MARATHWADA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, LABORATORY MANUAL

AURANGABAD MIT – CED - 04

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTION SHEET
LABORATORY : 04 YEAR: T.E. PART: II

1
PREPARED BY: Dr. M.S. DIXIT. APPROVED BY :
MIT. HCED, MIT.
 MARATHWADA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, LABORATORY MANUAL
AURANGABAD MIT – CED - 04
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTION SHEET
LABORATORY : 04 YEAR: T.E. PART: II

Experiment 9

Dynamics of free-standing rigid bodies under base motions

Aim: To study the dynamics of a rectangular rigid block under one dimensional harmonic base motion.

Apparatus: Equipments used in conducting the experiment

No. Equipments Quantity
1 PC Based Data Acquisition system (2 Channels) 1
2 Accelerometers 2
3 Signal conditioning amplifier 1
(two channels)
4 Shake table 1

Theory: Studies of free-standing rigid blocks under dynamic base motion is of considerable
interest in earthquake engineering, not only because of their relevance to the understanding
of toppling of unrestrained systems, such as, battery racks, transformers, computer CPUs,
refrigerators, cup boards, book cases, etc., but also, from the point of view of inferring the
possible amplitude of ground accelerations based on observations on toppled objects in an
earthquake hit area (see figure 9.1). Even for objects that are fixed to the supports, such as
equipment bolted to the ground, in case the bolts yield during strong motion, the system
would subsequently behave like a free standing object. It is evident that toppling of
equipment would often result in loss of functionality and hence contribute to economic
losses due to an earthquake. The free standing objects could have a variety of geometries
(for example, rectangular, cylindrical, stacked objects) and under the action of multi-
component dynamic base motions, these objects could display a rich variety of dynamic
behavior. These motions are characterized by large displacements and energy dissipation
mechanisms involving impacting and sliding. Consequently, mathematical models for such
systems are nonlinear in nature and require numerical solution procedures.
In the present experiment we study the dynamics of a rectangular rigid block under one
dimensional harmonic base motion. The setup for studying the initiation of rocking,
rocking oscillations and possible toppling of rigid rectangular blocks is shown in figure
9.2. Here the energy dissipation takes place by impacts with the velocity after impact being
a fraction less than the velocity before impact. In making a mathematical modeling, the
block is assumed to be long in one direction so that attention could be focused on the study
of planar rocking behavior. Furthermore, we neglect the possibility of sliding of the block
2
PREPARED BY: Dr. M.S. DIXIT. APPROVED BY :
MIT. HCED, MIT.
 MARATHWADA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, LABORATORY MANUAL
AURANGABAD MIT – CED - 04
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTION SHEET
LABORATORY : 04 YEAR: T.E. PART: II

in the direction of applied base motion. To capture the energy dissipation due to impacting
in a numerical model, one needs to determine the time of impacts while integrating the
governing equation of motion. This can be achieved by dividing the time interval into a
sequence of subintervals with each of the subintervals representing episodes of rocking
between two successive impacts. The lengths of these subintervals are not know a prioi and
a termination criteria based on the zeros of the rotation response of the block needs to be
built into the integration scheme. This exercise, in itself, would provide a good opportunity
to appreciate the nuances of integrating nonlinear equations of motion.

9.0 Experimental procedure

At the outset we need to note that in this experiment it is required to measure the angle of
rotation and rotational velocity of the rocking block. Table 9.1 lists the sensors and data
acquisition system needed to conduct this experiment. The measurements on rotation and
rotational velocity can be accomplished by using displacement and velocity sensors meant
for measuring translational displacements and velocities. Thus, in figure 9.5 we show the
path traced by a displacement/velocity sensor mounted on the lateral face of the block as
the block rocks. Clearly, in order to obtain the rotational displacement/velocity the sensor
measurement needs to be divided by the radius of the arc of circle that the senor traces as
the block rocks.
1. Measure B and H for the block and deduce R and .
2. Place the block on the table as shown in figure 9.2 and fix the sensors as shown.
3. Calculate the minimum acceleration needed for the block to lift up using equation
9.2. Run the shake table by varying the driving frequency in small steps. In doing so, for a
fixed value of table displacement, we would be increasing the base acceleration in small
increments. Make sure that the block starts from rest at every increment of the driving
frequency. Verify if the criterion given by equation 9.3 for lift up is satisfied or not.
4. Select a driving frequency above the critical frequency and run the shake table. Record
the displacement and velocity time histories and subsequently deduce the rotational
displacement and velocity.
5. The coefficient of restitution can be estimated by zooming the velocity plot and
measuring the reduction in velocity before and after impacts (see figure 9.6). The
coefficient can be estimated a t a set of about 10 points and an average value over these
3
PREPARED BY: Dr. M.S. DIXIT. APPROVED BY :
MIT. HCED, MIT.
 MARATHWADA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, LABORATORY MANUAL
AURANGABAD MIT – CED - 04
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTION SHEET
LABORATORY : 04 YEAR: T.E. PART: II

