R. Paul Normandy
pnormand@mitre.org
About MITRE
MITRE Corporation is a not-for-profit organization chartered to
work in the public interest
MITRE manages 5 federally funded research and development
centers (FFRDCs)
Department of Defense (National Security Engineering Center)
Federal Aviation Administration (Center for Advanced Aviation
System Development)
Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
(Center for Enterprise Modernization)
Department of Homeland Security (Homeland Security Systems
Engineering and Development Institute)
U.S. Courts (Judiciary Engineering and Modernization Center)
Introduction
Improper analysis can lead to the amplification of loads perhaps
resulting in the failure of the electronic equipments ability to
function properly or at all.
Most designs are too complicated to analyze with hand
calculations and simplifying them may lead to a biased solution
that conceals other ill-fated phenomena.
The finite element (FE) method, which can be implemented
through computerized software, provides an efficient solution
while retaining most of the design details.
This presentation works through several finite element
techniques starting with a single degree of freedom model and
progressing to a pseudo-continuous model. Throughout these
examples, theoretical checks of the FE simulations are
presented.
Page 3
Y1
m1
1
0
Y2
m2
k2
1
0
Variable
m1
m2
k1, k2
Name
Mass 1
Mass 2
Spring Constant
Value
2.085 lbf-s2/in
0.1303 lbf-s2/in
18500 lbf/in
2
0
Modal Analysis
fn
1
2
Resonant
Frequency (Hz)
kn / mn
Yn 1 / mn
in lbf s
2
Mode
Location
Calculated
FEA
Calculated
FEA
Y1 (Node 3)
15
14.99
0.693
0.693
Y2 (Node 4)
60
59.97
2.77
2.77
Qg
2f n 2
Y1 (Node 3)
Qmax 1 / 2
Resonant Frequency(Hz)
Maximum Displacement (in)
Maximum Acceleration (in/s2)
1% damping
Calculated
FEA
15
2.17
19304
15.085
2.17
19312
60
0.136
19304
60.04
0.136
19314
60 Hz.
19314.45 in/sec 2
1.00E+04
1.00E+03
1.00E+03
1.00E+02
1.00E+02
Amplitude
Amplitude
FEA
1.00E+05
15 Hz.,
19312.37 in/sec 2
1.00E+01
15 Hz.
2.17 in
1.00E+00
Calculated
1.00E+05
1.00E+04
Y2 (Node 4)
Displacement
1.00E+01
Displacement
1.00E+00
Acceleration
1.00E-01
1.00E-01
1.00E-02
Acceleration
60 Hz.
0.136 in.
1.00E-02
1.00E-03
1.00E-03
20
40
60
80
100
120
20
40
Frequency (Hz.)
60
80
100
120
Frequency (Hz.)
at Node 3
at Node 4
Page 5
0.75
0.05
-0.25
Amplitude (in.)
Amplitude (in.)
0.25
-0.75
Imaginary
-1.25
Real
-0.05
Imaginary
Real
-0.1
-1.75
-0.15
-2.25
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
10
20
30
Frequency (Hz.)
40
50
60
70
80
90
Frequency (Hz.)
Page 6
100
Yn ( rms)
f n S oQ
2
Yn ( rms)
Yn ( rms)
2
Y1 (Node 3)
[1] Crandall
Y2 (Node 4)
Calculated
FEA
Calculated
FEA
15
14.99
60
59.97
0.0149
0.0150
0.00187
0.00187
Max. 1 Acceleration
(in/s2)
132.6
132.9
265.1
265.7
So = 0.0001 g2/Hz
1.6E-02
1.0E+00
Node 3
0.0150 in.
1.2E-02
Node 3
Node 4
Amplitude (in)
1.0E-02
0.474e-3 in2/Hz.
1.0E-04
0.185e-5 in2/Hz.
Node 4
1.0E-02
8.0E-03
1002
RPSD
6.0E-03
4.0E-03
1.0E-06
1.87e-3 in.
2.0E-03
1.0E-08
0.0E+00
20
40
60
80
100
120
Frequency (Hz.)
