Determination of Local Structural

Vibration Properties for the Design of

Machine Foundations

Luis M. Moreschi, Ph.D. and Farhad Farzam, P.E.

Central Structures Group
Bechtel Power Corporation
GTSTRUDL Users Group
2003 Annual Meeting
Presentation Outline

 Introduction

 Machine Foundation Design Criteria

 Vibration Properties Evaluation

– GTSTRUDL Harmonic Analysis

 Examples of application

 Summary and Conclusions

Combined Cycle Power Plant
Steam Turbine-Generator Machine
Machine Foundation Design Criteria

 Deflection criteria: maintain turbine-generator

alignment during machine operating
conditions
 Dynamic criteria: ensure that no resonance
condition is encountered during machine
operating conditions

 Strength criteria: reinforced concrete design

Vibration Properties Evaluation

 Identification of the foundation natural

frequencies for the dominant modes
 Frequency exclusion zones for the natural
frequencies of the foundation system and
individual structural members (±20%)
 Eigenvalue analysis: natural frequencies,
mode shapes, and mass participation factors
STG Pedestal Structure
STG Pedestal FE Model

Z
Y X
Low Frequency Modes

1st mode
6.5 Hz
95 % m.p.f.

2nd mode
7.2 Hz
76 % m.p.f
High Frequency Modes

28th mode 42nd mode

46.3 Hz 64.6 Hz
0.3% m.p.f 0.03% m.p.f

Excitation frequency: 50-60 Hz

Local Vibration Modes

 Identification of natural
frequencies for individual
structural members

 Quantification of changes
on vibration properties
due to foundation
modifications
Simplified Approaches

 Beam models
EI
w1   2
ml 4
EI, l, m
EI
w1  2.27  2
ml 4

 Member deflections, D
6.8
w1 
D [in]
GTSTRUDL Harmonic Analysis

UNITS KIPS IN CYCLES SEC

HARMONIC LOADING 1001 ‘LONG BEAM FREQ'
JOINT LOAD SINE FREQ FROM 0.0 TO 100.0 AT 2.0
'JOINT-B3' FORCE Y AMPL 1.0 PHASE 0.0
END OF HARMONIC LOAD
LOAD LIST 1001
PERFORM HARMONIC ANALYSIS
COMPUTE HARMONIC DISPLACEMENTS
Harmonic Analysis Output

{ 1326} > LIST HARMONIC DISPLACEMENTS JOINT 'JOINT-B3'

JOINT DISPLACEMENTS AT THE FREE JOINTS

JOINT RESPONSE /------------------TRANS/PHASE-----------------/

X-TRANS Y-TRANS Z-TRANS
FREQ ------- ------- -------
PHASE PHASE PHASE
'JOINT-B3‘ GLOBAL 0.000 0.32901 0.71881 0.11211
PHA -0.26624 0.25498 0.43219
2.000 0.21056 0.10762 0.79926
PHA -0.26914 0.25617 0.15516
4.000 0.10658 0.15369 0.25980
PHA -0.28729 0.25756 0.29299
6.000 0.30887 0.21290 0.22418
PHA 0.36958 0.25919 0.42111
8.000 0.25784 0.28957 0.93365
PHA 0.29909 0.26121 0.40820
Member Frequencies
5.0

38 Hz

4.0
Dynamic Magnification Factor

46 Hz

3.0
Ddynamic/Dstatic

2.0

1.0
84 Hz

0.0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Frequencies [Hz]
Summary and Conclusions

 Machine foundation design: need to identify the

vibration properties of individual structural
members
 GT STRUDL Harmonic Analysis command provides
a simple and efficient technique to perform the
required calculations
 Improvements:
– Graphical post-processing for Harmonic Analysis results
– Video file capabilities for mode shapes display
Questions?

Central Structures Group

Bechtel Power Corporation
Frederick, Maryland