Workshop 5.

Free Vibration Analysis

WS5.1: Basics
Workshop 5.1 - Goals Workshop Supplement

• Our goal is to investigate the vibration characteristics of a motor

cover manufactured from 18 gage steel. The cover is to be fastened
to a device operating at 1000 Hz.

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WS5.1: Basics
Workshop 5.1 - Assumptions Workshop Supplement

• The cover is meant to slip over a cylinder and be constrained at the

bolt hole locations. To simulate the area contacting the cylinder the
surface has been split (see below). We will use a frictionless support
on this surface to simulate the contact area. The frictionless support
type applies a constraint that is normal to the surface, thus axial and
tangential movement is allowed while radial motion is not.

• To simulate the bolted connections a

fixed support type will be used on the
edges of the bolt holes.

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WS5.1: Basics
. . . Workshop 5.1 – Project Schematic Workshop Supplement

• Open the Project page.

• From the “Units” menu verify:
– Project units are set to “US Customary (lbm, in, s, F, A, lbf, V).
– “Display Values in Project Units” is checked (on).

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WS5.1: Basics
Workshop 5.1 – Project Schematic Workshop Supplement

1. From the Toolbox double click

“Modal” to create a new system.

1.

2. RMB the “Geometry” cell and

browse to “Motor_cover_5.x_t”.

3. Double click “Model” to open the

Mechanical application.

2.

3.

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WS5.1: Basics
Workshop 5.1 - Setup Workshop Supplement

4. Set the working Unit System:

– Units > U.S Customary (in, lbm, lbf, F, s, V, A)

5. Rename the Model:

– RMB Model branch > Rename > “5 Hole Cover”.

4.

5.

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WS5.1: Basics
Workshop 5.1 - Preprocessing Workshop Supplement

• Since the model consists of surface geometry the

parts will be meshed with shell elements. Surface
geometry requires input for thickness in the details. a.

6. Specify Part thickness:

a. Highlight the “Part 1” branch.
• Note : The “Thickness” field is currently displayed in
yellow to indicate it is undefined. Also, the Part has a
question mark next to it which means that it is not fully
defined
b. Click in the “Thickness” field and set
“Thickness” = 0.05 in.
• Note : Entering a thickness for the part changes the status
icon from a question mark to a check mark meaning that it
is now fully defined.

b.

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WS5.1: Basics
Workshop 5.1 - Environment Workshop Supplement

7. Apply supports to model (highlight the

“Modal” branch (A5): a.
a. Make sure that you are in Face Select Mode.
Select the cylindrical split face, RMB > Insert >
Frictionless Support

b. Switch to Edge Select mode and select the

edges for each of the 5 holes, RMB > Insert >
Fixed Support

b.

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WS5.1: Basics
Workshop 5.1 – Analysis Settings Workshop Supplement

8. Set Options for Modal Analysis:

a. Highlight “Analysis Settings” to set the “Max
modes to Find” (defaults to 6 modes).

a.

• As a final check verify the status symbols next

to the branches. All branches should have
either:
– Yellow Lightening bolt (ready to be solved).
– Green check mark (fully defined).

9. Solve the model.

9.

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WS5.1: Basics
Workshop 5.1 - Results Workshop Supplement

10. Select Mode shapes to view:

a. Click on the “Solution” branch (A6). This will display the “Timeline”
and the “Tabular Data” showing a summary of the frequencies at which
the modes occur.
b. In the “Timeline” RMB > “Select All” to select all modes.
• Note : This can be done from the “Tabular Data” as well.
c. RMB > “Create Mode Shape Results”. d.
d. Click Solve to view the results.

c.
a. b.

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WS5.1: Basics
. . . Workshop 5.1 - Results Workshop Supplement

• View Results (highlight the desired mode):

• Note : Displacements reported in mode shapes do not reflect the actual displacements. Actual
displacements will depend on the energy input to the system.

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