impacts could be used as the estimate.

6. For the block configuration under study run the Matlab code (listed in section 9.1) to
numerically simulate the block rocking. The input to this program consists of B, H , and
details of h(t).
7. Compare the measured time histories of rotational displacement and velocity with
the corresponding numerical predictions. Also plot the phase plane plot, that is, plot of 

(t) versus &(t). Comment on the mutual agreement/disagreement between experimental

observations and numerical predictions..
8. By varying the frequency/amplitude of the base motion, thereby varying the peak base
acceleration, observe when the block would topple. (Caution: do not mount sensors on the
block when you are trying to simulate toppling of the block if not sensors could get
damaged when the block topples).
Observation Table: Table 9.1 Equipments used in conducting the experiment

No. Equipments Quantity

1 PC Based Data Acquisition system (2 Channels) 1
2 Accelerometers 2
3 Signal conditioning amplifier (two channels) 1

4 Shake table 1

4
PREPARED BY: Dr. M.S. DIXIT. APPROVED BY :
MIT. HCED, MIT.
 MARATHWADA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, LABORATORY MANUAL
AURANGABAD MIT – CED - 04
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTION SHEET
LABORATORY : 04 YEAR: T.E. PART: II

Figures:

Figure 9.1 Overturned and tilted rigid objects observed at Bhuj subsequent to the 2001
Gujarath earthquake. Based on such observations one could estimate a lower bound on
peak ground acceleration that might have occurred during the earthquake.

(a)

5
PREPARED BY: Dr. M.S. DIXIT. APPROVED BY :
MIT. HCED, MIT.
 MARATHWADA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, LABORATORY MANUAL
AURANGABAD MIT – CED - 04
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTION SHEET
LABORATORY : 04 YEAR: T.E. PART: II

(b)

Figure 9.2 Rectangular rigid block placed freely on a shake table and subject to harmonic
base motion; (a) view of block placed on the table; (b) Measurement setup.

Figure 9.3 Rectangular rigid block under harmonic base acceleration

6
PREPARED BY: Dr. M.S. DIXIT. APPROVED BY :
MIT. HCED, MIT.
 MARATHWADA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, LABORATORY MANUAL
AURANGABAD MIT – CED - 04
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTION SHEET
LABORATORY : 04 YEAR: T.E. PART: II

(a) (b)

Figure 9.4 Free body diagram of the block under base acceleration.

Figure 9.5 Paths traced by sensors in a rocking block.

7
PREPARED BY: Dr. M.S. DIXIT. APPROVED BY :
MIT. HCED, MIT.
 MARATHWADA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, LABORATORY MANUAL
AURANGABAD MIT – CED - 04
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTION SHEET
LABORATORY : 04 YEAR: T.E. PART: II

Figure 9.6 Zoomed trace of rotational velocity time histories showing the loss of velocity
upon impacts.

Results:

Conclusion:

8
PREPARED BY: Dr. M.S. DIXIT. APPROVED BY :
MIT. HCED, MIT.
 MARATHWADA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, LABORATORY MANUAL
AURANGABAD MIT – CED - 04
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTION SHEET
LABORATORY : 04 YEAR: T.E. PART: II

9
PREPARED BY: Dr. M.S. DIXIT. APPROVED BY :
MIT. HCED, MIT.
 MARATHWADA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, LABORATORY MANUAL
AURANGABAD MIT – CED - 04
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT INSTRUCTION SHEET
LABORATORY : 04 YEAR: T.E. PART: II

10
PREPARED BY: Dr. M.S. DIXIT. APPROVED BY :
MIT. HCED, MIT.