A Guide to linear dynamic

analysis with Damping

This guide starts from the applications of linear dynamic response
and its role in FEA simulation. Fundamental concepts and
principles will be introduced such as equations of motion, types of
vibration, role of damping in engineering, linear dynamic analyses,
etc.

Courtesy of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and

Mechatronics; West Pomeranian University of
Technology, Poland
About the Author:
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Page 2
1. Dynamic Analysis Application
Dynamic analysis is strongly related to vibrations.

Vibrations are generally defined as fluctuations of a mechanical or structural system about an

equilibrium position. Vibrations are initiated when an inertia element is displaced from its
equilibrium position due to an energy imported to the system through an external source.

Vibrations occur in many mechanical and structural

systems. Without being controlled, vibrations can
lead to catastrophic situations.

Vibrations of machine tools or machine tool chatter

can lead to improper machining of parts. Structural
failure can occur because of large dynamic stresses
developed during earthquakes or even wind induced
vibrations.

Figure 1: 1940 Tacoma Narrows Bridge failure

Vibrations induced by an unbalanced helicopter blade while rotating at high speeds can lead to the
blade's failure and catastrophe for the helicopter. Excessive vibrations of pumps, compressors,
turbo-machinery, and other industrial machines can induce vibrations of the surrounding structure,
leading to inefficient operation of the machines while the noise produced can cause human
discomfort.

Figure 2: Failed compressor components

Vibrations as the science is one of the first courses where most engineers to apply the knowledge
obtained from mathematics and basic engineering science courses to solve practical problems.
Solution of practical problems in vibrations requires modeling of physical systems. A system is
abstracted from its surroundings. Usually assumptions appropriate to the system are made.

Basic engineering science, mathematics and numerical methods are applied to derive a computer
based model.

Page 2
2. Dynamic Analysis Equation
The mathematical modeling of a physical system results in the formulation of a mathematical
problem. The modelling is not complete until the appropriate mathematics is applied and a solution
obtained.


The type of mathematics required is different for different types of problems. Modeling of any
statics, dynamics, and mechanics of solids problems leads only to algebraic equations.
Mathematical modeling of vibrations problems leads to differential equations.

In mathematical physics, equations of motion are equations that describe the behavior of
a physical system in terms of its motion as a function of time.

Equations of motion are consisted of inertial force, damping force (energy dissipation) and
elastic (restoring) force.

The overall behavior of a structure can be grasped through these three forces.

mu!!(t ) + cu! (t ) + ku (t ) = p (t )
INERTIA FORCE DAMPING FORCE RESTORING FORCE APPLIED FORCE

Inertia Force is generated by accelerated mass.

Damping Force describes energy dissipation mechanism which induces a force that is a function
of a dissipation constant and the velocity. This force is known as the general viscous damping
force.

The final induced force in the dynamic system is due to the elastic resistance in the system and
is a function of the displacement and stiffness of the system. This force is called the elastic force,
restoring force or occasionally the spring force.

The applied load has been presented on the right-hand side of equation and is defined as a
function of time. This load is independent of the structure to which it is applied.

Exact analytical solutions, when they exist, are preferable to numerical or approximate solutions.
Exact solutions are available for many linear problems, but for only a few nonlinear problems.

Page 3
2.1 Single Degree of Freedom System
Simple mechanical system is schematically shown in Figure 3. The inputs (or excitation) applied to
the system are represented by the force p(t). The outputs (or response) of the system are
represented by the displacement u(t). The system boundary (real or imaginary) demarcates the
region of interest in the analysis. What is outside the system boundary is the environment in which
the system operates.
Environment

System Boundary

Dynamic System State

of Variables
Parameters (m, c, k)

System Excitation u(t) System Response

(Inputs)
(Outputs)

Figure 3: A Mechanical dynamic system

System parameters are represented in the model, and their values should be known in order to
determine the response of the system to a particular excitation.

State variables are a minimum set of variables, which completely represent the dynamic state of a
system at any given time t. For a simple SDOF oscillator an appropriate set of state variables would
be the displacement u and the velocity du/dt.

The equation of motion for SDOF mechanical system may be derived using the free-body diagram
approach.

2.2 Equation of Motion for Single Degree of Freedom System

p(t ) = mu!!(t ) + cu! (t ) + ku(t )

m – mass
c – damping coefficient
k – stiffness coefficient
p(t) – applied force

Figure 4: SDOF free body diagram.

