Single Degree of Freedom System Dynamics
Single Degree of Freedom System Dynamics
7.1 INTRODUCTION
In the preceding chapter we have noted that from the considerations of conservation of energy
any vibrating system will, in general, have three constituents: (i) a mechanism to store the
kinetic energy, which is also responsible for the generation of inertia force; (ii) a mechanism
for energy dissipation/loss; and (iii) a mechanism to store the potential energy, responsible for
the elastic restoring force in the vibrating system. In the simplest possible idealisation of a
vibrating system, these three mechanisms may be considered to be lumped into discrete elements
as shown in Figure 6.3. The mass/inertia element(m) stores the kinetic energy, the spring
element (k) stores the potential energy, the dashpot (c) represents the viscous damper for
dissipation/loss of energy, and F(t) is an external time varying force. The system shown in
Figure 7.1 is a Single Degree of Freedom (SDOF) system because it is only required to monitor
a single quantity, viz., the movement of the mass (m), to completely describe the vibration of
the system. In general the number of independent displacements required to define the displaced
positions of all the masses relative to their original position is called the number of degrees of
freedom for vibration analysis. A single degree of freedom (SDOF) system is the simplest
possible mathematical model in structural dynamics.
x(t)
k fS
m F(t) fI F(t)
c fD
The motion of the mass m is governed by Newton’s second law of motion. In order to
derive the governing equation of motion, let us consider the various forces acting on the mass
m as shown in the accompanying Free Body Diagram (FBD). The forces fS and fD represent the
115
116 Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures
elastic restoring force and the force developed in the damper, respectively. These forces, along
with the external force F(t) act on the mass (m), which then cause the change in momentum of
the mass in accordance with Newton’s second law as,
d
( mx ) = F(t) – fS – fD (7.1)
dt
where, x(t) denotes the displacement of mass m from its original position of rest. For the special
case of civil engineering structures, the mass of the system does not change with time, and there-
fore, the rate of change of momentum can be considered to have the same effect as that of
applying a fictitious inertia force fI directed opposite to the direction of motion for considering
the instantaneous equilibrium of forces acting on the mass. This simplified interpretation of
Newton’s second law of motion (valid only when the mass of the system is time invariant) is
popularly known as the d’Alembert’s principle.
fI = F(t) – fS – fD (7.2)
Thus the inertia force fI = m
x (mass ¥ acceleration), spring force fS = kx (spring constant
¥ spring deformation) and damping force fD = c x (coefficient of viscous damping ¥ relative
velocity between the two ends of the dashpot).1 By substituting these relations in Equation (7.2),
we get,
m
x + c x + kx = F(t) (7.3)
Equation (7.3) is a linear second order differential equation with constant parameters. The
general solution for this equation is given by,
x(t) = xh(t) + xp(t) (7.4)
where, xh(t) is the solution of the corresponding homogeneous equation obtained by making the
right hand side zero; and xp(t) is the particular solution which depends on the specific form of
applied force F(t). The homogeneous solution of this second order differential equation contains
two arbitrary constants which can be evaluated by using the initial conditions x(0) and x (0),
i.e., the displacement and velocity of the mass at the onset of vibration.
1
This is only a convenient mathematical model for the energy dissipation mechanism in a vibrating system and is
actually an expression of the viscous drag in a laminar flow. In real structural systems, energy dissipation actually
takes place in different ways and the most important of them is the energy loss due to inter-granular friction
between the particles of a vibrating system. However, incorporating a dry friction damping behaviour would
result in a nonlinear equation of motion. Since the magnitude of damping force is generally very small in
comparison to the other forces acting on the system, a viscous damping model (leading to a linear equation!)
serves well to get a rational estimate of system response for engineering design.
+D=FJAH % Dynamics of Single Degree of Freedom Systems 117
the mass is then termed as the free vibration and is given by the solution of differential
equation
m
x + c x + kx = 0
or, x + 2zwn x + w 2n x = 0
(7.5)
where, wn is defined by w 2n = k/m and z is defined by z = c/ccr with ccr = 2mwn = 2k/m = 2 km .
The constant wn is called the undamped circular natural frequency, measured in rad/s; z is a
dimensionless quantity called the viscous damping factor; and ccr is called the critical damping
coefficient. The parameters wn and z play important roles in determining the response of SDOF
systems.
