FREE VIBRATION RESPONSE OF UNDAMPED

SYSTEMS (i.e. NO APPLIED FORCES)

0 = + kx x m & &

kx x m = & &

INERTIA FORCE = SPRING (INTERNAL) FORCE

HOMOGENEOUS Solution:

x(t) = A sin(
n
t) + B cos(
n
t) = k/m
2
) (
n

A, B determined by the initial conditions at time t=0:
x(0), ) (0 x&

x(t) = ( ) (0 x& /
n
)*sin(
n
t) + x(0)* cos(
n
t)

= C sin(
n
t + )
Thus:
Homogeneous solution = free vibration response which
occurs at the natural frequency
n
.
No damping, therefore no decay of the response.
CALCULATION OF NATURAL FREQUENCY USING
ENERGY PRINCIPLES

For a conservative system (a system without damping):

Kinetic Energy T+ Potential Energy V = const

Assume:
x(t) = C sin(
n
t ); ) (t x& = C
n
cos(
n
t);
n
^2 = k/m

Kinetic Energy T = .5*m*[ ) (t x& ]^2
Potential Energy V = .5*k*[x(t)]^2

Consider TOTAL ENERGY T+V at 2 different times:
t = 0 and t = /(2*
n
)
1) at t=0: x(t) = 0 and ) (t x& = C
n

Thus T= .5*m*[C
n
]^2 and V=0
2) at t = /(2*
n
): x(t) = C and ) (t x& = 0
Thus T= 0 and V= .5*k*C^2

Then as T+V = const
.5*m*[C
n
]^2 + 0 = 0 + .5*k*C^2

Thus: MAXIMUM T = MAXIMUM V
NATURAL FREQUENCY AS A FUNCTION OF
STATIC DEFLECTION

Weight of mass = m*g

Stiffness = k

Static deflection = m*g/k =
st


Thus k/m = g/
st


NATURAL FREQUENCY =
st
g

Natural Frequency can be determined by measuring the
static deflection. This in effect, is just another way of
measuring the system stiffness.








FREE VIBRATION WITH VISCOUS DAMPING

Equation of motion:

0 = + + kx x c x m & & &

The effect of the damping is to cause the response to decay
with time.
Assume a solution and substituting gives:
st
Ae t x = ) (

0 ) (
2
= + +
st
e k cs ms

m
k
m
c
m
c
s =
2
2
2 , 1
4
2


Thus the general solution:

t s t s
e C e C t x
2 1
2 1
) ( + =

The solution depends upon whether the roots of s are real
or complex.