Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America

VOL. 24 JANUARY, 1934 No. 1

WATER

PRESSURE SIMULATED

IN A TANK

CAUSED

BY A

EARTHQUAKE*

By LEANDER ~V[. HOSKINS and LYDIK S. JACOBSEN

,tlbstract.--The theoretical interpretation of the experiments rests on the solution of the hydrodynamical problem of determining the motion and pressure throughout the body of water in a rectangular tank to which is given an arbitrary small oscillation parallel to its length. The solution is similar to that given by H. M_ Westergaard for a channel of infinite length, reducing to Westergaard's solution as a limiting case. It is shown that if the length of the tank is two and one-half times the depth of the water, the total pressure on one end is about 4 per cent less than for a channel of infinite length. In order that the accelerative force due to the inertia 04 the body of water may be measured, the tank is mounted on rollers on a shaking table in such a way that, with negligible friction, the motion of the shaking table is communicated to the tank by means of an elastic connection which also serves the function of a spring dynamometer. The motion of the tank is therefore never exactly the same as the motion of the shaking table. With increasing rigidity of the dynamometer, the motions of the tank and the table become more and more alike. If the tank is empty of water, the force measured by the dynamometer is due wholly to the inertia of the tank together with any solid bodies attached to it; but if the tank contains water, the force is due in part to the varying pressure of the water upon the ends of the tank. By comparing the dynanmmeter 'record when water is present with records obtained when the water is replaced by solid bodies of known mass, it is possible to determine what part of the force acting on the dynamometer is due to water pressure. The motion of the shaking table is produced by an elastic impact of a pendulum moving with known velocity against a bumper spring on the shaking table. The starting motion during the impact time interval is fairly simple, and the subsequent motion is a free, damped vibration. The motion can be produced experimentally again and again with great accuracy, and, inasmuch as the starting motion lasts for a relatively short time, the system of reflected, gravitational waves from the ends of the tank does not come into existence for a time relatively long as compared to the imDact time interval. This type of motion is probably the simplest element of actual earthquake motions which it is feasible to reproduce with repeated accuracy in the laboratory. The maximum acceleration of the tank during the impact interval ranged from 0.7 to 1.2 times that of gravity.
[* Received for publication May 24, 1933.]

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Altogether seven different experimental combinations of three table periods and three tank-dynamometer periods were used. If the experimental combinations be related to conditions existing in nature, the period of the table corresponds to the period of the earthquake motion, and the frequency of the tank-dynamometer system corresponds approximately to the frequency of the free vibration of a dam_ The experimental results show a satisfactory agreement with the theory. If the ratio of the experimental value of the equivalent water load to the theoretical value of the equivalent water load be called W ' / W , the average of eighty-three observations on the tank with a single compartment gave W ' / W ~ 0.78, and the average of 104 observations on the tank with two compartments gave W ' / W -= 0.85. One of the obvious reasons for the ratio of V/'/V/ being smaller than unity is the lack of rigidity of the tanks. Not only the total hydrodynamic load, but also the distribution of the pressure on the ends of the tank was measured, and a satisfactory verification of the theory in this regard has been obtained.

I. INTRODUCTORY

STATEMENT

E n g i n e e r s and others interested in the design of d a m s have raised the question w h e t h e r v a r i a t i o n s of w a t e r p r e s s u r e caused by earthquake m o v e m e n t s a r e likely to be an i m p o r t a n t factor affecting the stresses to be p r o v i d e d f o r in the design. I n the s p r i n g of 1930 l a b o r a t o r y experiments designed to t h r o w light on this question w e r e p l a n n e d by L. S. Jacobsen, and a p p a r a t u s f o r the p u r p o s e was c o n s t r u c t e d and installed in the v i b r a t i o n l a b o r a t o r y of S t a n f o r d U n i v e r s i t y ? T h e essential features of the a p p a r a t u s and of the e x p e r i m e n t a l p l a n will be u n d e r s t o o d by reference to F i g u r e 1. T h e f u n d a m e n t a l equipment of the v i b r a t i o n l a b o r a t o r y consists of a shaking table t o g e t h e r with the means of i m p a r t i n g to it either a free v i b r a t i o n initiated by an impulsive f o r c e o r a continuous oscillation of definite frequency. F o r the f o r m e r type of motion, which was chosen for the w a t e r - p r e s s u r e e x p e r i m e n t s , the impulse is applied by means of a heavy weight, suspended as a pendulum, which strikes the table a f t e r s w i n g i n g f r o m a chosen position of rest. F o r these e x p e r i m e n t s there was constructed a r e c t a n g u l a r t a n k to be placed u p o n the table and connected with it in the m a n n e r shown in F i g u r e 1. T h e tank is s u p p o r t e d on rollers p e r m i t t i n g free m o t i o n parallel to the m o t i o n of the table on its track, but is attached to the table by an elastic device K3 which acts as a d y n a m o m e t e r f o r m e a s u r i n g the h o r i z o n t a l force acting on the tank d u r ing a n y observation. B,y m e a n s described later in this paper, it is p6ssible to obtain a continuous record of the d y n a m o m e t e r deflection upon a 1 A description of the vibration laboratory is given in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 19, 1, March, 1929.

WATER PRESSURE CAUSED BY S IMU LA TED E A R T H Q U A K E

traveling photographic film ; and this serves also as a record of the varying horizontal force exerted upon the tank through the dynamometer. I f the tank is empty of water, this force is due wholly to the inertia of the tank together with any solid bodies attached to it ; but if the tank contains water, the force is due in part to the varying pressure of the water upon the ends of the tank. By comparing the dynamometer record when water is present with records obtained when the water is replaced by solid bodies of known mass, ~t should be possible to determine what part of the force is due to water pressure.

7~nk, m a

D~'nomor~ete,~, K 3
.-,,

[ i l

F1

R
L

.,,

,S

LLe J)
Fro. 1.--Diagram showing arrangement of tank on shaking table for measuring dynamic effect of water. A f t e r a limited number of preliminary experiments which served to prove the practicability of the plan, Professor Jacobsen's work with this apparatus in 1930 was interrupted by other researches. Early in 1932 the investigation was resumed and an extended series of experiments was planned and executed by the authors of this paper in collaboration. It is these experiments which form the subject of the paper. In the meantime the question of water pressure caused by earthquakes was discussed theoretically by H. M. Westergaard in a paper entitled " W a t e r Pressure on Dams during Earthquakes ''2 in which is given the solution of a hydrodynamical problem similar to that presented by the oscillating tank in the laboratory experiments. This problem deals with the ideal case in which the face of the dam is assumed to be a vertical plane, the reservoir a channel of uniform rectangular section and infinite
2 Proceedings of the Ame'rica~* Society of Ciz4t Engbwers , 57, 1303, Novem-

ber, 1931.

