The Rayleigh-Ritz Method

Instead of discretization by dividing into

elements we can discretize by assuming
solution in form of series
Approach good when structure is fairly
uniform
With large concentrated mass or
stiffnesses there is advantage to local
methods
Series solution is also good only for
regular geometries.

The Rayleigh principle

In chapter 8 it is proved that the Rayleigh
quotient has a stationary point at the first
eigenvector, it can be proven that it is a minimum

1 = 12 = min R(Y ) = R(Y1 )

Y

Because the Rayleigh quotient is flat near a

minimum, substantial errors in vibration modes
translate to only small errors in frequency

Problem 8.29
Beam with end
mass
Estimate natural
frequency using
Y(x)=2-3(x/L)+(x/L)3
for M=0.5mL

For this problem

2

2 y
1 L
V = EI 2 dx
2 0
x
2

1 L y
1 y(0, t)
T = m dx + M
2 0 t
2 t
y(x, t) = Y (x)cos( t )

How did we select Y?

2

Calculating the Rayleigh quotient

Potential energy

V (t ) =
Vmax

Kinetic energy

y
1
2
=
EI
dx
V
cos
( t )
max

0
2
x
L

Y
1
EI L 6x
6EI
= EI 2 dx =
=
dx
3

2 0
x
2
L
L3

1 L y
1 y(0, t)
=
T = m dx + M

0
2
2 t
t

2 L
2
2
sin2 ( t ) = 2T sin2 ( t )
(0)
+
m
Y
dx
MY
ref

Tref = m Y 2dx + MY 2 (0)

0

3 2

103
1 L
x x
2
= m 2 3 + dx + 0.5mL(2) =
mL
0
2
L L

70

Altogether

= 2.0193

EI
mL4

exact = 2.0164

EI
mL4

9.6: The Rayleigh-Ritz method

Walter Ritz (1878, Switzerland
- 1909 Gttingen)
Use a series of assumed functions that
satisfies kinematic BC and find
coefficients by minimizing Rayleigh
quotient
n

Y (x) = aii (x) R = R(a)

i =1

R
=0
ai

Generalized stiffness and mass

matrices
Kinetic and potential energies are quadratic
expression in Y. Substituting the expansion of
Y we get
2 T
1 T
2
Tmax =
a Ma = Tref
Vmax = a Ka
2
2
Then taking derivatives of Vmax/Tmax you get
the approximate eigen problem

Ka = Ma
2

Problem 9.20
A tapered cantilever beam has stiffness and
mass distribution of
x
1
x 3
3
m(x) = h(1 )
EI(x) = Eh (1 )
2L
12
2L
Estimate lowest frequency by using a two term
Ritz solution Y=a1x2+a2x3

Calculation of stiffness matrix

For a beam

Vmax =

Y
1
EI
dx

0
2
x
L

With the expansion

Y (x) = a11 + a22 = a1x 2 + a2 x3
Vmax

2
L
d 2i d j
1 2 2
= kij ai a j kij = EI(x) 2
dx
2
0
2 i =1 j =1
dx dx

1
x 3
3
Eh (1 ) i(i + 1)x i 1 j( j + 1)x j 1dx
=
0 12
2L
0.1563 0.1625L
3
K = ELh
2
L
L
0.1625
0.2625

Calculation of mass matrix and

frequencies
Kinetic energy
Checks?

Tref =

1 2 2
m Y dx = mij ai a j
2 i =1 j =1
2

mij = m(x) i (x) j (x)dx = m(x) i (x) j (x)dx

x i + j +2
)x
dx
0
2L
0.1167 0.0952L
5
M = hL
2
0.0952
0.0804
L
L

= h(1

Eigensolution (how to get

rid of the L-factors?)

Solution
Frequencies and modes
1 = 1.11 Eh2 / L4
a1 = ( hL

7 1/ 2

2 = 6.23 Eh 2 / L4

15.79L
3.774L
7 1/ 2

a 2 = ( hL )

1.042
19.54

Y1 = 0.366(3.774Lx 2 1.042x3 )
Y2 = 0.267(15.79Lx 2 19.54 x3 )

Convergence with increasing number of terms:

First frequency: 1.1573, 1.1102, 1.1040, 1.1040, 1.1039
Second:
6.2369, 5.4518, 5.2993, 5.2945

Reading assignment
Sections 9.7,9.8

Source: www.library.veryhelpful.co.uk/ Page11.htm