Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method

Chapter 7. Structural Vibration and Dynamics

VI. Transient Response Analysis

(Dynamic Response/Time-History Analysis)
Structure response to arbitrary, time-dependent loading.
f(t)

u(t)

Compute responses by integrating through time:

u1
u n u n+1
u2

t0 t1 t2

1999 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati

t n t n+1

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Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method

Chapter 7. Structural Vibration and Dynamics

Equation of motion at instance t n , n = 0, 1, 2, 3, :

&& n + Cu& n + Ku n = f n .
Mu
Time increment: t=tn+1-tn, n=0, 1, 2, 3, .
There are two categories of methods for transient analysis.
A. Direct Methods (Direct Integration Methods)
Central Difference Method
Approximate using finite difference:
u&

&&
u

1
( u n + 1 u n 1 ),
2 t
1
=
( u n +1 2 u n + u
( t)2
=

n 1

Dynamic equation becomes,

1
1

+
(
2
)
( u n +1 u n 1 ) + Ku n = fn ,
M
u
u
u
C
n
1
n
n
1
+

2 t

( t )

which yields,
Au n +1 = F(t )
where
1
1

A =
M+
C,
2

2t
( t )

F ( t ) = f n K 2 2 M u n 1 2 M 1 C u n 1.
2t

( t )

( t )

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Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method

Chapter 7. Structural Vibration and Dynamics

un+1 is calculated from un & un-1, and solution is

marching from t 0 , t1, L t n , t n + 1, L , until convergent.
This method is unstable if t is too large.
Newmark Method:
Use approximations:
( t ) 2
[(1 2 )u&& n + 2 u&& n +1 ], ( u&& n +1 = L)
u n +1 u n + tu& n +
2
&& n + u
&& n +1 ],
u& n +1 u& n + t [(1 ) u
where & are chosen constants. These lead to
Au

= F (t)

n +1

where

1
C +
M ,
t
( t)2
&& n ).
F ( t ) = f ( f n + 1 , , , t , C , M , u n , u& n , u
A = K +

This method is unconditionally stable if

2

e . g .,

1
.
2
1
,
=
2

1
4

which gives the constant average acceleration method.

Direct methods can be expensive! (the need to
compute A-1, often repeatedly for each time step).

1999 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati

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Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method

Chapter 7. Structural Vibration and Dynamics

B. Modal Method
First, do the transformation of the dynamic equations using
the modal matrix before the time marching:
u =

i =1

u i zi (t ) = z ,

&z&i + 2 i i z& i + i z i = p i ( t ),

i = 1,2,, m.

Then, solve the uncoupled equations using an integration

method. Can use, e.g., 10%, of the total modes (m= n/10).
Uncoupled system,
Fewer equations,
No inverse of matrices,
More efficient for large problems.

Comparisons of the Methods

Direct Methods

Modal Method

Small model

Large model

More accurate (with small t)

Higher modes ignored

Single loading

Multiple loading

Shock loading

Periodic loading

1999 Yijun Liu, University of Cincinnati

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Lecture Notes: Introduction to Finite Element Method

Chapter 7. Structural Vibration and Dynamics

Cautions in Dynamic Analysis

Symmetry: It should not be used in the dynamic analysis

(normal modes, etc.) because symmetric structures can
have antisymmetric modes.
Mechanism, rigid body motion means = 0. Can use
this to check FEA models to see if they are properly
connected and/or supported.

Input for FEA: loading F(t) or F() can be very

complicated in real applications and often needs to be
filtered first before used as input for FEA.

Examples
Impact, drop test, etc.

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