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length, and the earth motion a simple harmonic oscillation perpendicular to the face of the dam and parallel to the length of the reservoir. Professor W e s t e r g a a r d ' s able analysis leads to the conclusion that "the pressures are the same as if a certain body o f ' w a t e r were forced to move back and forth with the dam while the remainder of the reservoir is left inactive," the dimensions of this body being computed by formulas resulting f r o m the theory. Since the experimental tank is rectangular in section and is placed with its length parallel to the vibratory motion imparted to it by the shaking table, it presents a hydrodynamical problem resembling that treated in P r o f e s s o r W e s t e r g a a r d ' s paper_ The conditions are, however, different in the following respect : Instead of a channel of infinite length with a single barrier having an assigned motion, the tank constitutes a channel of limited length having barriers at both ends which move synchronously in an assigned manner, a In order that the experiments may serve as a test of theory, it is desirable to obtain a theoretical solution of the actual problem presented by the tank. W e proceed to give such a solution as a preliminary to the presentation of the experimental results. ~ It will be seen that the procedure is similar to that employed by Professor Westergaard, and that his solution is included as a limiting case. 12. HYDRODYNAMICAL THEORY

Statement and solution of the problem.--In the following formulation and solution of the problem of the oscillating tank, we employ in the main the notation used in chapter i of L a m b ' s " H y d r o d y n a m i c s , " with rectangular co-ordinates taken as in Figure 2, which shows a longitudinal section of the tank in its initial position. The axes are assumed to remain fixed with respect to the earth, while the tank oscillates horizontally parallel to the X-axis. The motion of the fluid is assumed to be twodimensional, the velocity at any point, x, y, being completely specified by
It should be noted also that the motion of the tank is far from being a simple harmonic oscillation. The form of Westergaard's solution, however, indicates that the conclusions apply to any motion which can be resolved into simple harmonic components. The case of the channel of finite length is referred to by John H. A. Brahtz and Carl It. Heilbron in a discussion of Westergaard's paper (Proceedings of the American. Society of Ci~il Engineer's, 58, 897, May, 1932). Although their solution of this case is not fully stated, it is presumably identical with that here given. The present solution was formulated in 1931 in anticipation of the contemplated experiments.

WATER PRESSURE CAUSED BY SIMULATED EARTHQUAKE

o!
o

FIG_ 2.--System o.f fixed co-o,rdinates

axial components, u, v. The pressure is denoted by p and the density by 9, and the fluid is assumed to be incompressible. It is further assumed that the motion is a "small" oscillation, and that only first-degree terms in u, v, and their deri-catives need be retained. With this approximation the axial components of acceleration of a particle at the point, .r, y, may ~u ~v be taken a s - - a n d - - , and the differential equations of motion for a ~t ~t fluid element are the following : ~ ~p ~t
-

~x

(1)
(2)

~v -Ot

~p
Oy

The motion must also satisfy the equation of continuity, which on the assumption of incompressibility is
Oz~

Ov a~ + -~ = 0

(3)

These differential equations are to be solved subject to the following boundary conditions : (a) (b) (c) (d) Wheny=0, v=0 Wheny=h,p-=0 When x = O, u = f ( t ) When .r = l , u = f ( t )
f(t)

= -~

velocity of tank velocity of tank

The form of the function

need not be specified.

5 T h e solution for a channel of infinite length given in P r o f e s s o r W e s t e r g a a r d ' s paper takes account of the elastic compressibility of the water. T h e effect of compressibility is, however, unimportant in ordinary cases, and in the experiments now under consideration is inappreciable. T h e solution here given can readily be modified so as to take account of compressibility, but the formulas are materially simplified by assuming incompressibility.

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T h e foregoing differential equations and boundary conditions are all satisfied by the following formulas for u, v, and p

/(t)

cos -=- cosh (I - - 2x) 2h 4h

-

3xy cosh 3--3-~ (I cos 2h 4h 3 cosh 3Jtl 4h

2x)

cosh ~t/ 4h

4-

5aty cosh 5~t cos 2h 4h ( I - - 2x)

(4) 5 cosh 5~/

4h

"U---

-f(t)

sin =__Zsinh __a (1 2h 4h

cosh --

2.~)

sin 3 ~ sinh 3=

21,

7, (l-

2x)

4h

3~I 3 cosh - 4h

sin 5~Y, sinh 5:t

2h

~(z
-

--2x)

5al 5 cosh 4h

'/ (5)

p=

cos axy sing :t (l 2h 4h cosh - 4h

2x)

3~y sinh 3~ cos 2h 4-17 (I - 2 x ) 3~I 35 c o s h - 4h 5rty sinh 5a 2,v) cos 2h ~ (l - -

+
5axl 5 2 cosh - 4h

(6)

WATER

PRESSURE

CAUSED

BY SIMULATED

EARTHQUAKE

To verify this statement, note that corresponding single terms in these formulas constitute a solution of the differential equations satisfying conditions (a) and (b). As regards (c) and (d), note that for ,r = 0 and for :r -~- I the formula for u becomes 4 u = ~f(t) ( cos a,y 1 cos 3=y 41 5rt.v cos~--... ) (7)

2h

2h

2h

and that the series in parentheses is a known Fourier series having the value =/4 for all values of y occurring in our problem. Computation of end pressures_--Let the values of p at .v = 0 and :r = I be denoted by Po and p~ ; then Equation 6 gives

P0=--P~=

81, 9 f , ( t ) [ c o s a Y tanhZd___l cos3~V tanh ~ ~2 "\ 2h 4h 3"2h

@...

