VIBRATION THEORY

TWO APPROACHES TO SEISMIC

DESIGN

1. Dynamic Analysis – the overall

building and storey stiffness and
rigidities are calculated. A specific
design earthquake, including
magnitude and loading history, is
selected and applied to a mathematical
model (consisting of lumped masses,
damping, and spring stiffness) of the
building.
The solution may rest heavily on
vibrational theory, finite element
analysis and other advanced structural
techniques requiring computer analysis.
The response of the system (including
displacement and acceleration
functions) is calculated and used to
determine the forces in each member as
a function of time. This method is now
almost always used for critical
structures such as dams and power
plants.
2. Static Analysis – the equivalent
lateral (seismic) force is calculated as
simply some fraction of the dead weight.

Simple Harmonic Oscillators – ideal

vibrational systems that consist of
springs and masses and that are not
acted upon by external disturbing
forces (after an initial dispalcement)
Simple Harmonic Motion – is the
repetitive sinusoidal pattern movement
of the oscillators during steady-state
motion. Simple Harmonic Motion is
characterized by the absence of a
continued disturbing force and a lack of
personal damping.
Examples of Simple Harmonic
Oscillators
a. A mass hanging on an ideal spring
b. A pendulum on a frictionless pivot
c. A slab supported on two massless
cantilever springs
Degree of Freedom – the number of variables
needed to define the position of all parts of a
system.
Single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) System – the
system where the oscillator is constrained to move
in one dimension only, or alternately, if one linear,
or angular variable is sufficient to describe the
position of the oscillator. The moving mass in the
SDOF system is usually concentrated at one point
and is known as a lumped mass.
STIFFNESS & FLEXIBILITY:
Stiffness is the force that must be applied in order to
deflect the spring a distance of one unit.
From Hooke’s Law:

F – force in N or lb
k – is the stiffness or spring constant in N/m (lb/ft)
x – magnitude of the spring deflection
W = mg = kxstatic (SI)
where: xstatic = static deflection
Stiffness ‘K’ of a beam can be calculated as:

where: F – applied force

x – deflection
Flexibility – it is the reciprocal of stiffness. It is the
deflection obtained when a unit force is applied.
(units = m/N or ft/lb)
Rigidity (R) – is the reciprocal of deflection.
Fixed Pier – the wall that is fixed at the top and bottom
and bends in double curvature since the top and bottom
must remain vertical. Deflection due to both shear, ‘V’,
and moment, ‘Vh’, of a fixed pier is given by equation
below:

where:

t = wall thickness
Cantilever Pier – a wall that is fixed at the bottom but
free to rotate at the top bends in simple curvature.
Deflection of a cantilever wall due to both effects is:
For Concrete:
E = 3.0x106 psi (2.1x107 kpa)
G = 0.4 E
For Masonry:
E = 1.0x106 psi (6.9x106 kpa)
G = 0.4 E
For Steel:
E = 3.0x107 psi (2.1x108 kpa)
G = 1.2x106 psi (8.3x107 kpa)
where:

Rfixed – Rigidity of fixed pier

Rcantilever – Rigidity of cantilever pier
F – total shear
t – wall thickness
E – modulus of elasticity
h – height of pier
NATURAL PERIOD & FREQUENCY:
Natural Period ‘T’ – the time for a complete cycle of
oscillation of an SDOF system (in seconds)
Linear Natural Frequency ‘f’ – is the reciprocal of natural
period. This usually called natural frequency or just frequency
expressed in hertz (ex. Cycle per second or rad/sec)

Angular frequency or circular frequency, angular

natural frequency (w) in rad/sec.
 Angular frequency for a mass on a spring:

(SI units)

(US units)

Substituting ‘k’ from Hooke’s Law and recognizing

that the mass ‘m’, can be calculated from the weight,
‘W’.

(SI units)