1.0E-10
1
10
100
Frequency (Hz.)
m1
Y2
m2
rigid
k1
k2
Y3
z
0
10
20
2
Variable
Name
Value
m1
m2
m3
k1, k2
Mass 1
Mass 2
Mass 3
Spring Constant
2.085 lbf-s2/in
0.1303 lbf-s2/in
2215 lbf-s2/in
18500 lbf/in
m3
0 Y1 k1
0
k1 Y1 F (t )1
m1 0
0 m
0 Y2 0
k2
k2 Y2 F (t ) 2
2
0 0 m3 Y3 k1 k2 (k2 k1 ) Y3 F (t )3
Mode
1
2
3
Location
All
Node 3
Node 4
Calculated
0
15
60
FEA
0.335E-05
14.99
59.97
in lbf s
2
Calculated
0.021
0.692
2.77
2 I Y 0
f1
1 0
1
f2
2 15.00
f 2 59.97
3
3
0.021 0.692 0
in
0.021, 0 , 2.77
0.021 0 0 lbf s
Page 8
FEA
0.021
0.692
2.77
m1
Y2
m2
k1
rigid
10
k2
Y3
0.021 0.692 0
in
0.021, 0 , 2.77
0.021 0 0 lbf s
20
2
m3
15 Hz Natural Frequency
60 Hz Natural Frequency
Page 9
m1
Y2
m2
k1
rigid arms
k2
Y3
22
15
m3
F=m3g
Finite Element: Amplitude at Node 4
1.00E+05
60 Hz.
19293 in/sec 2
1.00E+03
1.00E+03
1.00E+02
1.00E+02
1.00E+01
1.00E+01
1.00E+00
60 Hz.
0.136 in
1.00E-01
15 Hz.
19294 in/sec 2
1.00E+04
Amplitude
Amplitude
1.00E+04
Displacement
Acceleration
15 Hz.
2.17 in
1.00E+00
Displacement
1.00E-01
Acceleration
1.00E-02
1.00E-02
1.00E-03
1.00E-03
1.00E-04
1.00E-04
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Frequency (Hz.)
1.00E-05
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Frequency (Hz.)
Page 10
Yn ( rms)
f n S oQ
2
Yn ( rms)
Yn ( rms)
Node 3
Resonant Frequency (Hz)
Max. 1 Displacement (in)
Max. 1 Acceleration (in/s2)
Node 4
Calculated
FEA
Calculated
FEA
15
0.0149
132.6
14.99
0.0150
138.01
60
0.00187
265.1
59.97
0.00187
266.0
n 2
1.0E+01
1.0E-01
Node 3
0.472e-3 in2/Hz.
1.0E-03
Node 4
0.185e-5 in2/Hz.
1.0E-05
1.0E-07
1.0E-09
37297.4
(in/sec 2)2/Hz.
1.0E+04
1.0E+02
1.0E+00
1.0E-02
1.0E-04
Node 3
Node 4
1.0E-06
1.0E-11
1
10
Frequency (Hz.)
100
10
Frequency (Hz.)
100
Page 11
Y1
1
0
Y2
m1
3
m2
4
k1
k2
2
1
0
m3
Y3
m4
Y4
0
0 Y1 k1
0
k1
0 Y1 F (t )1
m1 0
0 m
0
0 Y2 0
k2
0 k 2
Y2 F (t ) 3
2
0
0 m 3 0 Y3 k 1
0
k1
0 Y3 F (t ) 2
0 m4
0 k 2
0
k 2
Y
F (t ) 4
Y
00
4
M
2 I Y 0
f1
1 0
f
2 1 2 15
Hz
f 3 2 3 0
60
f4
Variable
Name
Value
m1
m2
m3
m4
k1, k2
Mass 1
Mass 2
Mass 3
Mass 4
Spring Constant
2.085 lbf-s2/in
0.1303 lbf-s2/in
2215 lbf-s2/in
130.3 lbf-s2/in
18500 lbf/in
Resonant Frequency
(Hz)
