PHYS 2017/3035 Assignment 2 DUE: Monday 10th August 2015

1) Tuned mass damping

Taipei 101 (below) uses tuned mass damping to keep the structure stable. It allowed construction
with enough flexibility and strength to withstand earthquakes and typhoons. The stabilising
pendulum has a mass m=M/385, where M is the mass of the building, and L=12m. Assume the
pendulum hangs from the top floor. The natural period of the building motion is 7s.

Pendulum

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
File:Taipei_101_Tuned_Mass_Damper.png

uned mass
structure
ction with
rength to
s
and
pendulum
here M is
ding, and
pendulum
or. The
building

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thompson/3643535803/

ing

Model

Were
how itit works.
works.
Were going to make a very simple model to see how
a)
of motion
for this
a) Write
Writedown
downequations
equations
of motion
for system.
this system and include damping. You can use any
ry simple model to see how it works.
b)
Use small
angle assumptions
to simplify
the equations
and addbuta you
damping
the as
reasonable
simplifications,
for example
small angle
approximations,
must term
justifytothem
iod of the pendulum?
equation
of motion
of the stabilising pendulum.
you
explain
your
working.
the angle of the building, using the
L equations
c)
Mathematica
to solve
damping,
include that
some
b) Use
Use
Mathematica
solve these
these coupled
coupled
equations and
and find
find the
the best
damping
parameters
give
uniform bar.
Convert
this intotoan
plots
to show
what you
mean by best damping. m
you
the
most
stable
building.
osition of the top of the building.
Theres a slightly annoying video about the building here: http://tinyurl.com/lk9ylh
rm that is the force on the top of the
um.
he position (x2) of m. You will have
2) Stopped clock (a true story)
, such as c(x1-x2), in this equation.
Old mechanical
grandfather clocks (left) have a pendulum that is
M
lve these coupled equations and find
4) Stopped
true for
story)
driven
by
falling
weights.
In theory, itclock
takes (a
a week
the weight
some plots to show what you mean
Old
mechanical
grandfather
clocks
(left)
to reach the bottom of its run, and then you have to pull
it up
have athat,
pendulum
that isupdriven
by falling
again.
Someone
had
a
clock
when
wound
on
Sunday,
would
video about the building here:
theory,
it takes aThursday
week forand
stop sometime in the weights.
middle ofInthe
night between
theaccompanied
weight to reach
bottom
its
Friday. The stoppage was
by thethe
sound
of theofweights
X2
X1
run,
and
then
you
have
to
pull
it
up
again.
hitting the side of the case. When this happened, the distance
had
a clock
when wound
between the centre of Someone
mass of the
weight
andthat,
the suspension
point
rue story)
up
on
Sunday,
would
stop
sometime
in
0.99m.
coupled
modes explain what is happening.
hanical clocks (left) have a pendulum that iswas
driven
byUse
falling
weights.
the middle of the night between
ory, it takes a week for the weight to reach the bottom of its run, and
Thursday and Friday. The stoppage was
you have to pull it up again. Someone had a clock that, when wound
accompanied by the sound of the weights
n Sunday, would stop sometime in the middle of the night between
hitting the side of the case. When this
day and Friday. The stoppage was accompanied by the sound of the
happened, the distance between the
ts hitting the side of the case. When this happened, the distance
centre of mass of the weight and the
en the centre of mass of the weight and the suspension point was
suspension point was 0.99m. Use coupled
m. Use coupled modes explain what is happening.
modes explain what is happening.

ts

um

This image shows the internals of a typical grandfather clock.

PHYS 2017/3035 Assignment 2 DUE: Monday 10th August 2015

3) Wave reflection
A wave propagates from left to right along a string. The density of the string changes at point p. The
diagram below shows the situation after the wave has passed the point p. Figure out what the original wave
looked like, (i.e. polarity, height and length) as well as the ratio of the densities to the left and right of p.

4) 3035 Only. Reflection and transmission (Problem 5.5 from Pain)

A point mass M is concentrated at a point on a string of characteristic impedance Z=c. A transverse wave
of frequency moves in the positive x direction and is partially reflected and transmitted at the mass. The
boundary conditions are that the string displacements just to the left and right of the mass are equal:

y i + y r = yt
(yi, yr and yt are the displacements of the incident, reflected and transmitted waves respectively. )
The difference in the transverse forces just to the left and right of the mass equal the mass times its
acceleration. If A1, B1 and A2 are the incident, reflected and transmitted wave amplitudes respectively, show
that:

B1
iq
A2
1
=
and
=
A1
1 + iq
A1
1 + iq
where q=M/2c and i2=-1
Sketch the amplitude and phase of the transmitted wave as a function of q. Comment on the limiting cases
as M goes to 0 or infinity.