ME 240
Introduction to Dynamics

Computer Assignment #2: Free and Forced Vibrations

The due dates are Thursday, 3/12 for Professor Karnopp's class and Friday 3/13 for Professor Grosh's class.

Problem Statement: In this assignment, Matlab is used to study the effect of varying the stiffness, mass and damping factors for free motion and the interaction of the drive frequency and the natural frequency for forced vibration. The first two problems use information given here. Problem 3 involves the complete (particular plus complimentary) solution for the forced oscillator, this is part of problem 21-89.

System Parameters: For problems 1 and 2 in this assignment, the values for the mass and stiffness are

m = 2 kg
k = 5000 N/m
c = you set the value for the 3 damping factors N sec/m
Change "c" to let the damping factor (zeta) take on values of 0.01, 0.1 and 0.9 for problems 1 and 2.
  1. Determine the free response for these three cases due to an initial velocity of 1 m/s. Using Matlab plot the response (do not hand in).
  2. Use Matlab to plot the steady-state amplitude and phase for the same oscillator system, varying the ratio of Omega/wn (drive frequency to natural frequency) from 0 to 2.5. Draw the multiple plots for amplitude and phase angle on the same page. Hand in the multiple plots (one page).
  3. NOW use the mass and stiffness to the values in problem 21-89. Plot the total response (complimentary plus particular). Change the damping from zeta = 0.379 to zeta = 0.0379 and replot. (Hand in both plots).

  • Step by Step Instructions:
    1. For problem (1).
    2. For Problem (2).
    3. For Problem (3)