Page 4
2.3 Single Degree of Freedom System Responses

Free Undamped Response

General solution:

mu!!(t ) + ku (t ) = 0 u(t ) = A cos ωn t + B sin ωn t

u! 0 k rad
u (t ) = sin ωn t + u0 cos ωn t Natural frequency: ωn = [ ]
ωn m s
u!0 and u0 are an Initial Condition
entities
Free Damped Response

General solution: Underdamped solution:

mu!!(t ) + cu! (t ) + ku (t ) = 0 u(t ) = ( A + Bt )e − ct / 2 m u(t ) = e − ct / 2 m ( A sin ωd t + B cos ωd t )

c = ccr = 2 km = 2mωn c > ccr c < ccr

Underdamped System
Critically Damped System Over-damped System
Damped natural
ωd = ω n 1 − ζ 2 frequency
c
ζDamping
= ratio
ccr

Forced Undamped Response Forced Damped Response

!!(t ) + ku (t ) = p (t )
mu mu!!(t ) + cu! (t ) + ku (t ) = p (t )

Page 5
3. Dynamic Analysis Types
3.1 Eigenvalue Analysis/Normal Modes/Modal
Analysis of the Normal Modes or Natural
Mass Stiffness
Frequencies of a structure is a search for it’s Natural
resonant frequencies. By understanding the Frequencies
dynamic characteristics of a structure experiencing Structure
oscillation or periodic loads, we can prevents Normal Mode
resonance and damage of the structure. Shapes
Constraints

Natural Frequency – the actual measure of frequency, [Hz] or similar units

Normal Mode shape – the characteristic deflected shape of a structure as it resonates

3.2 Transient Analysis

Executed in the time domain, it obtains the Mass Stiffness Damping
solution of a dynamic equation of equilibrium when
a dynamic load is being applied to a structure.
Response in Time
Structure
Domain
Though the load and boundary conditions required
for a transient response analysis are similar to
Constraints Load in Time Domain
those of a static analysis, a difference is that load
is defined as a function of time.

3.3 Frequency Response Analysis

A technique to determine the steady state Mass Stiffness Damping

response of a structure according to sinusoidal
( harmonic) loads of known frequency. Response in Freq.
Structure
Domain
Frequency Response is best visualised as a
response to a structure on a shaker table.
Adjusting the frequency input to the table gives a Constraints Load in Freq. Domain
range of responses.

mu!!(t ) + cu! (t ) + ku(t ) = F sin(ωt )

sin(ωt + θ )
u (t ) = F / k
2
(1 - ω 2 )2 + ( 2ζω / ωn )2
ωn

ω − input or driving frequency ϕ − phase lead Figure 5: SDOF frequency Figure 6: Shaking table
response - Displacement for frequency response
experiment

Page 6
4. Dynamic Loading Types
Dynamic loads can be applied directly on your model or as time or frequency dependent static
loadings.

- Time domain based loading types - Frequency domain based loading types

Figure 7. Domain dependent Static Loading.

4.1 Solution Methods
Dynamic Analysis

Normal Modal Analysis

Direct Integration Method
(Eigenvalue Analysis)

Linear or Nonlinear
Analysis

Modal Superposition Method

Linear Analysis

Frequency Response
Transient Response Analysis Shock and Response Analysis*
Analysis

*Not Covered in this guide

Figure 8. Dynamic Analysis Solution Types and Methods.

Page 7
5. Damping
Damping is the phenomenon by which mechanical energy is dissipated (usually by conversion into
internal thermal energy) in dynamic systems. Knowledge of the level of damping in a dynamic
system is important in the utilisation, analysis, and testing of the system. In structural systems,
damping is more complex, appearing in several forms.

Internal damping refers to the structural material

Mechanical Damping itself. Internal (material) damping results from
mechanical energy dissipation within the material
due to various microscopic and macroscopic
processes.
- Internal - Distributed
- External - Localised

Figure 9. Damping forms

External damping comes from boundary

effects. An important form is structural
damping, which is produced by rubbing
friction: stick-and-slip contact or impact.
Another form of external damping is fluid
damping.
Figure 10. Localised damping examples

All damping ultimately comes from frictional effects, which may however take place at different
scales. If the effects are distributed over volumes or surfaces at macro scales, we speak of
distributed damping. Damping devices designed to produce beneficial damping effects, such as
shock absorbers, represent localised damping.

