Active Learning (AL)

Distribution (10%)
Discussions on given AL questions will be conducted in class.

Participative students will be awarded bonus marks.

Each student has to submit the AL assignment before / after the class as
advised.


Active Learning (AL1)
A structure is idealized as a damped spring mass system with
stiffness 4 kN/m; mass 10 kg; and damping 20 Ns/m. It is
subjected to a harmonic force of amplitude 100 N at frequency 10
rad/s. Initial conditions x(0)=0.01 m, x (0)=0 Calculate total
response of the system.
Active Learning (AL2)
Figure above shows three masses that are connected to each other and to
ground by three springs. The displacements coordinates, x
1,
x
2
and x
3
define the motion of this three-degree-of-freedom system. For simplicity,
let m
1
= m
2
= m
3
= m and k
1
= k
2
= k
3
= k. Determine he characteristic values
and the principal mode shapes using the action equation approach.
Suppose now that the stiffness constant k
1
for the first spring in the Fig. is zero. In this
case the system will be free to translate as a rigid body as well as to vibrate. The stiffness
coefficient changes from 2k to k, and the corresponding term in the characteristic matrix
becomes k - p
i
2
m. Consequently, the characteristic equation simplifies to the factored
expression

p
i
2
(p
i
2
- (k/m)) (p
i
2
- (3k/m)) = 0

a) Show (using Matlab or any other method) that

p
1
2
= 0 p
2
2
= (k/m) p
3
2
= (3k/m)

b) Evaluate and draw the mode shapes (where the zero root corresponds to the rigid
body mode)
Active Learning (AL3)
Active Learning (AL4)
To normalise this array with respect to M, which is equal to mI,
(
(
(

=
1 1 1
2 0 2
1 1 1
M
X
In this free-vibrational response of the two-carriage system with initial
conditions




Determine the response of the system using the normal-mode method.
1
02 01
= = x x
0
02 01
= = x x

Active Learning (AL5)
Evaluate the response for the following initial conditions:








Explain the results obtained in both cases.
0
0
0 . 1
618 . 0
)
02
01
02
01
=
=
=
=
x
x
x
x
a

0 . 2
236 . 3
0
0
)
02
01
02
01
=
=
=
=
x
x
x
x
b

Active Learning (AL6)

For an example with rigid-body motion, we consider the three mass system as
before and let k
1
= 0. In addition, we shall assume m
1
= m
2
= m
3
= m and k
2
= k
3
=
k. The eigenvalues can be calculated to be p
1
2
= 0, p
2
2
= k/m and p
3
2
= 3k/m. The
eigenvectors were also obtained, and the modal matrix is




Suppose that the system is at rest when the first mass is struck in such a manner
that it suddenly acquires a velocity v. Determine the response of the system due
to this impact.
(
(
(

=
1 1 1
2 0 1
1 1 1
M
X
Active Learning (AL7)
If all the masses have the same initial velocity v, the initial velocity vector
becomes



Show that:





Only rigid mode remain. What causes the modes to disappear. Explain these
(
(
(

=
v
v
v
0
X

(
(
(

=
(
(
(

=
(
(
(

=
1
1
1
X
0
0 3 X
0
0
1
3 X
P 0P
vt
t
m v m v

Active Learning (AL8)

Consider again the two-mass system in preceding AL 5. Suppose that a step
function Q
1
= P is applied to the first mass. Determine the response to this
forcing function, starting from rest.

Active Learning (AL9)
Proceeding in a similar manner, we can also calculate the response of the system
to a step function Q
2
= P applied to the second mass. In this case, show that





This equality confirms the reciprocal theorem in. Explain.

(
(

+
=
t p t p
t p t p
k
P
X
2 1
2 1
cos 105 . 0 cos 895 . 1 2
cos 171 . 0 cos 171 . 1 1
Active Learning (AL10)
Again, using the preceding AL 7 with the system now subjected to the ramp
function Q
2
= Rt, applied to the second mass. (The symbol R denotes the rate of
change of force with respect to time). Calculate the response of the three mass
system to this excitation.

Active Learning (AL11)
a) Repeat AL 11 with the same ramp input acting on mass 3.

b) Repeat AL 11 with an impulse input on mass 2 whose impulse function is
given by:
Active Learning (AL12)
Suppose that the above system is subjected to the simple harmonic forcing
functions Q
1
= Q
2
= Q
3
= Pcoset, where e = 1.25\k/m. Calculate the steady-state
response of the masses, assuming m
1
= m
2
= m
3
= m, k
1
= k
2
= k
3
= k, and the
damping ratio in each principal mode is ,
i
=0.01 (i = 1,2,3).
The eigenvector or modal matrix is re-stated as





and the corresponding eigenvalues or natural frequencies
p
2
= 0.198k/m 1.555k/m 3.247k/m

(
(
(

=
555 . 0 802 . 0 247 . 2
247 . 1 445 . 0 802 . 1
1 1 1
M
X
Active Learning (AL13)
a) Repeat AL13 with Q
1
= Q
2
= 0 and Q
3
= Pcoset, where e = 0.5\k/m. Explain
the results.

b) Repeat AL13 with Q
1
= Q
2
= 0 and Q
3
= Pcoset, where e = 3\k/m. Explain
the results.

Active Learning (AL14)
a) If we vary e from 0 to 4k/m, plot the curve using (Matlab or others) of
magnification factors
1 ,

2,
and
3
versus frequency, e.Explain the
pattern of the curves with regards to the total response obtained.

b) If the distributed forces are as below, recalculate the response of the
system. Q
1
=Pcoset, Q
2
=1.802Pcoset and Q
3
=2.247 Pcoset. Explain the
results obtained.

c) If Q
2
=Pcos0.5\k/m t+Pcos2\k/m t, determine the response of the
system. Explain the results.
Active Learning (AL15)