In order to determine the solution of Equation (7.5), let us assume a solution in the form
x(t) = Xelt. Substituting this assumed solution in the governing equation yields a characteristic
equation
l2 + 2zwnl + w 2n = 0 (7.6)
which has the roots at
The magnitude of the damping factor (z) can be used to distinguish three cases: under-
damped (0 < z < 1), critically damped (z = 1), and overdamped (z > 1). Figure 7.2 illustrates
the response for these three cases. For the underdamped case the motion is oscillatory in nature
with a decaying amplitude. For the overdamped case there is no oscillation, and amplitude
decays slowly. For the critically damped system there is no oscillation, and the amplitude decays
more rapidly than in either the underdamped or overdamped cases.
1.2
Underdamped
1.0 Critically damped
Overdamped
0.8
0.6
Displacement
0.4
0.2
0.0
–0.2
–0.4
–0.6
–0.8
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
Time (s)
FIGURE 7.2 Response of single degree of freedom systems.
118 Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures
LM
x(t) = e–zw n t x 0 cos w d t +
FG x 0 + z w n x0IJ
sin w d t
OP (7.10)
N H wd K Q
Although the value of z has an effect on the frequency wd, the most pronounced effect of
damping is on the rate at which the motion dies out, that is, on the e–zw n t term.
FG x 0 + z w n x 0 IJ
= e–zw n t x 0 cosh w *t + sinh w * t (7.13)
H w* K
+D=FJAH % Dynamics of Single Degree of Freedom Systems 119
where, w* = w n z 2 - 1 and the coefficients A1 and A2 are determined from the initial conditions
x0 and x 0 . The trend is similar to that for the critically damped systems except that the system
returns to the zero-position more slowly.
1.0 1.0
0.8 f = 2.58 Hz 0.8 f = 2.58 Hz
0.6 z = 2.85% 0.6 z = 2.85%
Normalized amplitude
Normalized amplitude
0.4 0.4
0.2 0.2
0.0 0.0
–0.2 –0.2
–0.4 –0.4
–0.6 –0.6
–0.8 –0.8
–1.0 –1.0
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 0 2 4 6 8 10
Time (s) Time (s)
(a) (b)
FIGURE 7.3 Free vibration response (a) from field test data, and (b) theoretical curve for
viscously damped system.
The determination of (damped) natural frequency follows from its definition and is
estimated by determining the number of cycles completed in the vibration record per unit time.
The determination of damping from free vibration records, unfortunately, is not so straight-
forward. However, the procedure does simplify a lot, if we decide to ascribe energy loss to only
one damping mechanism. For example, assuming viscous damping behaviour the equivalent
viscous damping parameter may be estimated by using the method of logarithmic decrement. Let
us consider any two positive peaks xn and xn+1 which occur at times n
FG 2p IJ and (n + 1) 2p ,
Hw K d w d
respectively. The ratio of these two amplitudes is given by using Equation (7.10)
xn
= exp
FG
2pzw n IJ (7.14)
x n+1 wdH K
120 Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures
By taking the natural logarithm of both sides and substituting for wd, we get,
xn 2pz
d = ln = (7.15)
x n+1 1-z 2
where, d is known as the logarithmic decrement. In practice it is more convenient to measure
the peak-to-trough amplitudes instead of peaks or troughs due to the absence of zero baseline
in the experimental records. It can be shown that the same result for logarithmic decrement
(as in Equation (7.15)) also holds for peak-to-trough amplitudes. Further, in the case of lightly
damped systems, it might be more convenient to measure amplitudes which spaced a few
cycles (say, m) apart. It can be shown that in this case the equation for logarithmic decrement
changes to
xn 2 mpz
d= =
xn+m 1-z2
which is commonly used in practice.
2
Under a fairly general set of conditions, any periodic function f(t) can be expressed as:
f (t) = a0 +
•
 FH a j cos j 2pt + b j sin j 2pt IK
T T
j =1
where T is the period of f (t). For more details consult any text on Applied Mathematics, such as, E. Kreyszig,
Advanced Engineering Mathematics, Wiley Interscience.