(8)

Since f ' ( t ) is the acceleration of the tank, it is seen that the end pressure is the same as if a certain definite body of water were being constrained to participate in the motion of the tank ; the horizontal dimension of this body being x" = - ~ / ( cos zY tanh M 2h 4h its total volume b 1 cos 30~, - tanh 3;rl q- . . . . 3e 2h 4h ) (9)

~J0

S d y , and its weight in pounds

O = 7,b
,.do

x'dy -- 16ld-wb za

tanh ~ / --1 3~1 4h q- 3 a t a n h - - 4 1 , 5~I q- a51 7 tanh - -}- . . . . ) 4h (10)

b being the width of the tank in feet and zv the weight in pounds of one cubic foot of water. The total pressure on one end of the tank is

p = 01,(,)
g

(11)

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Chan**el of infinite length.--The f o r e g o i n g solution applies to an infinitely long channel as a limiting case, the principal f o r m u l a s t a k i n g the following f o r m s :~
~'x 3grx

u-=--f(t) :t
4 (

e
7r:c

cos~

2h
1

cos--

2h

....

(4')

v=--f(t)

-zG-

sill

atV

2h

- 2]~-

37r.'V

3~a.' sin-}- . . . .

2h

(5')

rr.v

3 '/r .*"

p -- 8"I'0 f'(t) rt2

.v, = 8h( -~2 cos a~, 2:h

e Zhcos

2h

3"-'

cos--

2h

-t- . . . .

(6')

1 3~ 1 3* cos - +--cos 2h 52

5:tv -

2h

....

(9')

Q-

16u'bh~-(lq1 + ~ ~ -y-

+ .... )

(10")

A c o m p a r i s o n of these with the m o r e general f o r m u l a s shows, as w o u l d be expected, that the difference between them increases in i m p o r tance as l/h decreases. T h e w a y in which the total p r e s s u r e varies with I/h is shown by c o m p a r i n g the series in parentheses in E q u a t i o n s 10 and 10'. D e n o t i n g the f o r m e r series by S and the latter by S', c o m p u t a t i o n gives the following results :7
I/h S'/S

0.5 1.0 1.5 2_0 3.0 4.0

0.398 0.672 0.835 0.921 0_983 O_996

On the assumption of incompressibility the equations expressing Professor Westergaard's solution are identical in import with those here given, his solution, however, being expressed in terms of displacements instead of velocities, t-Ie also assumes the motion of the dam to be a simple harmonic oscillation, a restriction which is unnecessary if incompressibility is assumed. z Results agreeing with these are given by Brahtz and Heilbron in the discussion already cited.

WATER PRESSURE CAUSED BY S IMU LA TED E A R T H Q U A K E

Equivalent solid b o d y . - - T h e body of water which, treated as if solidified and constrained by the end of the tank to move with it, would exert upon the tank the same pressure as that actually exerted by the water may be called the equivalent solid body. The size and shape of this body may be computed by Equation 9. For the purposes of the engineer who desires to apply the results in the design of dams, the somewhat simpler formula, Equation 9', may be used, and values of x ' / h computed by this formula are given in Table I. It is of interest to note that the x ' - y locus coincides to a close approximation with the circular arc shown in Figure 3.

FIG. &--Diagram showing circular, approximate boundary of volume of water that may be considered as participating in the horizontal motion of the end of the tank.

TABLE ~lh 0.O00 0.125 0.250 0.500 0.750 0.875 0.950 1.000

I x'/h 0.7425 0.7347 0.7107 0.6102 0.4175 0.2644 0.1372 0.0000

Nature of tile fluid m o t i o n . - - T h e displacement of a fluid particle from rest has axial components

fo

~dt

~1 ~ Uo

vdt

Since time enters the formulas for u and v only in the common factor f ( t ) , it is seen that the motion is of the nature of a "standing wave"; the displacements of any two particles maintain a fixed ratio to each other and fixed ratios to the displacement of the tank. The maximum values of all displacements occur simultaneously, as also do their minimum

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values and their zero values. For example, if the tank had a simple harmonic oscillation, every particle o f water would have an oscillation identical in frequency and phase with that of the tank. It seems improbable that this simple condition will persist for more than a very brief period. The differential Equations 1 and 2, strictly speaking, should contain second-degree terms in u, v and their derivatives, 8 and a solution which neglects these terms is strictly valid only for infinitesimal motions. It is to be expected that the error thus introduced will very soon cease to be of negligible importance. In comparing the theory above with experiment, it is therefore necessary to limit the comparison to a very short period at the very beginning of the motion initiated by the shock. In studying the motion in detail by means of the formulas for u and v~ it is ordinarily sufficiently accurate to use the formulas for the case of infinite length. (Whether this is permissible in a given case may be judged from the values of S ' / oc given above.) It is found that these formulas can be expressed in finite form as follows :9 ~y
COS - -

u =- 2 ~ - f ( t ) arc tan

2h sinh m~" 2h

(12)

1 ~,, z ~ f ( t ) log

cosh =-1--2" + sin =~" 2h 217 cosh ~.v 2h sin ~x' 2h

(13)

These formulas may be used for 0 < x < I/2, and similar formulas applying to the other half of the tank may be obtained by substituting l - - x for .v and reversing the sign of v. Profile of water s u r f a c e . - - A t t seconds after the beginning of the disturbance, let ~0 denote the displacement of the tank from its initial position and y" the upward displacement of the water surface (a function s See Lamb's "Hydrodynamics," 3d ed., Art. 6. 9 The proof of this is too long for inclusion in this paper.

W A T E R P R E S S U R E C A U S E D BY S I M U L A T E D E A R T H Q U A K E

11

of x ) ; then t0 -=

(t)dt, while y ' is the value of

f'
,_,'0

vdt for y =

h;

hence by Equation 13 cosh n.v __]_1 2h cosh a*a~."__ 1, 2h

y'
-

1 :t

log

--

to

:t.r log tanh - ~t 4h

(14)

Numerical values computed f r o m this formula are given in Table II, and f r o m these m a y be plotted the surface profile as shown in Figure 8 (p. 25). TABLE y' l~. ~ 1.617 1.184 0. 932 0.757 0.627 0.524 II x/h 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.5 2_0 2.5

x/h 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

Y'/~o 0.441 0.373 0.316 0_269 0.121 0.055 0.025

It is seen that the theoretical displacement is infinite at the point (0, h), and that there is a region near this point in which the displacements are so great that the differential Equations 1 and 2 do not hold even approximately. This fact was noted by P r o f e s s o r Westergaard, who concluded, however, that this region is so small that the solution as a whole probably has practical validity. Application to e~cperimental tank_--The width of the experimental tank is eighteen inches and its length eight feet. W i t h these dimensions the value of Q in pounds, given by Equation 10, becomes O = 4 8 . 3 8 h2S in which is written for the series in parentheses. Taking h = 1.5 feet (the greatest value occurring in the experiments), we have tanh