in lbf s
2
Mode
1
2
3
Location
Node 2 & 4
Node 1 & 3
Node 3
Calculated
0
0
15
FEA
0
0.476 E -8
15
Calculated
0.0876
0.212
0.69
FEA
0.0876
0.0219
0.69
Node 4
60
60
2.77
2.77
1 / m1 m3 1 /
,
1
/
m
m
1
3
0
m1
0 1 / m 2 m 4
,
0
0
0 1 / m 2 m 4
, 1 /
0
0
m2
0
Page 12
15 Hz Natural Frequency
60 Hz Natural Frequency
Page 13
Node
Numbers
Y1
m1
1
0
Y2
m2
k1
k2
2
Y3
Y4
m3
m4
F3=m3g
F4=m4g
1.00E+05
1.00E+05
60 Hz.
19301.55 in/sec 2
1.00E+04
1.00E+03
1.00E+03
1.00E+02
1.00E+02
1.00E+01
1.00E+01
1.00E+00
60 Hz.
0.136 in
1.00E-01
Amplitude
Amplitude
15 Hz.
19303 in/sec 2
1.00E+04
Displacement
Acceleration
15 Hz.
2.17 in
1.00E+00
Displacement
1.00E-01
Acceleration
1.00E-02
1.00E-02
1.00E-03
1.00E-03
1.00E-04
1.00E-04
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Frequency (Hz.)
1.00E-05
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Frequency (Hz.)
Page 14
1.0E+01
1.0E+06
37196 (in/sec 2)2/Hz.
1.0E-01
U3rpsd
0.471E-3 in2/Hz.
1.0E-03
U4rpsd
0.184E-5 in2/Hz.
1.0E-05
1.0E-07
1.0E-09
1.0E+04
1.0E+02
1.0E+00
1.0E-02
1.0E-04
A3rpsd
A4rpsd
1.0E-06
1.0E-11
1
10
Frequency (Hz.)
100
10
Frequency (Hz.)
100
Page 15
y
1
12
z
0
270 in
d
dx 2
Variable
W
E
I
L
21
d W x
2
EI
mW x
2
dx
Name
Weight per unit length
Youngs Modulus
Area moment of Inertia
Length
Value
26 lbf/in
107 lbf/in2
3267 in4
270 in.
Resonant Frequency
Max. Modal Disp.
in lbf s 2
(Hz)
Calculated
FEA
Calculated
FEA
15
15.01
0.332
0.332
60
60.05
0.332
0.332
Simply Supported
Beam Mode
Shapes
Mode
1
2
0.4
/in 2)
0.2
1, 2, 3 = , 2 , 3
0.332
0.332
0.3
n n2
EI
A
f1 1 1 15
Hz
f
2
2
2 60
0.1
0
0
-0.2
-0.3
W x r 2 / mL sin rx / L
r = 1, 2
30
60
90
120
150
180
210
240
270
-0.1
Mode Shape 1
Mode Shape 2
-0.4
Beam Length (in.)
4 yx, t
2 yx, t
EI
m
mg sin t
x 4
t 2
Node Numbers
yx, t X x sint
12
z
0
270 in
21
a 4 2m / EI
g
g cosh aL g
g
g cosaL g
,
B
,
C
,
D
2
2
2
2
sinh
a
L
2
sin aL
Simply Supported Beam: Harmonic Response
Finite Element: Amplitude at Node 12 (Mid Span)
A
1.E+01
1.00E+05
15 Hz.
24549 in/sec 2
1.00E+04
1.E+00
1.E-01
Amplitude
Amplitude ( in)
1.00E+03
1.E-02
1.00E+02
1.00E+01
15 Hz.
2.76 in
1.00E+00
Displacement
Acceleration
1.00E-01
1.E-03
1.00E-02
1.00E-03
1.E-04
0
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100
20
40
60
80
100
Frequency (Hz.)
120
1.00E+05
15 Hz.
24549 in/sec 2
1.00E+04
yx
Amplitude
1.00E+03
1.00E+02
1.00E+01
15 Hz.
2.76 in
1.00E+00
1 mQg x 3
L 2 Lx 2 x 3
24 EI
yx yx 2
Displacement
Acceleration
1.00E-01
1.00E-02
Model
1.00E-03
0
20
40
60
Frequency (Hz.)
80
100
Displacement (in)
120
Node
Location
Acceleration
(in.sec2)
Calculated
FEA
Calculated
FEA
L/4
1.962
1.95
24460
24549
12
L/2
2.754
2.76
17430
17359
yx rms
Node
12
1 m yrms x 3
L 2Lx 2 x 3
24
EI
Mode
l
Location
L/2
Displacement
(in)
Calculated
FEA
0.019
0.019
Acceleration
(in/sec2)
Calculated
FEA
167.9
169
Page 18
y
1
z
(a) Undeformed
21
12
2 x
270 in
(b) Deformed
Rigid Beam
1
W
E
I
L
M1
Name
Weight per unit length
Youngs Modulus
Area moment of Inertia
Length
Large Mass
Value
26 lbf/in
107 lbf/in2
32.67 in4
270 in.
