Chapter 4:

Response Spectrum

ANSYS Mechanical
Dynamics

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Response Spectrum Analysis

Training Manual

Topics covered:
Definition and purpose
Overview of Workbench capabilities
Procedure

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Response Spectrum Analysis

Description & Purpose

Training Manual

A response-spectrum analysis
calculates the maximum response
of a structure to a transient loading.

It is performed as a fast alternative

of approximating a full transient
solution.

The maximum response is

computed as scale factor times the
mode shape.

These maximum responses are then

combined to give a total response of
the structure.
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Response Spectrum Analysis

Types of Analyses

Training Manual

Types of Response Spectrum analysis:

Single-point response spectrum
A single response spectrum excites all specified points in the model.

Multi-point response spectrum

Different response spectra excite different points in the model.

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Response Spectrum Analysis

Common Uses

Training Manual

Commonly used in the analysis of:

Nuclear power plant buildings
and components, for seismic
loading
Airborne Electronic equipment
for shock loading
Commercial buildings in
earthquake zones

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Response Spectrum Analysis

Terminology & Concepts

Training Manual

Instead of simulating the response of a structure to a full time

history, we could figure out how each mode would respond to the
time history, then combine the responses together.
In other words, the response of each mode of a structure is similar to
a 1-DOF oscillator, just scaled by some amount.
If we know the natural frequencies and mode shapes of a structure,
we can simply determine what the displacement would be for a 1DOF oscillator, if it were subjected to the same transient loading, and
scale the response by the appropriate amount.
If there is more than one load, each will have its own spectrum.

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Response Spectrum Analysis

Assumptions & Restrictions

Training Manual

The structure is linear (i.e. constant stiffness and mass).

For single-point response spectrum analysis, the structure is excited
by a spectrum of known direction and frequency components, acting
uniformly on all support points.
For multi-point response spectrum analysis, the structure may be
excited by different input spectra at different support points.
Up to 20 different simultaneous input spectra are allowed.

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Theory

Participation Factors

Training Manual

A modal analysis must first be completed to determine the natural

frequencies, mode shapes, and participation factors for each mode.
This procedure was covered in Chapter 2: Modal Analysis.

M K 0
2
i

i M D
T
i

mode

frequency

mode shape

spectrum
value

participation
factor

mode
coefficient

response

{}1

S1

A1

{R}1

{}2

S2

A2

{R}2

{}3

S3

A3

{R}3

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Theory

Spectrum Values

Training Manual

For each natural frequency, the spectrum value can be determined by a

simple look-up from the response-spectrum table.
When values are needed between input frequencies, log-log interpolation is done
in the space as defined.

mode

frequency

mode shape

spectrum
value

participation
factor

mode
coefficient

response

{}1

S1

A1

{R}1

{}2

S2

A2

{R}2

{}3

S3

A3

{R}3

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Theory

Mode Coefficients

Training Manual

The mode coefficients can be determined from the participation factors,

depending on the type of spectrum input.

displacement
Ai S i i

velocity
Si i
Ai
i

acceleration
Si i
Ai 2
i

Recall: participation factors measure the amount of mass moving in each direction
for a unit displacement.
mode

frequency

mode shape

spectrum
value

participation
factor

mode
coefficient

response

{}1

S1

A1

{R}1

{}2

S2

A2

{R}2

{}3

S3

A3

{R}3

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Theory

Response

Training Manual

The response (displacement, velocity or acceleration) for each mode can

then be computed from the frequency, mode coefficient, and mode shape.

R i
R i
R i

Ai i
i Ai i
i2 Ai i

for displacement response

for velocity response
for acceleration response

If there is more than one significant mode, the response for each mode must
be combined using some method.
mode

frequency

mode shape

spectrum
value

participation
factor

mode
coefficient

response

{}1

S1

A1

{R}1

{}2

S2

A2

{R}2

{}3

S3

A3

{R}3

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Theory

Mode Combination

Training Manual

In general, mode combinations take the form:

1
2

R R
i 1 j 1

ij

where R is the total modal response and RiRj is the entrywise product
(a.k.a. Hadamard or Schur product) of modes i and j.
The modal correlation coefficients, ij, are uniquely defined, depending
on the method chosen for evaluating the correlation coefficient.
for completely correlated modes i and j
ij 1
for partially correlated modes i and j 0 ij 1
for uncorrelated correlated modes i and j
ij 0

The methods for mode combination are SRSS, CQC, and ROSE.
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Theory

Mode Combination

Training Manual

The SRSS method is generally more conservative than the other

methods.
assumes that all maximum modal values are uncorrelated

ij 1.0 for i j
ij 0.0 for i j
for a structures with coupled modes, this assumption overestimates the
responses overall

The CQC and the ROSE methods providing a means of evaluating

modal correlation for the response spectrum analysis.
accounting for mode coupling makes the response estimate from these
methods more realistic and closer to the exact time history solution
SRSS

i 1

R R
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CQC
2
i

1
2

i 1 j 1

ROSE

1
2

R k ij R i R j
4-13

i 1 j 1

1
2

R ij R i R j

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Procedure:
Response Spectrum

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Response Spectrum

Procedure

Training Manual

Drop a Modal (ANSYS) system into the project schematic.

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Response Spectrum

Procedure

Training Manual

Drop a Response Spectrum system onto the Solution cell of the

Modal system.

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Response Spectrum

Procedure

Training Manual

Create new geometry, or link to

existing geometry.

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Edit the Model cell to bring up the

Mechanical application.

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Response Spectrum

Preprocessing

Training Manual

Verify materials, connections, and mesh settings.

This was covered in Workbench Mechanical Intro.

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Response Spectrum

Preprocessing

Training Manual

Add supports to the model.

Displacement constrains must have a magnitude of zero.

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Response Spectrum

Solution Settings

Training Manual

Choose the number of modes to

extract.
If needed, upper and lower bounds
on frequency may be specified to
extract the modes within a specified
range.

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Response Spectrum

Postprocessing

Training Manual

Review the modal results before

proceeding.

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Response Spectrum

Preprocessing

Training Manual

Insert an Acceleration, Velocity, or Direction response spectrum.

Set the Boundary Condition, Spectrum (Tabular) Data, and Direction.

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Response Spectrum

Postprocessing

Training Manual

Insert Directional Deformation, Velocity, or Acceleration.

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Response Spectrum

Postprocessing

Training Manual

Stress (normal, shear, equivalent) and Strain (normal, shear) results

can also be reviewed.

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Workshop

Response Spectrum Analysis

Training Manual

In this workshop, you will determine the response of a

prestressed suspension bridge subjected to a seismic load.
See your Dynamics Workshop supplement for details
WS4: Response Spectrum Analysis - Suspension Bridge

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