applied during a short duration of time. The corresponding
impulse of this type of load is defined as the product of the force and the time of its duration

F(τ)

F(τ)dτ

τ τ + dτ
dτ
The impulse of force F(τ) at time τ during the time interval dτ is shown as shaded area.
Two marks question bank – Basics of dynamics – Unit I , II Compiled : N.Sampath

The total displacement at time t due to the continuous action of the force F(τ) is given by summation or
integral of the differential displacements dx(t) from time t=0 to time t = t. i.e.
1 𝑡
𝑥(𝑡) = � 𝐹(𝑡) sin ω𝑛 (𝑡 − τ)dτ
𝑚𝑝 0
This is known as Duhamel’s integral.
17. What is shear frame?
A shear building is defined as a structure in which no rotation of a horizontal member at the floor level.
Since all the horizontal members are restrained against rotation, the structure behaves like a cantilever
beam which is deflected only be shear force.

18. What are normal modes of vibration?

Consider a two degrees of freedom system. There exists two possible simple harmonic motions of the
structure which can take place in such a way that all the masses move in phase in the same frequency,
either ωn1 or ωn2 . Such a motion of the system is called a normal or natural mode of vibration. The
shapes for these modes are called normal mode shapes or simply modal shapes for the corresponding
natural frequencies ωn1 and ωn2.

 1   1 
 X 1   X   1   X 1   X   1 
  =  2  =   = φ1   =  2  =   = φ2
 X 2 1  X 1  ψ 1   X 2 2  X 1  ψ 2 
 1  2
(X2/X1)1 (X2/X1)2

1
1

19. Explain mode superposition?

Consider a two degrees of freedom system.
The solution u can be represented by a summation of the mode shapes �n, each multiplied by a scaling factor
qn (known as the generalized coordinate) .

This is called mode superposition.