MCS507

Unit Description and General Aims

This unit is concerned with the principles of structural dynamic analysis.  It introduces mathematical fundamentals of vibration, the definition of dynamic parameters including mass, stiffness and viscous damping. 

The analysis is performed in the time domain by direct integration and in the frequency domain.  The analysis is applied to practical structures.

The effect of material and geometric non-linearity on the dynamic behaviour of systems is introduced.  Practical cases of failure and success are investigated.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this Unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Make judgements and apply the dynamic equation with viscous damping
   • Bloom’s Level 5
2. Evaluate the modal properties and infer the dynamic behaviour of:
   1. structural elements;
   2. multi-degree-of-freedom systems.
   • Bloom’s Level 5
3. Formulate a design of time integration of systems subjected to base excitation and develop response spectra.
   • Bloom’s Level 6
4. Plan modal analysis of systems subjected to base excitation:
   1. Harmonic excitation;
   2. Random and earthquake excitation.
   • Bloom’s Level 6
5. Optimise the effect of non-linearity on the natural frequencies of systems.
   • Bloom’s Level 5
6. Determine case studies in relation to dynamic behaviour.
   • Bloom’s Level 5

Student assessment

Prescribed and Recommended readings

Required textbook

Chopra, A.K.; “Dynamics of Structures: theory and applications to earthquake engineering”; 5^th ed.; Prentice Hall, 2016

Recommended textbook(s)

Clough, R. and Penzien, J.; “Dynamics of Structures”; McGraw-Hill, 1975

Reference Materials

Number of peer-reviewed journals and websites as advised below (and during lectures);

1. National and international technical journals;
2. Specific material to be advised during the lectures.

Unit Content

One topic is delivered per contact week, with the exception of part-time 24-week units, where one topic is delivered every two weeks.

Topic 1  

1. Single-degree-of-freedom systems

Topic 2

1. Free vibration of Single-degree-of-freedom systems
   1. undamped systems;
   2. damped systems.

Topic 3

1. Harmonic vibration of Single-degree-of-freedom systems

Topic 4

1. Response to periodic loading of Single-degree-of-freedom systems: Frequency domain analysis

Topic 5

1. Numerical methods for dynamic response evaluation

Topic 6  

1. Multi-degree-of-freedom systems: Free vibration
1. Undamped systems
2. Eigen value problem

Topic 7

1. Multi-degree-of-freedom systems: Free vibration responses

Topic 8

1. Multi-degree-of-freedom systems: Modal Analysis

Topic 9

1. Earthquake Engineering: Earthquake response of linear systems (SDOF)
   1. Earthquake excitation
   2. Equation of Motion
   3. Response Spectrum

Topic 10

1. Earthquake Engineering: Earthquake response of non-linear systems (SDOF)

Topic 11

1. Nonlinear effects - Frequency locking.

Topic 12

1. Study of a Landmark Structural Failure -- Lessons Learnt -- Tacoma Narrows Bridge (Including the Millennium Bridge and how this failure mechanism was averted)

Engineers Australia

The Australian Engineering Stage 1 Competency Standards for the Professional Engineer, approved as of 2013. This table is referenced in the mapping of graduate attributes to learning outcomes and via the learning outcomes to student assessment.

Software/Hardware Used

Software

• Software: N/A

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Hardware

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