+D=FJAH % Dynamics of Single Degree of Freedom Systems 121
equation will be harmonic of the same frequency as that of the excitation albeit with a phase
lag. Thus the particular solution (or, steady-state response) is given by,
xp(t) = X sin (wt – f) (7.17)
where, X is the steady-state amplitude and f is the phase angle of the steady-state response
relative to the excitation. The determination of these two parameters of the steady-state response
is facilitated by the use of rotating vectors as shown in Figure 7.4. It can be readily established
from the Figure 7.4 that
Im
F 20 = (kX – w 2mX)2 + (wcX)2, and (7.18)
wc
tan f = (7.19) w 2mX
k - w 2m
wcX
This can be rewritten as, F0
X 1 kX
Ds = = , and (7.20) wt
X st [(1 - h 2 ) 2 + (2zh) 2 ]1/ 2
wt – f
2zh Real
tan f = (7.21)
1 - h2 FIGURE 7.4 Force polygon.
where, Xst = F0 /k is the static deflection if the force F0 was applied statically, h = w/wn is known
as the tuning ratio and z is the damping ratio defined earlier. The steady-state magnification
factor Ds and the phase angle f are plotted in Figure 7.5. From Equations (7.17) to (7.21) and
Figure 7.5 the following significant features of steady-state response can be observed:
(i) the motion described by Equation (7.17) is harmonic and is of the same frequency as
the excitation.
1.06 3.5
1.04 3.0
[(1 – h2)2 + (2zh)2]–1/2
2.5
1.02
2.0
1.00
1.5
0.98
1.0
0.96 0.5
0.94 0.0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0 2 3 4 5
Frequency ratio (h) Frequency ratio (h)
z = 0.00 z = 0.60 z = 0.65 z = 0.00 z = 0.50
z = 0.70 z = 0.75 z = 0.70 z = 1.00
FIGURE 7.5 Magnification and phase of response of SDOF system to different excitation
frequencies.
122 Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures
(ii) The amplitude of the steady-state response is a function of the amplitude and frequency
of the excitation as well as that of the natural frequency and damping factor of the
system. The steady-state magnification factor can be considerably greater than unity or
less than unity.
(iii) The steady-state response xp(t) = X sin (wt – f) and the excitation F(t) = F0 sin wt,
are not in phase, that is, they do not attain their maximum values at the same instant.
The response lags the excitation by a phase angle f. This corresponds to a time lag of
f/w.
(iv) At resonance, h = 1, the amplitude is limited only by the damping force, and (Ds)h=1
= 1/2z. Also, at resonance the response lags excitation by 90°.
The total response of the SDOF system can be given by superimposing the homogeneous
solution on the particular solution (x(t) = xh(t) + xp(t)). The homogeneous solution is the free-
vibration solution as derived earlier. The unknown parameters in the homogeneous solution can
be determined by imposing the initial conditions on the total response solution of the SDOF
system. Since the homogeneous part of the solution gradually decays with time—in a damped
system—it is referred to as starting transient.
The above equation resembles the equation of motion for forced vibration for 0 £ t £ T and
describes the free vibrations of SDOF oscillator for t > T. Accordingly, the response of the
SDOF system can be considered in two phases:
(i) response during 0 £ t £ T, the forced-vibration era, which comprises a homogeneous
solution and a particular solution:
x(t) = xh(t) + xp(t); 0 £ t £ T
F0
= e–zw n t [A1 cos wd t + A2 sin wd t] +
k
LMF x F0 I x + zw n ( x 0 - F0 /k ) OPF
= e–zw n t - cos w d t + 0 sin w d t + 0
NH 0
k K wd Q k
where x0 and x 0 are the initial displacement and initial velocity of the oscillator mass at t = 0,
and
(ii) free vibration response subsequent to the removal of the applied external force:
x(t – T) = e–zw n(t–T) [A1 cos wd (t – T) + A2 sin wd (t – T)]; t > T
LM x T + zw n x T OP
= e–zw n(t–T) x T cos w d (t - T ) + sin w d (t - T )
N wd Q
where, xT and x T denote the displacement and velocity at the end of forced vibration era, at
t = T.
The effect of the duration of application of excitation pulse on the response of a SDOF
oscillator is shown in Figure 7.7, wherein the dynamic response has been normalized by the
static response F0 /k. Four pulses of duration T = [0.25Tn, 0.5Tn, 2Tn, 4Tn] (where Tn = natural
period of the oscillator—assumed to be 0.1 s for numerical study) have been considered. It is
worthwhile studying these plots in some detail. The following points emerge (with respect to
the finite duration rectangular pulse):
(i) The response of oscillator to a pulse of very short duration (with respect to the natural
period) closely resembles the free vibration response of oscillator due to non-zero
initial velocity.