5.1 Damping Models

It is not practical to incorporate detailed microscopic representations of damping in the dynamic

analysis of systems. Instead, simplified models of damping that are representative of various types
of energy dissipation are typically used.

Damping Models

General Viscous Structural /

Damping Coulomb Fluid
Hysteretic

Modal damping
Rayleigh damping Figure 11. General Damping models review

Page 8
 5.2 Damping Models

There are many types of damping:

Proportional Damping (Rayleigh; classic)
- Hysteretic/Structural Damping
- Direct Damping values
- Frequency dependent damping
- Modal Damping
- Coulomb damping, requires special modelling techniques

5.3 Damping Model input for:

- Rayleigh Damping (Proportional) - Discrete Viscous Damping

- Defined via Material Card - BUSH 1D element Property

- Damper element Property

- Structural Damping
- Defined via Material Card and Analysis Case
Manager
- Overall and Elemental Damping

- Modal Damping - Coulomb Damping

- Defined via Analysis Case Manager and Functions - Defined by combination of elements and
features

Page 9
6. Dynamic Analysis Project Applications
Various projects require dynamic analysis. Here are a few examples:

Case 1
Performance evaluation of a mobile speaker through sound
pressure level (SPL) analysis Mod Frequenc
e y
1ND 1,046 Hz
In this project, the 2ND 1,778 Hz
performance of a cellphone
3ND 1,801 Hz
speaker is evaluated under
different sound pressure 4ND 9,457 Hz
levels. 5ND 9,679 Hz
6ND 10,217 Hz
Firstly modal analysis was performed to
determine natural frequencies of the speaker
components. Then frequency response
analysis was performed to calculate stresses
and deformation shapes of the speaker Stress
components according to different frequency
spectrums.

From the right image, we can see different

mode shapes of the structure. We can also
observe that maximum displacement was 0.4
mm, it occurred at around 1000Hz. At this
frequency the suspension structure reached its Displacement / Frequency
maximum stress of 250MPa.

Case 2 Natural
Mode
Frequency
Resonance avoidance of ultra large AC servo robot
1st Mode 6.0Hz
2nd Mode 8.2Hz
In this case a dynamic characteristics of a
servo robot arm was investigated both to avoid 3rd Mode 14.6Hz
resonance during machine operation and to
ensure structural safety during earthquakes. Resonance frequency range

From the image we can confirm the necessity

for resonance avoidance design in order to
avoid the resonance which happens at 15Hz
under repetitive load.

Stresses were equally calculated under

seismic load through response spectrum
analysis.

Stress distribution under seismic load

Page 10
 Case 3
Brake Disc Squeal Analysis

In this project the dynamic characteristics of brake disc were reviewed to avoid squeal noise
caused by vibration. Through frequency response analysis, we can observe that at around 7000
Hz, frequencies of Nodal Diameter Mode and In-Plane Compression Mode are very close, where
squeal noise is most likely to occur. Therefore, a design modification is needed to separate 2
frequencies to avoid squealing problems.

Natural
Mode
frequency
2ND 1027 Hz

3ND 2394 Hz
4ND 3897 Hz 1st IPC
5ND 5468 Hz

1st IPC 7014 Hz

6ND 7045 Hz
7ND 8592 Hz

8ND 10068 Hz 6ND

2nd IPC 10285 Hz

Case 4
Safety analysis of marine refrigeration machine under vibration

In this project, natural frequency analysis and frequency response analysis were performed to
predict the happening of cracks on the body and piping of a marine refrigeration machine under
vibration loads.

100
Pipe① Frequency
Part frequency
Response Function response Pipe② Frequency
Part frequency
Response Function response
X-direction
100
X-direction
Y-direction Y-direction
10 Z-direction 10 Z-direction

1 1

0.1 0.1

0.01
1 0.01

0.001 0.001

2
0.0001 0.0001

3
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Frequency Frequency

100
Pipe③ Frequency
Part frequency
Response Function response
X-direction
Y-direction
10 Z-direction

0.1

0.01
Resonant stress distribution
0.001

0.0001
Resonant displacement distribution 0 10 20 30 40 50
Frequency
60 70 80 90 100

Page 10
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