Misconceptions in
Vibration Analysis
Mir Aamir Abbas
Introduction
• Learning vibration analysis is not a straightforward process. It requires the
knowledge of mathematics, statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials and if
we are using numerical methods like FEM, the knowledge of that also.
• I believe that it is natural for a subject with so many prerequisites to give
rise to misconceptions to novice learners of the subject. I had many of these
misconceptions myself.
• I am mentioning some of the misconceptions hoping to help young engineers
avoid them.
Natural frequencies cannot be
repeated.
• For a structural system, two different mode shapes can have the same
natural frequency but one mode shape cannot have two different natural
frequencies.
Mode shape in a modal analysis
uses unit load.
• Mechanics of materials is a prerequisite for understanding vibrations. In
mechanics, we learn that there is no deformation without load. However,
extrapolating this to the concept of mode-shape in modal analysis does not
work well.
• People some times ask if the deformation in a mode-shape uses the
application of unit load. It must be noted that mode-shape is only a
deformed shape satisfying the equation of motion for no load and does not
assume any load (whether unit or not) nor any distribution of such a load.
The maximum displacement we
get in a mode shape is important.
• The maximum displacement we get in a mode-shape is of no physical
significance.
• As long the deformed shape is the same, the maximum displacement is
immaterial because an eigen vector multiplied by a scalar is still an eigen
vector.
• The ratio of displacements at different points should be the same for a
correct modal analysis simulation irrespective of the software tool used.
The comparison of maximum
displacements in one mode shape to
another have physical significance.
• The mode-shape can be scaled by any factor and different factors can be used
for different modes. Thus comparing the maximum displacements in one
mode to that of another mode within the same analysis has no physical
significance.
The maximum displacement at
steady state is the maximum in the
time-history for harmonic loads
• The maximum displacement in time history is not always the steady- state
amplitude. While for a resonant system, the maximum amplitude at steady
sate is equal to the maximum displacement in time-history; for non-resonant
systems, it is not so.
The response of a 1-DOF system to a
simple harmonic load is simple
harmonic.
• If we include the transient vibrations, the response is not simple harmonic.
• Only the steady state response is simple harmonic.
At resonance only the resonant
mode is active.
• At resonance, the resonant mode is dominant but it is not the only mode
active. Other modes are also active but contribute lesser to the vibration.
• For the above reason, the deformed shape at resonance will not be exactly
the same as the resonant mode-shape.
It is enough for the natural
frequency to be equal to the exciting
frequency for resonance.
• Even if the frequency of excitation is exactly equal to one of the natural
frequencies, if the mode participation factor for that mode is zero, no
resonance will take place.
END
