Principles of Vibration Analysis With Femap and NX Nastran From Normal Modes To PSD To Direct Transient Analysis Rev-0 PDF
Principles of Vibration Analysis With Femap and NX Nastran From Normal Modes To PSD To Direct Transient Analysis Rev-0 PDF
FEA, CFD & LS-DYNA Training, Support and Siemens NX CAD, CAM, CAE, Teamcenter and Femap
Consulting and NX Nastran Sales
Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
u u 2
Linear Dynamics: E.O.M. m 2 c ku r(t)
t t
2u
Eigenvalue problem: undamped free vibration: m 2 ku 0
t
Assuming a solution of the form: u uo sin t
Then: k mu 0
2
o
k m 0 Giving us the well-known frequency relationship:
2 k
m
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
This is a beautifully simple relationship but it assumes that the stiffness of your structure stays constant or
does not change due to load application. From the normal modes analysis, one can determine the natural
frequencies of the structure (ω) but also the form of its vibration response or its mode shape.
For now, here’s a short list of what one can learn from a normal modes analysis:
o The natural frequencies (since no load is applied, the response is “natural”)
o How the structure will deform at the natural frequencies but since there is no load, the mode shapes
do not indicate the magnitude of the vibration response only its shape)
o The amount of mass that is associated with that particular frequency
o Strain energy plots to determine where the structure is flexing or straining the most at that
particular frequency
Given that this seminar covers prior material, if these items don’t immediately make sense to you, you’ll
find a more detailed explanation in my article “Linear Dynamics for Everyone.pdf”.
Before we leave this subject, a static stress analysis is nothing more than the above equation with
acceleration and velocity at zero and time = zero:
𝐾𝑢 = 𝐹
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
Doesn’t Exist
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
2.1.2 SETTING UP THE MODEL FOR NORMAL MODES WITH MASS PARTICIPATION
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
Mass participation tells you which modes have the “umph” and how many frequencies you need (modes)
to accurately capture the dynamic response of the structure. On this later subject, a modal frequency
analysis (e.g., PSD) formulates its response based on the number of modes chosen for the analysis. To
ensure that you have captured the dynamic response of the structure, you’ll want to use enough modes
that you have at least 90% of the mass of the structure covered. What does this mean? Take a look at this
screen shot showing the Mass Participation versus Number of Modes for the simple rod model. The
bending modes capture 90% of the mass after 6 modes while to get the axial mass, it takes 26 modes.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
Follow the Red – Increase the To Increase the Fifth Mode – Increase
The Default Setup
thickness of the outer strips the thickness of the middle section
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
The mode shapes indicate the shape of that particular natural frequency. Since we are solving the EOM
that has no {Force} or {Load}, the mode shapes have an arbitrary magnitude but they do tell us something
very important. For example, the first mode flexes in the Y-direction and if excited in that direction, the
structure would have a very strong response.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
Analysis Set Manager / Normal Modes With the Not Defined item highlighted, hit the Edit
button and the NASTRAN XY Output for Modal
Analysis dialog box will appear. This box requests
the mass particpation factors.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
Once the mass participation items have been requested, the results are output as functions. I like to plot
the SUM functions in the T1, T2 and T3 directions. As can be seen, the first natural frequency captures
90% of the mass of the structure in the T2 direction (Y-direction) and would be scary if excited.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
𝜕2𝑢 𝜕𝑢
𝐹𝑜 sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝜃) = 𝑚 2 + 𝑐 + 𝑘𝑢
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡
And since it has a force, we get displacements and stresses from a model; however there is a hitch, results
from this type of analysis are given in the form of magnitudes and phase angles. For example,
displacement at any node is given as uo and ϴ, and when requested, Femap can calculate the time varying
response at any solved frequency (ω) as:
𝑢 = 𝑢𝑜 sin(𝜔𝑡 − 𝜃)
Thus, a modal frequency analysis assumes that the forcing function is sinusoidal and solves the EOM in
the frequency domain with results kicked-out in the form of absolute magnitudes and phase analysis. This
makes interpretation of the results somewhat challenging and requires a bit of understanding of how the
sinusoidal varying load is interacting with the mode shapes within each frequency.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
We’ll start with this option and explore what happens when you hit
this circuit board with a sinusoidal varying 1 g acceleration in the Y-
direction. Since we know from our junior level mechanical
engineering vibration class that if we don’t apply a bit of damping to
the analysis, the response goes to near infinity; hence we’ll use the
engineer’s standard of 2% critical damping.
For this analysis, we’ll create the critical damping function and let the program determine the solution
frequencies.
