HW#4; Due on 7/2 EGM6934; Structural Dynamics June 2017

Prob. 1 (30 Points); Given a 3-DOFs structure without damping, as shown below. Mass and
stiffness matrices were formulated with small lateral deflection u1,u2, and u3. A dynamic load
vector is applied to the structure.

1.5 0 0 2
m1 u1, F1 [] = 38.543 0 1 0

0 0 1.5
m2 u2, F2
42 42 0
[] = 1.04 42 100 58

m3 u3, F3 0 58 126

1 1
(, ) = 2 = 2.04 1 ()
3 0

() = 1.0 > 0
= 0.0 for t0
Perform the following tasks in the order listed below (based on the material covered in Lectures 7
through 11) :

(5 points deduction for Illegible HW)

a. Can the DOFs u1,u2,u3 be considered as generalized physical coordinates? Give some
reasoning in support of your answer.
b. Write the coupled equations of motion in physical coordinates (u1,u2,u3).
c. Perform modal analysis; Using MATLAB function eig, compute eigenvalues and
eigenvectors and graphically display the eigenvectors.
d. Formulate Generalized Force in modal coordinates. The step forcing function F(z,t) is
described above.
e. Write the uncoupled E.O.M.s for forced response in modal coordinates.
f. Write the closed form solution of each modal DOF.
g. Transform modal response into physical response using modal superposition.
h. Plot time history response of u1,u2,u3 over 0 to 2 secs and note where the maximum
response occurs.
i. Describe how you would compute shear force at each physical DOF by investigating the
form of the stiffness matrix. Write the equation in matrix form.

( This problem is based on Problem 11, Chapter 8 of Dynamics of Structures, Hurty and Rubinstein)