GURU NANAK DEV ENGINEERING COLLEGE

LUDHIANA
Department of Civil Engineering
MTST202 - 18 Structural Dynamics
Tutorial I
Modeling Discrete Parameter Systems - Equations of Motion

1. Derive the equations of motion for the following pendulum system. The rod length is
L, and its mass density is uniform across its surface area. Assume b << L (so make
small angle approximations). Mass density is but total mass of rod is m. Note: the
term “rod” does not imply a simple rod.
a. Derive the equation of motion of the system:
b. Simplify the equation of motion assuming the displacement angle, , is
small
c. Determine the natural frequency of the rod system based on the simplified
equation of motion in part (b).

d. The same rod is taken and now rotated about a new pivot point (as shown
below). Find the natural frequency of the new rod system configuration.
Again, make small angle approximations to find the rod’s equation of
motion.

0.75L
 e. Compare the natural frequency from part (c) and (d). The new pivot point is
termed the CENTER of PERCUSSION

2. A construction worker is goofing around on site and is standing on a wood beam at its
center. The worker is shaking up and down as he does his job but eventually the beam
fails. The site engineer is called over to analyze the dynamic system to determine why the
wood beam has failed. As part of her analysis, she first decides to determine the stiffness
of the beam. Determine the equivalent stiffness, k, for the massless beam system shown
below (the beam is indeterminate so use compatibility and linearity of the system to
solve). Leave your answer in terms of E, I and L. Your degree of freedom is the
displacement of the beam in the down direction at the point indicated:

F
F
L/2 L/2
u
k
u EI

Actual Wood Beam Setup Equivalent

(Worker represents F) Spring

3. Determine the equation of motion of the following system using the Principle of Virtual
Work:

p(x,t) = c(x) (t)

u
massless rod
m2

c1 m k1 c2 k2

a 2a a a a a