Damping is given as a function and is constant over
the complete range of interest and since it doesn’t
matter, I just set it at 0.02 from 10 to 20,000 Hz.
If one wants to know more, take a look at this
document:
NX Nastran Dynamic Analysis.pdf
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
Units for dynamic analysis can be challenging. In this example model, the units are a modified SI system of
N, tonne, mm and second. For the acceleration load of 1 g we have 9,800 mm/s2. The load is applied at
the independent node of the RBE2 element. It may seem funny that one can apply an acceleration load to
a node that has all six DOF fixed but the modal frequency analysis understands the request and ignores
the T2 SPC tag.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
This is the heart and soul of the Modal Frequency Analysis setup. As one walks through the screens, we
chose the Modal solution type, and request that 10 Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors be used to form the
solution set. The next screen, we set damping to use our 0.02 critical damping curve and we request the
solution frequencies. This can be done by creating your own function or letting Femap calculate the
solution requests based on the natural frequencies. We chose the later by pressing the Modal Freq button
and requesting solutions over the first four natural frequencies with a band spread of 10% (default).
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
Since the linear dynamic response of a structure is determined or composed of its natural frequencies it
often makes the most sense to request solutions at and around (Frequency Band Spread) these natural
frequencies. Once this is done, the program creates a function showing how these solutions are spaced
apart. The numerical value of the function is only for graphical utility since Nastran solves at each
requested frequency.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
Then, one applies the boundary conditions and then lastly, one sets the output requests.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
And the results show no surprises with the response peaking at the first normal mode at 200 Hz. If it is
your first time with Modal Frequency, then the output results will seem a bit odd since you don’t have
Total Translation or a von Mises stress. All that you have are individual displacement and stress
components. This goes back to the nature of the solution where the output is in magnitudes (uo) and
phase angles (ϴ). Hence, to get the time varying nature, you need to expand the complex results.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
To obtain the time varying response from a Modal Frequency, one goes to Model / Output / Expand
Complex and pick your solution of interest. For this structure it is the maximum response at 200 Hz and
then we’ll request that it is expanded into 12 solutions.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
After expanding the solution, we have the full-field solution with Total Translation and von Mises stresses.
Keep in mind that this maximum response requires that the excitation is in the direction of the mode
shape (Y-direction) and that this particular mode has mass (mass participation 90%).
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
For completeness, let’s do a simple PSD analysis on our circuit board. Again, units are very important. The
PSD spectrum (load) is given as g2/Hz. In the center of the spectrum from 115 to 500 Hz, the PSD input is
1.31 g2/Hz and then tapers.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
The PSD procedure is almost identical to the modal frequency analysis. There are some new screens but
the only critical one is where you apply your PSD spectrum (lower-right-hand-corner). Otherwise, it is
identical to that of the prior modal frequency analysis.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
Given that a PSD analysis can be a numerically intensive calculation, Femap provides the ability to restrict
your analysis output to just a few items or the complete model. For this analysis, all output requests are
left blank except the very last screen where just displacements and stresses are requested. This is
identical to that which was done for the modal frequency analysis. At the end, we have the RMS von
Mises stresses contoured over the system and they are significantly greater than just the modal frequency
result.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
𝜕2𝑢 𝜕𝑢
𝐹𝑜 (𝑡) = 𝑚 2 + 𝑐 + 𝑘𝑢
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡
Our equation is developed in Femap
using a sin((!x/0.004988)*) to180
create a 200.4 Hz half-sine wave:
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
For our work, we are just going to use half the sin wave to give the system a shock pulse. The load for this
analysis is 100 g (98,000 mm/s2) with our half-sine function at 200.4 Hz.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
Our transient analysis is based on the first ten Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
At the end of the simulation, one has a hundred result sets to claw through.
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Principles of Vibration Analysis: Normal Modes to PSD to Direct Transient
A much simpler way to process transient results is to use the Femap envelope function and then select all
the output sets with “time” in the title:
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Question: I have a very small natural frequency number (i.e., <<0.1), what happened?
Answer: Well, most likely you have something not constrained and NX Nastran is telling you that you have
a rigid body motion. If one animates this frequency, one will see the complete model moving. Note: A
structure that has no constraints or a constraint set attached to the solution, will have six low-number
natural frequencies and likewise, if you have a part within your model that is not attached, it will exhibit a
low frequency mode (rigid body motion). This is a super effective trick to find lose parts in your model
that would cause a static stress analysis run to fail.
Question: (We’ll add additional material here from questions asked during the Seminar)
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9. ADDITIONAL READING
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