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I/4h = tanh 4. 189 = 0. 99954, tanh 3 1/4h = 1. 00000, etc. With slight error, therefore
S=l+ 1 1 3~- + 5 - - / - [ - . . . = 1.0515

Q -= 50.87h 2 Experiments were, however, made also with the tank divided into two compartments by a partition midway of the length, making l = 3.86 feet for each compartment. The resulting change in the first term of S, though still small, is appreciable for the higher values of h. Table I I I gives -values of Q computed by the accurate formula for all values of 1 and h occurring in the experiments actually made, also values for l = ~ . It is seen that, when the length is only 3.86 feet, the assumption of infinite length changes Q by less than 4 per cent. These values of Q, substituted in Equation 11, give the total pressure on one end of the tank. For the resultant pressure on the tank as registered by the dynamometer, these values must be multiplied by two or by four, according to whether the experiment is made without or with the middle partition. The reason for this is that a positive pressure on one end of a compartment occurs simultaneously with an equal negative pressure on the other end. TABLE III Q (lbs_)
Depth of W a t e r l=o~ /---- 8 f t . / = 3_86 ft.

6 inches . . . . . . . . . . 9 inches . . . . . . . . . . 12 inches . . . . . . . . . . 15 inches . . . . . . . ... 18 inches . . . . . . . . . .

12.7 28.6 50.9 79.5 114.5

12.7 28.6 50.9 79.5 114_5

12.7 28.6 50.6 78.3 110.7

Theoretical and experimental results to be compared.--The general purpose of the work was to study experimentally the hydrodynamic effects caused by applying a sudden impulse or shock to the tank with its contained water, and to compare observed results with results obtained by computation from the hydrodynamical theory. It was found possible to make such comparison with respect to the following matters: (1) the total shock pressure acting on the tank, (2) the variation of the shock pressure with depth, and (3) the profile of the water surface.

WATER PRESSURE CAUSED BY SIMULATED EARTHQUAKE III. EXPERIMENTAL ~IETMODS AND RESULTS

13

Field of experiments restricted.--The experimental part of this investigation is restricted to a study of the hydrodynamic effect of an impulsive ground motion on an open rectangular tank. The reasons for selecting the impulsive type of ground motion are as follows : 1. Due to the finite length of the experimental tank, a steady harmonic ground motion will build up systems of reflected waves which will depend on the length and depth of the tank and on the frequency and amplitude of the ground motion. It requires considerable time to establish the steady state of this type of motion, and it is very difficult to maintain the motion sufficiently uniform for consistent readings. Moreover, this type of motion is not likely to occur in actual earthquakes for more than a very short time duration_ The hydrodynamic effect of the steady harmonic vibration is therefore not studied in these experiments. 2. The motion which is produced by an elastic impact of a mass moving with a known velocity against an elastic system consists of a fairly simple starting motion during the impact time interval, and may then be followed by a free damped vibration. The dynamic effect of the starting motion on the water in the tank can be produced experimentally again and again with great accuracy, and, inasmuch as this motion lasts for a relatively short time, the system of reflected waves from the ends of the tank does not come into existence for a time relatively long as compared to the impact time interval. I f the study be confined to the starting motion, the resonating properties of the body of water in the tank of given depth and finite length will not mask the results, and the theory may be expected to give a fairly accurate picture of the velocity and pressure distributions in the water. Moreover, this type of motion is probably the simplest element of actual earthquake motions which it is feasible to reproduce with repeated accuracy in the laboratory. The reasons for selecting an open, rectangular tank of a relatively short length are as follows : 1. On account of the difficulty of integrating the differential equations of the theory for other boundaries than the rectangular, it was considered of greater importance to check the theory for these boundaries than to study the behavior of the water in tanks of shapes similar to those of impounded bodies of water in nature. 2. Since we are particularly interested in measuring the integrated effect on the ends of the tank, and since the hydraulic disturbance due to the starting motion of the tank diminishes rapidly with the distance into

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the body of water, the tank can be made relatively short. In fact, if the tank were made too long in comparison with the depth of the water, the mass effect of the tank proper would overshadow the effect of the water to such an extent that the sensitivity and reliability of the measuring apparatus for the integrated water effect would be reduced. In order that the experiments shall give the most reliable results, the tank must be as light as is consistent with a reasonable degree of rigidity; this requirement calls for a tank of relatively short length. Description of experimental apparatus.--All the experiments were carried out at Stanford University by means of the shaking table? The tank is made of pine with the necessary wood and steel bracings, and has the following internal dimensions: one and one half feet wide, two feet high, and eight feet long. The tank is lined with thin, galvanized sheet metal, and a removable partition can be clamped in the center of the tank so as to divide it into two compartments, each three feet and ten inches long. In order that the accelerative force due to the inertia of the tank proper and to the body of water may be measured, the tank has been mounted on rollers on the shaking table (Fig. 1) in such a way that, with negligible friction, the motion of the shaking table is communicated to the tank by means of an elastic connection which also serves the function of a spring- dynamometer. The motion of the tank is, therefore, never exactly the same as the motion of the shaking table. With increasing rigidity of the dynamometer, the motions of the tank and the table become more and more alike. In the experiments three dynamometers of the following rigidities were used : a) The "rigid" dynamometer of 10,500 pounds per inch deflection b) The "medium" dynamometer of 6,400 pounds per inch deflection c) The "flexible" dynamometer of 2,200 pounds per inch deflection The motion of the shaking table also was varied by changing the drop of the pendulum and by using different anchor and bumper springs. The hydrodynamical theory indicates that the pressure exerted on the ends of the tank is proportional to its absolute acceleration irrespective of the way in which the acceleration is produced. I t is to be expected, therefore, that the use of different dynamometers or changes in the motion of the shaking table will be without effect upon the results found for the equivalent dead load. It is, however, of interest to have some definite 10 For a description and account of this table, see Bulleth~ of the Seismological

Society of America, 19, 1, March, 1929.

