CE532 Dynamics of Soils and Foundations

Open-Ended Term Project

Date of Submission: 10th November 2016
The project can be submitted whenever you finish before the mentioned date
Problem Statement
This project is an open-ended project since there is no closed-form solution available. The
problem is to determine the dynamic response of a Burger model. A Burger model is one where a
Maxwell model and a Kelvin-Voigt model are attached in series. The schematic diagram of a
Maxwell model is as shown below. Consider that this model is acted upon by a harmonic force

Q Q0 sin t .

What to do?
Considering the Burger element to act as a SDOF system, determine the following
(a) Equation of motion of the system under free vibration
Explore the various types of damped systems possible (as done for the Kelvin-Voigt
element) and find the displacement, velocity and acceleration response of the system
under each of those damped conditions.
Attempt to develop some relations similar to the logarithmic decrement as done for KV
model.
Degenerate the obtained understanding to form the response of an undamped system
subjected to free vibration
(b) Equation of motion under steady state condition and solve for the displacement, velocity
and acceleration responses of the system. Develop an expression for the damped
magnification ratio.
Determine the resonance responses of the system: Determine the damped resonance
frequency and damped resonance amplitude of the system.
Produce a plot between normalized amplitude of the system versus the frequency ratio for
different damping conditions (Since more than one spring and more than one dashpot are
present, one has to develop with proper engineering and scientific judgment how to
illustrate the plots)
Find the maximum force transmitted to the subgrade.
Degenerate the obtained understanding to form the response of an undamped system
subjected to forced vibration
(c) If the Burger element is to be used as an isolator, what would be the criteria for the best
functioning of the isolator?
(d) Develop and solve the equation of motion if this system is to be used as a vibration
measuring instrument.
Develop charts and graphs so that proper representations can be made to use this
instrument as a vibrometer, velometer or an accelerometer.

Basically do everything possible to understand the response of this system in all conditions as
done with the KV model described in the Lecture slides 6-7, 8, 10-11, 12-13.

Suggestions

Since the Burger element comprises of so many individual elements, it would be wise to
study the response of individual elements in all the above conditions (whichever
applicable). Studying the response of a spring and a dashpot separately might help in
understanding the response of a Maxwell element (H||N) first. The response of KV model
is already worked out in detail. Then the understandings can be clubbed together to get
the response of the Burger element.

Since the elements are in series, it is to be remembered that the individual displacement
of the components of Burger element are different. Hence, it would be required to express
the overall displacement of the Burger element (which gives it the SDOF flavor) in terms
of the displacement of the individual elements. In this process, one can regard the system
to be an MDOF system, with hypothetical masses placed in between the elements. If that
is so done, at the end, the masses can be reduced to zero to get the SDOF flavor.

You need to go through books, journal papers, documents etc totally out of the scope of
the current course in order to attempt the solution of the project.

Requirements
1. You are supposed to form a group of 2 students (One of the groups would have 3), and
attempt the problem group-wise. Intimate me about the group formation by the end of
this week in Fridays class.
2. You would be maintaining a project copy, where you would put down date-wise the
efforts and attempts you have made in the direction of the project. The project copy needs
to be submitted finally in the above-mentioned date.
3. You might be requiring help from book, journal papers or internet. Whenever you take
any reference from anything, do not forget to keep a note in your project book, so that
anything can be cross-checked.
4. Each group will be required to present a seminar/demonstration at the end of the semester
regarding whatever they have achieved in the project.

ALL THE BEST, and let us hope to see some good results !!!