18168 lbf s2/in
Large Mass
12
21
22
270 in
Mode
1
2
3
4
Resonant Frequency
(Hz)
in lbf s
2
Calculated
FEA
Calculated
FEA
0
0
15
60
0
0.252E-4
15
59.77
0.007415
0.235
0.333
0.332
0.007415
0.234612
0.331338
0.330239
Fourth FE Mode
Page 19
1.00E+04
Model
Displacement (in)
Acceleration
(in/sec2)
Amplitude
1.00E+03
1.00E+02
1.00E+01
15 Hz.
2.76 in
1.00E+00
Node
Location
Calculated
FEA
Calculated
FEA
L/4
1.962
1.95
24460
24492
12
L/2
2.754
2.76
17430
17315
Displacement
Acceleration
1.00E-01
1.00E-02
1.00E-03
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Frequency
(Hz.)
Displacement Response
PSD
1.0E+06
1.0E+00
1.0E-02
1.0E-04
1.0E-06
1.0E-08
1.0E+02
1.0E+00
1.0E-02
1.0E-10
1.0E-04
10
Frequency (Hz.)
100
10
Frequency (Hz.)
100
Node Numbers
1
0
270 in
EI mb mend
2 L3mb mend
0.188mb
0.35
fn
21 2
12
W
E
I
L
mend
mb
2
x 2 2 / mb
sin
mb
mb
2
m
ends
b
Y x
[3] Steinberg
0.332
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
Mode Shape 1
0.1
0.05
0
0
Calculated
0
0
0
15
Not Calc.
FEA
0
5.634E-7
6.446E-6
15.004
59.799
30
60
90
120
in lbf s
150
180
210
240
270
FEA
0.01047
0.01047
0.23612
0.33135
0.33032
Page 21
3.3
15 Hz.
24485 in/sec 2
1.00E+04
2.8
1.00E+03
2.3
1.00E+02
1.8
1.00E+01
15 Hz.
2.76 in
1.00E+00
Amplitude (in.)
Amplitude
Displacement
Acceleration
1.3
0.8
IMAGINARY
0.3
REAL
1.00E-01
-0.2
1.00E-02
-0.7
1.00E-03
-1.2
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
10
20
30
Frequency (Hz.)
40
50
60
70
80
Frequency (Hz.)
Page 22
90
100
2.0E-02
1.0E+00
1.8E-02
Amplitude (in )
0.0190 in.
1.6E-02
1.0E-02
1.0E-04
1.0E-06
1.4E-02
1.2E-02
1.0E-02
1002
RPSD
8.0E-03
6.0E-03
4.0E-03
1.0E-08
2.0E-03
0.0E+00
1.0E-10
1
10
Frequency (Hz.)
100
20
40
60
80
100
120
Frequency (Hz.)
y( rms)
f n SoQ
yx rms
1 myrms x 3
L 2 Lx2 x 3
24
EI
Node
12
Model
Location
L/2
yx rms yx rms 2
Displacement (in)
Calculated
FEA
0.019
0.019
Acceleration (in/sec2)
Calculated
FEA
168.7
175
Results of the Hand Calculations and ANSYS Simulations of the Beam with End Masses
Page 23
Concluding Remarks
A complete work-through starting with simple oscillators and
ending with pseudo-continuous modeling has been presented.
The models were designed such that they produce responses in
agreement for equivalent excitations.
FE programs with an outline for simulating and verifying modal,
harmonic, and random vibration models
Closed form solutions are available and should be implemented
to check FEA
Page 24
References
1. S. S. Rao, Mechanical Vibrations, 3rd ed., Addison-Wesley,
Reading, Massachusetts, 1995.
2. S. H. Crandall, Random Vibration, MIT Press and John Wiley
& Sons, New York, 1958.
3. Dave S. Steinberg, Vibration Analysis for Electronic
Equipment, John Wiley & Sons, 1973.
Page 25