WATER PRESSURE CAUSED BY S IMU LA TED E A R T H Q U A K E

15

knowledge of the nature of the ground motion of the simulated earthquake, and a discussion of this is gi-~en on page 29. Description of dynamometer recording mechauisms.--Since the maximum deflections of the rigid dynamometer were of the order of sevenhundredths of an inch with the corresponding deflections of the flexible dynamometer of the order of three-tenths of an inch, and since the maxima occurred within time intervals of 0.041 seconds for the rigid, and 0. 065 seconds for the flexible, it became necessary to devise a recording mechanism which should possess very little inertia and, at the same time, should be capable of measuring small displacements very accurately. Two such mechanisms were constructed and used. The first is based on the variable resistance of stacks of carbon disks exposed to pressure, and the second involves the magnetic reluctance of variable air gaps. Both of these instruments were operated in connection with an oscillograph. The design of the carbon disk mechanism was guided by the work of MacCollum and Peters. n Figure 4 (p. 16) shows the medium dynamometer with the measuring mechanism attached. The "C" clamps on either side of the vertical cantilever beam of the dynamometer contain sixty carbon disks each (each disk is approximately 3~ of an inch in diameter and 0.025 of an inch thick). The disks are given initial compressions so that each stack offers the same electrical resistance. If the dynamometer beam be distorted to the right, the pressure on the carbon stack to the right is increased, while the pressure on the left carbon stack is diminished. The resistance of the right stack drops, and that of the left stack increases. If the two stacks be introduced as two parallel arms ia a Wheatstone bridge, and a small circulating current be sent through the bridge, the unbalanced current, owing to the simultaneous increase and decrease of the resistances of the carbon stacks, passes through the oscillograph and gives a fairly straight line relationship with the dynamometer load. It was found, however, that the calibration of the carbon stacks did not remain constant from day to day; it was therefore necessary to calibrate the stacks before, during, and after experiments, even if the duration of experimentation was only a few hours. After considerable experimentation with the carbon stacks in our possession, it was decided that the instrument was not sufficiently reliable, and the second type of strain recorder was built. The reluctance gauge or strain recorder was inspired by Mr. Ritter's 11 United States Bureau of Standards, "Publication No. 247."

16

BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

IINNILINIIIIII

tt
/ ')
/.-//////'/7/////////////" Roller ,YO~or.,'ed on 7~ble
Scale

f/riches,)
, s

1-............... k .............. .t

,o

FIG. 4,--Upper diagram shows arrangement for measuring distortions of the dynamometer by the carbon-resistance method. Lower diagram shows magnetic strain gauge applied to the dynamometer.

extensometer as described on page 343 in Dr. Timoshenko's book on "Vibration Problems of Engineering." Referring to Figure 4, the operation of the reluctance gauge is as follows : the two magnetic circuits A1C and C B are energized by a 1,000cycle current flowing through the primary coils of A and B in series. If the movable anchor C be in the central position, the magnetic fluxes through the two circuits are equal, and the secondary coils on .// and B, which are connected in opposition through the oscillograph, will be balanced. If the anchor 6" be displaced slightly to the right, the magnetic flux through circuit 6"B will increase, and the flux through A C will decrease. The induced voltage in the secondary of B will then be greater than that of ~/, and the difference of the two voltages can be measured by the current through the oscillograph. The calibration of the reluctance gauge can be made by attaching a dial gauge indicator to the anchor. The apparatus does not give a straight line calibration for the whole length of

W A T E R P R E S S U R E C A U S E D BY S I M U L A T E D E A R T H Q U A K E

17

the air gaps, neither does it give zero current for the anchor in the central position, but the calibration remains constant indefinitely, and a correction for non-linearity is easily made. The 1,000-cycle alternating current, practically free from higher harmonics, was produced by a vacuum-tube oscillator. Procedure for determinin 9 total shock-pressure.--The routine of experimentation relating to total shock-pressure is as follows: Referring to Figure 1, the pendulum, swinging under gravity from a definite position of rest, strikes the shaking table, and the shock is transmitted to the tank through the dynamometer. During a short period following the impact the varying deflection of the dynamometer is recorded continuously upon a traveling photographic film. A complete experiment consists of a related series of such impact tests. According to the theory explained above, a given depth of water in the tank should have the same effect upon the dynamometer deflection as a certain solid mass fixed to the tank. In planning an experiment, the object is to determine the equivalent solid mass for assigned values of the depth of water. As the work was actually carried out, a complete experiment consisted of two series of impact tests, in one of which the tank carried dead loads ranging from zero to 450 pounds, and in the other water at depths ranging from six inches to eighteen inches. The dynamometer record for each test is a curve whose ordinate increases rapidly from zero to a maximum, and thereafter oscillates through alternate minima and maxima until damped out, It is the first maximum ordinate that is used for the comparison of the effects of dead load and water load. F r o m the deadload tests is plotted a locus showing maxinmm ordinate as a function of dead load; each water-load test gives an ordinate which, applied to this locus, shows the value of the dead load equivalent to the depth of water used in that test. For the purpose of this comparison any convenient scale may be used for measuring the ordinates ; it is not necessary to translate the ordinates into force or into actual values of the dynamometer deflection. A series of impact-tests with known rigid loads may be regarded as a calibration test. If the characteristics of the recording mechanisms and of the dynamometer remained constant, repeated calibrations would be unnecessary. Because such constancy was far from being realized, it was found advisable to make calibrations before and after each series of water-pressure tests. Altogether, 201 individual tests of the tank with water were made. Each of these was repeated, and in addition 322 tests

18

BULLETIN

OF T H E S E I S M O L O G I C A L SOCIETY OF A M E R I C A

with rigid loads were recorded. The pendulum was hoisted not less than 724 times. Summary of e.rperimental results.--Since the theoretical value of the equivalent dead load can be accurately computed for any given values of l and h, a convenient method of stating the experimental results is to give the ratio of the value found by experiment, W ' , to the theoretical value, /IV. Values of V / f o r all cases occurring in the actual experiments are shown in Table IV, being computed from the values of Q given in Table I I I . TABLE IV
Depth of Water l=Sft. ~ z = 2Q (lbs.) 1 = 3.86 ft. W ~ 4Q (lbs.)

6inches . . . . . . . . . . 9inches . . . . . . . . . . 12inches . . . . . . . . . . 15inches . . . . . . . . . . 18inches . . . . . . . . . .

