Lecture 5

Vibration + Linear Buckling

Analysis

Dr Prasad Gudimetla
05 Aug 2021
Agenda

• Overview of theory of vibrations

• Free Vibration Analysis in ANSYS
• Pre-stressed Vibration Analysis in ANSYS
• Linear Buckling Analysis
Dynamic Analysis
• A static analysis might ensure that
the design will withstand steady-
state loading conditions, but it
may not be sufficient, especially if
the load varies with time.

• The famous Tacoma Narrows

bridge (Galloping Gertie)
collapsed under steady wind loads
during a 42-mph wind storm on
November 7, 1940, just four
months after construction.
Theory - Dynamic analysis
• A dynamic analysis is a technique used to
determine the dynamic behavior of a
structure or component.

• It is an analysis involving time, where the

inertia and possibly damping of the
structure play an important role.

• “Dynamic behavior” may be one or more

of the following:
– Vibration characteristics Courtesy: U.S. Geological Survey

• how the structure vibrates and at what

frequencies
– Effect of harmonic loads.
– Effect of seismic or shock loads.
– Effect of random loads.
– Effect of time-varying loads.
Dynamic Analysis (linear)

Linear Dynamics

Transient Harmonic
Dynamics Modal Analysis Response
Analysis Analysis

Modal
Superposition

Transient Harmonic
Spectrum
Dynamic Response
Analysis
Analysis Analysis

Response Random
Spectrum Vibration
Method Method
 Dynamic Analysis – Solving Methods

Solving the equation of motion

Direct Integration Mode Superposition

Implicit Explicit

Full Reduced Full Reduced

Modal Analysis
• Modal Analysis
– Identify how a structure
naturally vibrates.
– This study is mandatory
every time a structure is
subject to vibration or
dynamic effects.
Dynamic Analysis
• Harmonic Analysis
– A harmonic-response
analysis can be used to
determine a structure’s
response to steady,
harmonic loads

• Random Vibration
– A random-vibration
analysis can be used to
determine how a Courtesy: NASA
component responds to
random vibrations

• Spectrum Analysis
– Used to determine how
a component/structure
responds to earthquakes
Transient Dynamic Analysis
Types of Dynamic Analysis
• Choosing the appropriate type of dynamic analysis depends on the
type of input available and the type of output desired.
Type Input Output
Modal • None • Natural frequencies and
corresponding mode shapes
• Stress/strain profile

Harmonic • Sinusoidally-varying excitation across a • Sinusoidally-varying response at

range of frequencies each frequency
• Min/max response over frequency
range

Spectrum • Spectrum representing the response to a • Maximum response if the model

specific time history were subjected to the time history

Random • Spectrum representing probability • Response within specified range of

distribution of excitation probabilities

Transient • Time-varying loads • Time-varying response

Static Vs Dynamic analyses

Static Analysis Dynamic Analysis

Inertial and Damping effects are negligible Inertial and damping effects are significant

Load are not varying with time Load varies with time

In general, if the excitation frequency is

less than 1/3 of the structure’s lowest
natural frequency, a static analysis may be
acceptable
Basics of Free Vibration Analysis

• Modal analysis: F(t) = 0 and damping [C] is ignored

• The natural circular frequencies wi and mode shapes fi are
calculated from:
Assumptions
• This results in certain assumptions related to the analysis:
– [K] and [M] are constant:
• Linear elastic material behavior is assumed
• Small deflection theory is used, and no nonlinearities included
• [C] is not present, so damping is not included
• {F} is not present, so no excitation of the structure is assumed
• The structure can be unconstrained (rigid-body modes present) or
partially/fully constrained, depending on the physical structure
– Mode shapes {f} are relative values, not absolute
• It is important to remember these assumptions related to
performing free vibration analyses in Simulation.
A. Free Vibration Analysis Procedure
• The free vibration analysis procedure is very similar to performing
a linear static analysis, so not all steps will be covered in detail.
The steps in yellow italics are specific to free vibration analyses
– Attach Geometry
– Assign Material Properties
– Define Contact Regions (if applicable)
– Define Mesh Controls (optional)
– Include Supports (if applicable)
– Request Frequency Finder Results
– Set Frequency Finder Options
– Solve the Model
– Review Results
Material Properties

• For material properties, Young’s Modulus, Poisson’s

Ratio, and Mass Density are required
– Since no loading is assumed, no other material
properties will be used, if defined
Contact Regions
• Contact regions are available in free vibration analyses.
However, since this is a purely linear analysis, contact behavior
will differ for the nonlinear contact types:

