STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS

LECTURE 2

VIBRATIONS AND DYNAMIC RESPONSES

DR. EBTIHAJ ABU ELGASIM

 What is Dynamics ?

The word dynamic simply means

“changes with time”

Importance of Dynamic Analysis

• Concepts discussed in courses related to structural

engineering that you have studied till now is based on
the basic assumption that the either the load (mainly
gravity) is either already present or applied very slowly
on the structures.
Importance of Dynamic Analysis

• This assumption work well most of the time as long

no acceleration is produced due to applied forces.
However, in case of structures/ systems subjected to
dynamics loads due to rotating machines, winds,
suddenly applied gravity load, blasts, earthquakes,
using the afore mentioned assumption provide
misleading results and may result in structures/
systems with poor performance that can sometime
fail.
Importance of Dynamic Analysis

• This course is designed to provide you fundamental

knowledge about how the dynamic forces influences
the structural/systems response
Basic Difference between Static and Dynamic Loading
Static Dynamic

• Accelerations producing inertia

• Resistance due to internal forces (inertia forces form a
elastic forces of structure significant portion of load
equilibrated by the internal
• In static problem:
elastic forces of the structure)
Response due to static
loading is displacement • In dynamic problem: Response
only. due to dynamic loading is
displacement, velocity and
acceleration.
Static Force
• A static force is one which produces no
acceleration in the acting body.
• A static force usually does not vary with time
• A force, even if it varies with time, is still
considered static provided the variation
with time is so slow that no acceleration
is produced in the acting body. e.g.
slowly applied load on a specimen
tested in a UTM .
• A static force can be considered as
special case of dynamic force in which
dv/dt =0
 Dynamic Force
• A dynamic force is one which produces acceleration in a
body. i.e dv/dt ≠ 0. where v = velocity of body subjected
to force

• A dynamic force always

varies with time. Examples
of dynamic forces are:
forces caused by rotating
machines, wind forces,
seismic forces, suddenly
applied gravity loads e.t.c.
Static vs Dynamic Force

• What will be the effect of truck (load) on bridge and

response of bridge (structure)?, when Truck is:

1. Standing (engine off) on bridge

2. Standing (engine on) on bridge
3. Moving on the bridge with a constant velocity
(perfectly smooth road)
4. Moving on the bridge with a constant velocity (rough
road)
5. Moving on the bridge with a variable velocity (rough
road)
6. Moving on the bridge (condition 3) with a speed
breaker in the middle of the bridge
7. A truck with a capacity of 100 tonnes crosses the
bridges half a million times while carrying a load which
is 60% of its capacity
Sources of Dynamic Excitation

Blast

Machine Vibration
Impact
Sources of Dynamic Excitation

Wind
Ground Motion
Most Common Causes Dynamic Effect in the
Structure

• Initial conditions: Initial conditions such as velocity and

displacement produce dynamic effect in the system. Ex:
Consider a lift moving up or down with an initial
velocity. When the lift is suddenly stopped , the cabin
begin to vibrate up and down since it posses initial
velocity.
Most Common Causes Dynamic Effect
in the Structure

• Applied forces: Some times vibration in the system is

produced due to application of external forces. Ex: i)
A building subjected to bomb blast or wind forces ii)
Machine foundation.

• Support motions : Structures are often subjected to

vibration due to influence of support motions. Ex:
Earthquake motion.
Basic Concepts of Structural Dynamics

• Vibration and oscillation: If motion of the structure is

oscillating (pendulum) or reciprocatory along with
deformation of the structure, it is termed as VIBRATION.
In case there is no deformation which implies only rigid
body motion, it is termed as OSCILLATION.

• Free vibration: Vibration of a system which is initiated by

a force which is subsequently withdrawn. Hence this
vibration occurs without the external force.

• Forced Vibration: If the external force is also involved

during vibration, then it is forced vibration.
Basic Concepts of Structural Dynamics

• Damping: All real life structures, when subjected to

vibration resist it. Due to this the amplitude of the
vibration gradually, reduces with respect to time. In
case of free vibration, the motion is damped out
eventually. Damping forces depend on a number of
factors and it is very difficult to quantify them.

• The commonly used representation is viscous damping

wherein damping force is expressed as 𝐹𝑑 =C𝑥ሶ
where x. = velocity and C=damping constant.
Vibration
Body is surrounded by air

Vibrating body experiences some opposing force in the form of air friction

Vibrating body does work against this opposing force

To do work, energy is needed

So vibrating body uses its energy to do the work against this opposing force

It loses energy

Amplitude decreases
Forced Vibration
In force vibration the vibrating body gradually acquires
the frequency of the applied force

When a body oscillates or vibrates under the influence of

an external periodic force, the body is said to execute
FORCED VIBRATION
Damped Vibration

The periodic vibration of a body of decreasing amplitude

is called DAMPED VIBRATION
Damped Vibration
Free Vibrations
If a body vibrates without the help of any external
periodic force on it, It is said to be executing
FREE VIBRATIONS

It is also known as NATURAL VIBRATION

• Natural Frequency

• The number of vibrations executed by a body vibrating

freely in one sec is called its natural frequency

• Natural Time Period

• The time period of a body executing natural vibration

is called natural time period
Free Vibrations

No opposing force is present

Energy of the body remains constant

Amplitude of vibration stays SAME over time

Free Vibration (Periodic Loading/Undamped
Vibration)
Free Vibrations Vs Damped Vibration

Free Vibrations Damped Vibration

The amplitude of the free The amplitude of the
vibration remains damped vibration
CONSTANT DECREASES
Vibrations continue Ultimatey the vibrations
FOREVER CEASE
No opposing forces are Frictional or damping forces
present oppose vibration
No loss of energy Loss of energy
Random Vibrations (Non-periodic Load)
• Such type of vibrations are produced in a system due to
wind, earthquake, traffic etc