25.4

57_2
101.8 159_0 229.0

50.8 114.4 202.4 312.2 442.8

The experimental results are summarized in Table V. I t is to be noted that the values of I/V'/I/V entered in the table represent group averages, the number of individual experiments being indicated in each case. A study of the individual results shows a range of scattering greater than was foreseen. This feature is shown graphically in Figure 5 (p. 20). A partial explanation is probably a lack of constancy in the characteristics of the recording mechanisms, especially in the case of the carbon-resistance device. For depths below twelve inches the results were found to be too uncertain to be given much weight, and the later experiments were confined to depths of twelve, fifteen, and eighteen inches. On the whole it is believed that the results constitute a satisfactory confirmation of the hydrodynamical theory. The fact that the experimental values of the total pressure are less than the theoretical is probably accounted for in large part by the lack of perfect rigidity of the tank. The theoretical solution assumes that the water has no lateral motion; actually, however, a certain amount of lateral motion is permitted by the yielding of the tank, and this may well have an appreciable effect in diminishing the end pressures. This supposition is in harmony with the fact that the theoretical values are most nearly approached when the tank is divided into two compartments, the clamping in place of the middle partition having the effect of decreasing the lateral yielding. It is also to be remembered that the theoretical solution is at best only an approximation, applying strictly only to infinitesimal motions.

WATER

PRESSURE

CAUSED

BY

SIMULATED

EAIZTHQUAKE

19

<~ ~ <~

o0 (.3 < o~

t..-

I-,

oo o

?.
~ +-

>

t'..

>
<

<

.<

ox

t.~

~ r-.

o .~

Go N o < ~o

N
o

~o

~o

y. . . . .

20

BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

V a r i a t i o n o f p r e s s l , re w i t h d e p t h . - - I n order to check the theory in regard to the pressure distribution on the ends of the tank, five piezometers or open standpipes were fitted to one end of the tank at different

W'
.ao~

"

I /.

....

.... /

46

.
/Og

//
3 6 9 12

2g /c

/
0 3 6 9 /2

/5

la

" I$

18

,6 6/,c~s)
Wt 200
,

h
14/' 40b

(Inches)

so ./(

/o, C
/go 20o

ZOO Joo 400 W 61/,s) FIG. 5.--Upper curves show experimental values of equivalent dynamic weight of water, W ' , plotted against depth of water. Lower curves show V/" plotted against its theoretical value H/', The indicated points are averages, and the vertical lines through the points show range of scattering.
~1/ Clbs)

o~
o

50

IOa

o/
o

IOO

levels above the bottom. The lengths, diameters, and curvatures of the standpipes were as nearly equal as possible in order that their dynamic constants might be the same. That this result was practically attained was indicated by subsequent tests of the free, damped vibration of the

WATER PRESSURE

C A U S E D BY S I M U L A T E D

EARTHQUAKE

21

water in the standpipes, which showed that the free motion in all the pipes followed the equation y = y0 1.01e -~*t cos ( 3 . 5 3 t - - 0.15) The upper twelve inches of the standpipes were glass tubes one-quarter of an inch in diameter ; the lower twenty-four inches were made o.f onequarter-inch copper tubes. The motion of the ink-colored water in the glass part of the standpipes was photographed by a motion-picture camera, operating at thirtythree exposures per second, and by a superspeed camera of 128 exposures per second. The latter, however, was only used once. The results have been plotted in Figure 6 and show that the frequency of the tank-dynamometer system is superimposed on the main curve,
~ ~ ~---Zeve/ ~ i.-.....~zg/sp/Qcement5of/4/~fer Jn G~andp/pes far 4"Drop
. . . .

FIG. 6.--Time variation of displacements of water in the standpipes connected to different levels in the tank when the displacements of the. table and tank are given by the lower curves.

which has a frequency depending on the standpipe constants. This is especially noticeable in the case of the flexible dynamometer connection. Since the primary interest of these experiments is to show the pressure distribution over the ends of the tank during the beginning of the motion,

22

BULLETIN

OF THE

SEISMOLOGICAL

SOCIETY

OF AMERICA

curves showing the standpipe water displacements as functions of the locations of the pipes have been plotted in Figure 7 from pictures taken within the first eighth of a second of the motion. Since the standpipes

FIG. 7.--Experimental pressure distributions over the face of the end of the tank at different times from start. The abscissas are only relative.

have the same dynamic constants and a natural period of about 1.8 seconds, the initial displacements should, to a close approximation, be proportional to the pressures producing them. F o r comparison with theory there is shown also a theoretical curve plotted from the data of Table I. Total end pressure computed fro.m standpipe experiment.--An approximate computation of the total pressure on the end of the tank may be made from standpipe experiments if it be assumed that the timevariation of the pressure is the same as that of the dynamometer displacement as recorded on the oscillograms. This assumption accords with the hydrodynamical theory, since both the pressure and the dynamometer displacement are proportional to the absolute acceleration of the tank. Considering any standpipe, let l and a denote the length and crosssection of the water column, y the height of the top, above its equilibrium position, and p the pressure at the inlet. A t the start of the motion, while the displacement is small, no important error results from treating the mass of the column as constant, nor f r o m neglecting both friction and the restorative effect of gravity. Approximately, therefore, the following equation may be assumed to hold throughout the period occupied by the first loop of the oscillogram :

WATER

PRESSURE

CAUSED

BY SIMULATED

EARTHQUAKE

23

--y=pa

W.,a[

..

or ~ - = 'q~P z~,i

Inspection of the oscillogram shows that the first loop may be represented approximately by a sine cun'e ; assuming the same law for p we may write

p=p'sinqt;

y=

yp" sinqt Z~.'l

in which p ' is the maximum value of p, and q is a constant which is determined from the oscillogram. Integrating and assuming t ~ 0 when both y and # are 0,
~, =
-

qP" ( 1 - - c o s q t )

y=

aP' ( qt - - sin qt ) wlq 2

Either of these equations may, theoretically, be used in connection with the experimental y - t curves to determine p'. If, however, the y-equation were used, the accuracy of the results would not be very satisfactory on account of the experimental inaccuracies involved in measurements of the motion pictures ; the value of t corresponding to any chosen y would be uncertain by about half the time intelwal between two exposures, this interval being 1733 of a second. This uncertainty may be avoided by using the 5,-equation, substituting in it the m a x i m u m value of ~ and the corresponding value of t, say tl. Since qh = ~,
2(/p" 3'm.x - or
m

2.qp't~ =wl

wlq

p' - -

v ..... 2(jtl "

The value o.f ~.... can be found with considerable accuracy hy measuring the slope of the y--t curve, such measurement not being affected by the uncertainty as to the time-origin.

24

BULLETIN

OF TIlE

SEISMOLOGICAL

SOCIETY

OF AMERICA

F o r each of the actual standpipes I z 30 inches, and in the case for which the following measurements were made tl = 0. 058 second according to the oscillogram. Expressing pressure in pounds per square inch we have for this case p'-0.004417 . y,.... = 0 . 0 7 6 + tl ....