• There are two important things to remember when using contact

in a free vibration analysis:
– The two nonlinear contact behaviors – rough and frictionless – will
behave in a linear fashion, so they will internally behave as bonded
or no separation instead.
– If a gap is present, the nonlinear contact behaviors will be free
(i.e., as if no contact is present). Bonded and no separation contact
will depend on the pinball region size.
» The pinball region is automatically determined by default
Analysis Type

• Select ‘Modal’ from the WB toolbox

• In Mechanical Analysis settings:
– Specify the number of modes to find: 1 to 200
(default is 6)
– Specify the frequency search range
Loads and Supports
• Structural and thermal loads not used in free vibration
• Supports can be used in free vibration analyses:
– If no or partial supports are present, rigid-body modes can
be detected and evaluated. These modes will be at 0 or
near 0 Hz. Unlike static structural analyses, free vibration
analyses do not require that rigid-body motion be prevented.
– The boundary conditions are important, as they affect the
mode shapes and frequencies of the part. Carefully consider
how the model is constrained.
– The compression only support is a nonlinear support and
should not be used in the analysis.
• If present, the compression only support will generally behave similar
to a frictionless support.
Solution Options
• For a free vibration analysis,
none of the options in the
Details view of the Solution
branch usually need to be
changed.
– In the majority of cases, “Solver
Type” should be left on the default
option of “Program Controlled”.
– If the model is a very large one of
solid elements, and only a few
modes are to be requested, the
“Solver Type,” when changed to
“Iterative,” may be more efficient.
Solving the Model
• A free vibration analysis is generally more computationally
expensive than a static analysis on the same model because of the
equations solved.
• If a “Solution Information” branch
is requested under the Solution
branch, detailed solution output,
including the amount of memory
used and solution progress, will
be available in the Worksheet tab.
• If stress or strain results or more
frequencies/modes are requested
after a solution is performed, a new
solution is required.
Requesting Results

• No results need to be requested after solving

• The solution branch will display a bar chart and a table
listing frequencies and model numbers

• RMB will create mode shapes

Reviewing Results

• Because there is no excitation applied to the structure,

the mode shapes are relative values associated with
free vibration
– Mode shapes (displacements), stresses, and strains represent
relative, not absolute quantities
– The frequency is listed in the
Details view of any result
being viewed.
– The animation button on the
Results Context toolbar can be
used to help visualize the mode
shapes better.
Reviewing Results

• The Worksheet tab of the Frequency Finder branch

summarizes all frequencies in tabular form
• By reviewing the frequencies and mode shapes, one can
get a better understanding of the possible dynamic
response of the structure under different excitation
directions
Workshop

• Investigate the vibration characteristics of two motor

cover designs manufactured from 18 gauge steel

March 29, 2005

Inventory #002215
5-24
Free Vibration with Pre-Stress

• In some cases, one may want to consider prestress

effects when performing a free vibration analysis.
– The stress state of a structure under constant
(static) loads may affect its natural frequencies.
This can be important, especially for structures thin
in one or two dimensions.
– Consider a guitar string being tuned – as the axial
load is increased (from tightening), the lateral
frequencies increase. This is an example of the
stress stiffening effect.
Free Vibration with Pre-Stress
• In free vibration with pre-stress analyses, internally, two iterations
are automatically performed:
– A linear static analysis is initially performed:

– Based on the stress state from the static analysis, a stress stiffness
matrix [S] is calculated:

– The free vibration with pre-stress analysis is then solved, including

the [S] term
Procedure w/ Pre-Stress Effects
• To perform a free vibration with pre-stress analysis (a.k.a.
prestressed modal analysis), it is the same as running a
regular free vibration analysis with the following exceptions:
– A load (structural and/or thermal) must be applied to
determine what the initial stress state of the structure is.
– Results for the linear static structural analysis may also
be requested under the Solution branch, not the
Frequency Finder branch
• A stress or strain result requested under the Frequency Finder
branch will be relative stress/strain values for a particular mode
• A stress or strain (or displacement) result requested under the
Solution branch will be absolute stress/strain/displacement
values for the statically applied load
Procedure w/ Pre-Stress Effects
Example w/ Pre-Stress Effects

• Consider a simple comparison of a thin plate fixed at

one end
– Two analyses will be run – free vibration and free vibration
with pre-stress effects – to compare the differences between
the two.
Example w/ Pre-Stress Effects
• Notice that the only difference of
running a free vibration analysis with or
without pre-stress is the existence of a
load
– If a Frequency Finder tool is present
and a load is present, Simulation
knows that a “Free Vibration with Pre-
Stress” analysis will be performed.
– If results such as displacement, stress,
or strains are requested directly
underneath the Solution branch, the
results from the linear static analysis
can be reported.
Example w/ Pre-Stress Effects

• In this example, with the applied force, a tensile stress

state is produced, thus increasing the natural
frequencies, as illustrated below
Workshop – Prestressed Modal

• Simulate the modal response of the tension link (shown

below) in both a stressed and unstressed state
What are Columns?

