University of Cape Town

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CIV586Z: ADVANCESD STRUCTURAL MECHANICS WITH

APPLICATIONS

Module: Structural Dynamics

CLOSED BOOK EXAM

INTERNAL EXAMINER : DR. P. MOYO

EXTERNAL EXAMINER: DR. P. MAINÇON

27 NOVEMBER 2006

Time allowed: 90 minutes

Total Marks: 50
Question 1 14 Marks
The single story frame shown in Figure 1 is idealized as a rigid girder supported by weightless
columns. A free vibration test is carried out in order to determine the dynamic properties of
the structure. The structure is set into motion by applying a jacking force p, at the eaves of
the column. During the test it was observed that a static force of 100kN produced a
displacement of 50mm. After the sudden release of this initial displacement, the maximum
displacement on the first return swing was observed to be 16mm and the period of this
displacement cycle was 1.5 seconds.

x
p

Steel pin
column Concrete
4m column

Figure 1
Second moment of area of the steel column = 4000 cm4
Second moment of area of the concrete column = 8000 cm4
Young’s modulus of steel = 205kN/mm2
Young’s modulus of steel = 31kN/mm2

Determine;
(i) The effective lateral stiffness of the frame using the geometric and material properties
given.
(ii) The effective weight of the girder.
(iii) The logarithmic decrement.
(iv) The damping ratio.
(v) The damping coefficient.
(vi) The amplitude of vibration after five cycles.

Question 2 16 Marks
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Figure 2 shows a highly idealized model of a vehicle travelling over a reinforced concrete
bridge. The weight of the vehicle is 1500kg and spring stiffness is 22.5N/mm. The bridge
deflections resulting from concrete creep result in increased vertical motions of the vehicle.
The bridge profile is represented by a sine curve having a wavelength (span) of 12m and a
single mid-span amplitude of 30mm. Assuming the damping ratio to be 0.4.

(i) Determine the excitation period if the car is travelling at 60km/hr.

(ii) The natural period of the vehicle.
(iii) The maximum vertical displacement of the car when it is travelling at 60km/hr.
(iv) The maximum vertical displacement of the car when it is travelling at 120km/hr.
[assume car maintains contact with the road surface]

y(t)

1500kg Velocity =60km/hr Bridge

surface
k c

30mm

12m

Question 3 10 Marks

A sieving machine has a mass of 2100kg and exerts a harmonic force on its supports of
300kN amplitude at 10Hz. After mounting the machine on spring-type vibration isolators, it
was found that the harmonic force exerted on the supports had been reduced to a 50kN
amplitude. The damping ratio of the isolators 0.45.

(i) Illustrate this as single degree of freedom system, indicating all the forces acting on
the dynamic system.
(ii) Determine the stiffness of the oscillator.

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Question 4 10 Marks
A block of mass m is attached to a spring of stiffness k, that is suspended from a long
cantilever beam of length L and bending stiffness EI as shown in Figure 3. Assuming that the
mass of the block is much greater than that of the beam;

(i) Show that equivalent stiffness of the system is given by

ks
k eq 

1  k s L3 / 3EI 

(ii) Show that if the beam is infinitely rigid, the natural frequency of the system
approaches;

  ks / m

EI
L y

Figure 3

Useful equations
y st sin(t   )
y (t )  e t ( A cos  D t  B sin  D t )  (1)
(1   2 ) 2  (2  ) 2

y 0 1  (2  ) 2
y (t )  sin(t   ) (2)
(1   2 ) 2  (2  ) 2

f 0 1  (2  ) 2
f max(t )  (3)
(1   2 ) 2  ( 2 ) 2

Symbols have the usual meaning

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