A careful set of measurements of four experiments gave the following values of +.... f o r the several standpipes, z denoting height of lower opening above tank bottom :
Ymax inches per second

z (inches)

3 5 8 11 14
18

5_06 4.59 4.35 3.57 3_ 10

0.00

These values averaged over the whole end area of the tank give 3.84 inches per second, f r o m which the a-eerage value of p' is 0 . 0 7 6 M 3.84 = 0 . 2 9 2 pound per square inch. F r o m this should be deducted a correction due to the horizontal acceleration a of the water in the standpipes. Since f o r each standpipe the effective horizontal projection of the water column is 1.1 inches, the correction in the value of p" is 1. lw~/g. F o r the case under consideration, a, the m a x i m u m acceleration of the tank, is shown by experiment to be a little greater than g, say 1.02g, giving 1. lw~/g = 1.1 X 0. 036 X 1.02 = 0. 040 for the correction and 0. 292 - - 0 . 0 4 0 = 0 . 2 5 2 pound per square inch as the corrected value of the average pressure over the end of the tank. The end area being 18 X 1 8 ' = 324 square inches, the total pressure on one end is P = 324 X 0. 252 = 8 1 . 6 pounds. The mass in pounds of the "equivalent solid body" is

p_, = Pg/a = 8 1 . 6 / 1 . 0 2 = 80 lbs.

The for V/" average pounds, value 2Q = 160 pounds is to, be compared with the value found in the case h = 18 inches, I = 8 feet. Table V gives as the of t w e n t y - f o u r experiments H/'" = 0 . 7 8 6 X 229 pounds = 180 showing a discrepancy of twenty pounds. This is probably not

W A T E R PRESSURE CAUSED BY S I M U L A T E D E A R T H Q U A K E

25

greater than might reasonably be accounted for by the neglect of the effects of gravity and viscosity in the analysis of the motion of the water column. Profile of water surface in tank.--In order to check the theory, a series of observations of the water surface was made by means of a motion-picture camera operating at a speed of twenty-one exposures per second. Attention has been given to a study of the picture frames centering around the time interval from 0.20 to 0.30 of a second after the instant of pendulum contact with the bumper spring. The average absolute displacement of the tank within this interval has been called ~o and the ordinates of the water profile, y', have been measured by projection of the picture frame that gave the m a x i m u m displacement of the water at the ends of the tank. The average of seven experiments with pendulum drops varying between one and four inches has been recorded on Figure 8. Within the limits of accuracy, the measurements of the water

2O

o,y
/.6

L
O, O4

~I

O.Z

o_3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0-8

0..9

/.0

h
FIG. 8 . - - C o m p a r i s o n of e x p e r i m e n t a l a n d theoretical profiles of w a t e r s u r f a c e uear the end of the tank at a p p r o x i m a t e l y 0.25 of a second f r o m start. ~0 is equivalent to ~a in F i g u r e 1.

profiles near the ends of the tank gave identical forms ; the profile at the compressional end of the tank had positive ordinates while the other had negative ordinates. Considering the approximations involved in the theory, the agreement with the experiments is satisfactory.

26

BULLETIN

OF T H E S E I S M O L O G I C A L SOCIETY OF A M E R I C A

The nature of the motions of the table and the tank.--An experimental record of the absolute displacement of the table is shown in Figure 9, and is seen to be a damped, harmonic vibration with the exception of a short time at the beginning of the motion marked impact interval. The mass of the table is so large that the reactions of the tankdynamometer system produce no discernible effects on the table motion. The recorded absolute displacement of the tank shows very clearly that it contains not only the motion of the table, but also a secondary motion with the frequency characteristic of the tank-dynamometer system. The relative motion of the table and the tank was recorded electrically and is called the dynamometer distortion; this distortion, moreover, is proportional to the absolute acceleration o f the tank and measures'the accelerating force transmitted from the table through the dynamometer to the tank.

~'O.S' -0

~rded ~$torliO~

~aFrJ o m e ~ f

_la

\
.~.7/
Reorde~ '

D/sp/ac~ ~ n r

of

/ Second

FIG. 9.--Experimental records of the motion of the table and tank

The two tabulations following contain information about the motion. Table V I gives the computed and the observed data relating to the shaking table. Table V I I (p. 28) summarizes the characteristics of the tankdynamometer system used in connection with the one-second-period shaking table.

WATER PRESSURE

CAUSED BY SIMULATED

EARTHQUAKE

27

TABLE

VI
)~-Sec. Table 1-See. Table

COMPUTED AND OBSERVED DATA ON S H A K I N G TABLE ~-Sec. Table

W e i g h t of table and e m p t y t a n k . . . W e i g h t of p e n d u l u m . . . . . . . . . . . . . Characteristic of anchor spring . . . . Characteristic of bumper s p r i n g . _ _ P r i m a r y impact f r e q u e n c y . . . . . . . S e c o n d a r y impact f r e q u e n c y . . . . . . F r e e vibration f r e q u e n c y . . . . . . . . . Free vibration period . . . . . . . . . . . . . T i m e d u r a t i o n of contact . . . . . . . . . T i m e of m a x i m u m impact acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M a x i m u m impact acceleration f o r 1-inch drop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M a x i m u m impact acceleration f o r 4-inch drop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T i m e of m a x i m u m h a r m o n i c displacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M a x i m u m h a r m o n i c displacement for 1-inch p e n d u l u m drop . . . . . . . M a x i m u m h a r m o n i c displacement for 4-inch p e n d u l u m drop . . . . . . . Ratio of m a x i m u m impact acceleration to m a x i m u m h a r m o n i c acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O b s e r v e d displacement for 4-inch drop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R a t i o of observed displacement to computed displacement . . . . . . . . . Observed h a r m o n i c acceleration f o r 4-inch drop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R a t i o of observed acceleration to computed acceleration . . . . . . . . . O b s e r v e d time of m a x i m u m displacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R a t i o of observed time to computed time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ratio of observed f r e q u e n c y to computed frequency . . . . . . . . . . .

8,250 lbs_ 1,020 lbs. 12.,000 lbs/in. 4,000 lbs/in. 3_46 cyc/sec. 6.72 cyc/sec. 3.72 cyc/sec. 0.269 sec. 0.078 see. 0. 032 sec. 0. 280 g r a v i t y 0. 539 g r a v i t y 0_ 107 see. 0.251 in. 0. 502 in.