(ii) The time of occurrence of the maximum oscillator response—for the pulse width
T £ 0.5Tn, the maximum response occurs in the free-vibration phase after the excitation
has ceased to act on the oscillator. It is, therefore, prudent while studying the dynamic
response of a structural system to finite duration excitations to compute the response
beyond the duration of excitation for a few cycles. This is particularly important for
lightly damped systems.
(iii) When the pulse duration is relatively large (T > 0.5Tn), the response during the forced-
vibration era oscillates about the static response (unit normalized response), and the
free vibration response oscillates about the zero-level. This shift of mean position
occurs instantaneously after the excitation ceases to exist.
These observations can be used to derive analytical procedures for computing dynamic response
of oscillators for arbitrary loadings as discussed in the following.
124 Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures
2.0 2.0
T/Tn = 0.25 T/Tn = 0.50
1.5 1.5
Normalized displacement
Normalized displacement
1.0 1.0
0.5 0.5
0.0 0.0
–0.5 –0.5
–1.0 –1.0
–1.5 –1.5
–2.0 –2.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Time (s) Time (s)
2.0 2.0
T/Tn = 2.00 T/Tn = 4.00
1.5 1.5
Normalized displacement
Normalized displacement
1.0 1.0
0.5 0.5
0.0 0.0
–0.5 –0.5
–1.0 –1.0
–1.5 –1.5
–2.0 –2.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Time (s) Time (s)
FIGURE 7.7 Effect of finite duration of excitation on response of SDOF system (Tn = 0.1 s, and
z = 0.05).
e -zw n t sin w d t
1
h(t) = (7.25)
mw d
The response due to an impulse is closely approximated by response to short duration pulse as
seen in the first plot of Figure 7.7 for T = 0.25Tn. This useful approximation can be clubbed
with the principle of superposition to develop a versatile analytical procedure.
+D=FJAH % Dynamics of Single Degree of Freedom Systems 125
dx(t) =
FG dI IJ e
–zw n (t–t)
sin wd (t – t) (7.26)
H mw K
d t dt
Time
The total response at time t will be the sum of the FIGURE 7.8 Arbitrary forcing function
response due to all incremental impulses occurring as a series of impulses.
prior to time t. Therefore,
x(t) =
1
mw d z0
t
F(t ) e–zw n(t–t) sin wd (t – t)dt (7.27)
This integral is known as Duhamel integral and can be used to compute the response of SDOF
system to any arbitrary excitation. This equation can also be written as
x(t) = z0
t
F(t ) h (t - t ) dt (7.28)
and in this form it is commonly referred to as the convolution integral. It may be noted that the
effect of non-zero initial conditions has not been considered in the response. The free-vibration
response due to non-zero initial conditions should be superposed with the forced vibration
response computed by using Duhamel integral to get the complete response. Since the forcing
functions are usually available as tabulated values for different time instants, the Equation
(7.27) needs to be evaluated numerically by replacing the continuous integral by a finite
summation with a uniform pulse width (step size) Dt approximating the infinitesimal dt. As the
above formulation is based on the superposition of impulse response functions, it is necessary
to ensure that the pulse duration Dt used in actual evaluation of the response is indeed small
enough to closely resemble this assumed behaviour. Moreover, Dt should also be small enough
to assume the force amplitude to be constant within the interval. The effect of magnitude of
Dt on the computed response is shown in Figure 7.9. These plots represent the response of a
SDOF oscillator excited by a rectangular pulse of width T = 4Tn computed analytically, and
numerically by using Duhamel integral (convolution integral) for different values of Dt. It can
be seen that for a large Dt the numerically computed response is a poor approximation for the
analytical solution, especially in the free vibration era. Further, for any finite choice of Dt, the
numerically evaluated response always lags behind the true (analytical) response and the amount
126 Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures
2.0
Analytical
1.5 Duhamel (Dt = 0.05Tn)
Duhamel (Dt = 0.10Tn)
Normalized displacement 1.0 Duhamel (Dt = 0.20Tn)
Duhamel (Dt = 0.50Tn)
0.5
0.0
–0.5
–1.0
–1.5
–2.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Time (s)
FIGURE 7.9 Effect of step size on numerical evaluation of Duhamel integral.
of lag is proportional to the choice of Dt. It can, therefore, be concluded that Dt £ 0.1Tn for
reasonable accuracy in the computed response.
The formulation for numerical evaluation of Duhamel integral is discussed in a later
chapter on the numerical evaluation of dynamic response.
F(t) = F0 sin wt