• Long, slender members subjected to axial compressive

loads
• When loaded, such members tend to buckle
• Selection based on strength, stiffness & stability
Buckling of Engineering Structures

• Structural instability occurs due to excessive

compressive stresses
• Thin sheets, narrow beams, thin walled pressure vessels
and tubes, submarine hulls, solid rocket boosters can
buckle
• Buckling phenomenon is sudden and drastic and never
gradual
• This lecture is limited to the column problem
A. Background on Buckling

• Many structures require an evaluation of their

structural stability. Thin columns, compression
members, and vacuum tanks are all examples of
structures where stability considerations are important.
• At the onset of instability (buckling) a structure will
have a very large change in displacement {x} under
essentially no change in the load (beyond a small load
perturbation).

F F

Stable Unstable
Buckling Modes

• Pure Flexure, Flexural + Torsional, Pure Torsional

Pure Flexure Flexural + Torsional Pure Torsional

Critical Load for Buckling

• The maximum axial load which a

column can support on the verge
of buckling is called Critical Load
or Euler Load or Buckling Load
• Concept leads to criteria for
stability of equilibrium
• Pcr is the load at which the
system is on the verge of
buckling
• Pcr is not necessarily the
largest value P that the
system can support
• During design, Pcr should be
considered the largest load
the system can carry
Column Buckling Theory
Euler Load for Columns with Pinned Ends
Equation of one simple harmonic motion whose solution
can be given as,

Using the boundary conditions:

This equation can be satisfied by assuming A = 0 and B = 0.

This however is a trivial solution.
In order to obtain a non-trivial solution, let us examine the equation

The would vanish when i.e.,

The Pn values are the eigenvalues for this problem. For stability, the
value of Pn should be the least i.e., unity.Thus, setting n = 1,

Euler load or Critical load for an initially perfectly

straight elastic column with pinned end.

I is the least moment of inertia of the column (i.e., that of the

minimum cross section).
First three buckling modes (n = 1, 2 and 3)
At the critical load, since B = 0,

This is the characteristic or eigenfunction of this problem.

Critical Stress:
Estimating Critical Loads
Linear Buckling

• Eigenvalue or linear buckling analysis predicts the

theoretical buckling strength (the bifurcation point) of
an ideal linear elastic structure.
• The eigenvalue formulation determines the bifurcation
points of a structure. This method corresponds to the
textbook approach of linear elastic buckling analysis.
– The eigenvalue buckling solution of a Euler column
will match the classical Euler solution.
Linear Buckling
• However, imperfections and nonlinear behavior prevent
most real world structures from achieving their theoretical
elastic buckling strength. Linear buckling generally yields
unconservative results, and should be used with caution.
– Consider the buckling of a soda can:
• Material response is inelastic. Geometrically nonlinear effects
need to be considered. Contact is also required. Hence, these
type of nonlinear behavior are not considered.
• There may be slight imperfections in the soda can, such as a
small dent, which would influence the response and not make
the model symmetric. However, these small imperfections are
also not usually considered in a linear buckling analysis.
Linear Buckling
• Although unconservative, linear buckling has various
advantages:
– It is computationally cheaper than a nonlinear buckling
analysis, and should be run as a first step to estimate
the critical load (load at the onset of buckling).
• Relative comparisons can be made of the effect of differences
in design to buckling
– Linear buckling can be used as a design tool to
determine what the possible buckling mode shapes
may be.
• The way in which a structure may buckle can be used as a
possible guide in design
Linear Buckling
• For a linear buckling analysis, the eigenvalue problem below is
solved to get the buckling load multiplier li and buckling modes yi:

This results in certain assumptions related to the analysis:

– [K] and [S] are constant:
• Linear elastic material behavior is assumed
• Small deflection theory is used, and no nonlinearities included
• The response based on loading {F} is a linear function of li
– Some additional restrictions:
• Nonzero displacement supports or thermal loads are not allowed
• It is important to remember these assumptions related to
performing linear buckling analyses in Simulation.
Load Multiplier (λ)

• The load multiplier is first ascertained for a unit load

on the component/structure
LM is interpreted as the
Buckling load

• The load multiplier is then used to calculate the actual

buckling load

LM is interpreted as the
safety factor