8,250 1,020 4,000 4,000 2.05 6.59 2.02 0.495

lbs_ Ibs. lbs/in. lbs/in. cyc/sec. cyc/sec. cyc/see. sec. 0.077 sec. 0. 036 sec. 0. 307 g r a v i t y 0. 614 g r a v i t y 0. 153 sec. 0.423 in. 0_845 in.

8,250 lbs. 1,020 lbs. 950 ibs/in. 4,000 lbs/in_ 1.01 cyc/sec. 6.56 cyc/sec. 1.07 cyc/sec. 0.932 sec. 0.076 sec. 0.037 sec. 0.321 g r a v i t y 0_642 g r a v i t y 0. 274 sec. 0. 912 in. 1.82 in.

0. 768 0.440 in. 0.88 0. 609 g r a v i t y 0.76 0.104 sec. 0.97 0.99

1.47 0.80 0.95 0.376 grav,ity 0.90 0. 152 sec. 0.99 0.93 in.

3.07 1.58 in. 0.87 0. 186 g r a v i t y 0.89 0. 273 sec. 1 _00 1.01

28

BULLETIN

OF THE

SEISMOLOGICAL

SOCIETY

OF AMERICA

~'a~

'4:)

~ : ~

,'~ ~"~ ~ ~ ~'~

~,{.~S
i i

I I

I I I I I

.S~
~ ~

..~
~ ~ ~

->>
~

>~
~ba~ ~

~.
~

~'~'~'5"~
~

"5"~-~-~'~
~ b a ~ ~ 0 ~ . "~

~-~
~

;=

I~

II

IIIII

II

II

~0

E
o o

&
o

s~
o

~8

E o

~s
E

~a

W A T E R P R E S S U R E C A U S E D BY S I M U L A T E D E A R T H Q U A K E

29

d ~ a l y s i s o f the motion of the t a n k . - - T h e mechanics of the shaking table has been studied in the publication of the Seismological Society already mentioned. When the tank or model placed on the table is of relatively small mass as compared to the mass of the shaking table, the reaction of the tank on the table does not influence the motion of the table appreciably. The motion of the tank can then be studied as a transitory, forced vibration (Fig. 10). If friction be neglected, the problem

/0

I ,M,~/2/m

Go
Zoo~ 0

Poun#.u

4O0

RlcJ~'z)fa

f ,, Mea,m

~ZO0 300

/rnpoc:/nl'ervo/ 076Z 5ec.

<2 %
\
Seconds
~10

a05

~/S

020

FIG. 10.--Theoretical starting curves for the table and tank system connected by the three dynamometers. is further simplified, and the following solution for the beginning of the motion is easily obtained. Let ml -= mass of pendulum, pounds per inch per second per second m,_, z mass of table, including mass of tank n~a ~ mass of tank kl ---- characteristic of bumper spring, pounds per inch

30

BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY

ks = characteristic of anchor spring k3 = characteristic of dynamometer ~ = absolute displacement of table, inches ~s = absolute displacement of tank t = time, seconds

OF AMERICA

v0 = velocity of pendulum at time o,f impact, inches per second a =

@(kl

k2 " -F k l ) , radians 2 per second 2

z ( O~ 2

~'~l'/'l'22 ]e~k* //" radians2 per second 2

(:~,

~)~- =

primary frequency of table and pendulum, radians per second second

(a+~)~= secondary frequency of table and pendulmn, radians per

m=
y =

~'-' free-vibration frequency of table, radians per second

\ m.2 /

(ka)~free vibration frequency of tank, radians per second \ma/

If time be reckoned from the instant the pendulum strikes the bumper spring, the following expressions for ~2 and ~a hold true until the pendulum ceases to be in contact with the bumper : z,okl I sin ( a - - 13)~t sin (a -+- 13)~t I (15)

~ 2 - 2~,,~

(~-0):
sin (a -- ~)~t

(~+~)~
sin yt
y

sin (a Jr- [3) ~t

(~ + ~)~

sin yt (16)

z,ok~k~

(~ -

~)-~

20,,~

WATER

PRESSURE

CAUSED

BY SIMULATED

EARTHQUAKE

31

The duration of the impact, or the value of t2, may be found from the trigonometric equation

k,~_- - , z ~ (a q- (3) sin ( a q- [3)-~t~ = 2 - - m_~ ( a - - [3)

(~+ (3)~ (~-(3)~

sill (or --

(3)tt 2

(17)

Substitution of t,, in Equations 15 and 16 gives

as the starting conditions for the motions following the impact. E x pressed from t,, on, in terms of t', we have

~2=- (~)t= cosmt'+ l ( ~ = ) t , sincot'

OJ

(18)

t~

(L~),, ] cos vt'

tea + _1_ (~.~)t,' (~;~),~ ] sin vt" + I~ le,~2 ,.a~o" (19) y lea -- ~'llam"
I

A consideration of Equation 16 shows that the motion of the tank during the impact is describable by trigonometric expressions involving three frequencies, (a - - (3), (a q- (3), and % I f the -value of Y should approach either (a q- (3) or (a - - (3), the condition of resonance becomes established, and the form of Equation 16 is not suited for computation purposes. Since in our problem the constants are such that y may become equal to (a q- (3), we proceed to study this case. Rewriting the last expression inside the parenthesis of Equation 16, and making use of the relation between % ka, and ms, we obtain

32

BULLETIN

OF THE

SEISMOLOGICAL

SOCIETY

OF AMERICA

sin (u + [3)~t
lim v --+ (a + ~)~

sin y
- - yt.cos yt q- sin yt

m~ (V~-- u-- ~)

27a*na

so that in case of resonance with (a q- [3) we have

sin ( a - - ~)~t

sin yt q_ yt cos yt - - sin yt

vok,ka
k3 --m3 ( a t

[3)

2,?m~

(20)

It is obvious that infinite values canriot occur, since t cannot be greater than" h- Equation 19, however, can exhibit the resonance condition more drastically as t' is limitless. I n this case, of course, friction should be considered. I f the values of the acceleration of the tank, ~a, and the relative displacement of the tank and table, ~ 2 - ~a, be compared, they will be found to be in the ratio of y 2 o r - ka . This means that the distortions

of the dynamometer are proportional to the absolute accelerations of the tank.